"Down on Me" is a traditional freedom song from the 1920s or earlier that became popular following its remake by

Janis Joplin Janis Lyn Joplin (January 19, 1943 – October 4, 1970) was an American singer and musician. One of the most successful and widely known rock stars of her era, she was noted for her powerful mezzo-soprano vocals and "electric" stage presence. ...

and

Big Brother and the Holding Company Big Brother and the Holding Company is an American rock band that formed in San Francisco in 1965 as part of the same psychedelic music scene that produced the Grateful Dead, Quicksilver Messenger Service, and Jefferson Airplane. After some in ...

Original version

Several early recordings and field recordings exist: *Eddie Head and His Family, (1930) on ''American Primitive Vol 1: Raw Pre-war Gospel'' (Revenant 206) *Mary Pickney and

Janie Hunter Janie Hunter (June 7, 1918 – June 14, 1997) was an American singer and storyteller who worked to preserve Gullah culture and folkways in her home of Johns Island, South Carolina. She received a 1984 National Endowment for the Arts National Heri ...

, on ''Been in the Storm So Long: A Collection of Spirituals, Folk Tales and Children's Games from Johns Island, SC'' (Smithsonian Folkways 40031) *Doc Reed,

Livingston, Alabama Livingston is a city in and the county seat of Sumter County, Alabama, United States and the home of the University of West Alabama. By an act of the state legislature, it was incorporated on January 10, 1835. At the 2010 census the population ...

in 1940. on ''Negro Religious Songs and Services'' (Rounder CD 1514). *The Golden Harps, on compilation ''Soul of Chicago'' *Edna G. Cooke The lyrics of the freedom song are darker than the later Joplin lyrics. For example, the second stanza of jazz versions and Dock Reed's version run:

Janis Joplin version

rearranged the song and created new lyrics. The song was originally released in the summer of 1967 and was featured on the band's debut album ''

Big Brother & the Holding Company Big Brother and the Holding Company is an American rock band that formed in San Francisco in 1965 as part of the same psychedelic music scene that produced the Grateful Dead, Quicksilver Messenger Service, and Jefferson Airplane. After some i ...

''. The song would reach #42 on the charts, barely missing the

Top 40 In the music industry, the Top 40 is the current, 40 most-popular songs in a particular genre. It is the best-selling or most frequently broadcast popular music. Record charts have traditionally consisted of a total of 40 songs. "Top 40" or "cont ...

mark. A live, more aggressive version is featured on the posthumously released live album '' In Concert'' and the 1973 collection ''

Janis Joplin's Greatest Hits ''Janis Joplin's Greatest Hits'' is a 1973 collection of hit songs by American singer-songwriter Janis Joplin, who died in 1970. It features live versions of ''Down on Me'' and ''Ball and Chain'' which were included on the album '' In Concert'' t ...

''. This version was also released as a single, reaching #91 on the charts in 1972. The third and final stanza of Joplin's version ends with a positive message:The Alcalde Jul 2008, p. 56 Joplin's version was covered by Jeany Reynolds in 1970.

References

1920s songs 1967 singles Year of song unknown Protest songs Janis Joplin songs Songwriter unknown {{1920s-song-stub