"Piece of My Heart"

YouTube link.

Originally recorded by Emma Franklin in 1967, but made immortal by Janis Joplin:

Franklin said in an interview that when she first heard Joplin's version on the radio, she didn't recognize it because of the vocal arrangement.  Noted cultural writer Ellen Willis wrote of the difference: "When Franklin sings it, it is a challenge: no matter what you do to me, I will not let you destroy my ability to be human, to love. Joplin seems rather to be saying, surely if I keep taking this, if I keep setting an example of love and forgiveness, surely he has to understand, change, give me back what I have given". In such a way, Joplin used blues conventions not to transcend pain, but "to scream it out of existence".

There must have been a lot of pain in that girl.  I was listening to the Cheap Thrills album yesterday and decided "Piece of My Heart" was worth posting.

Didn't I make you feel like you were the only man, yeah,
And didn't I give you nearly everything that a woman possibly can ?
Honey, you know I did!
And each time I tell myself that I, well I've just had enough,
But I'm gonna show you, baby, that a woman can be tough.

I said come on, come on, come on, come on and take it,
Take another little piece of my heart now, baby,
Break another little bit of my heart now, darling, yeah.
Hey! Have another little piece of my heart now, baby, yeah.
You know you got it if it makes you feel good...

The rest of the lyrics are at Lyrics Depot.  And for a double dose, below this I'll repost my old one of "Little Girl Blue."