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Mercedes-benz (song)





HISTORY


Joplin wrote Mercedes Benz together with the poet Michael McClure , as a social commentary on how people relate happiness with money and material possessions. In the song she asks God to buy her all sorts of things, since she has been working all day and though her friends drive Porsches, she hasn't got one, and asks for a Mercedes Benz.

In the '90s, Mercedes-Benz used this song in commercials for their cars. It was one of the great misappropriations of a song in a commercial, as Joplin's song was meant to convey the message that owning a luxury automobile does not make you a better person. Joplin's step-sister owned the rights to the song and allowed Mercedes to use it.

In addition, a commercial for the BMW Z3 had the driver listening to the tape, frowning after Mercedes-Benz was mentioned, and throwing the tape out of the car after the Porsche quote.

In 2000 a remix was made and included on ''Greatest Hits'' collections of Joplin. While the original song was A Capella , the remix added a beat. Joplin's singing voice was left untouched, played against a background melody.


LYRICS



''I'd like to do a song of great social and political import. It goes like this:''



Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes-Benz?

My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends.

Worked hard all my lifetime, no help from my friends,

So Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes-Benz?



Oh Lord, won't you buy me a color TV?

Dialing For Dollars is trying to find me.

I wait for delivery each day until three,

So oh Lord, won't you buy me a color TV?



Oh Lord, won't you buy me a night on the town?

I'm counting on you, Lord, please don't let me down.

Prove that you love me and buy the next round,

Oh Lord, won't you buy me a night on the town?



''Everybody!''

Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes-Benz?

My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends,

Worked hard all my lifetime, no help from my friends,

So oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes-Benz?



(giggle) ''That's it!''