Joplin escribió \"Mercedes Benz\", junto con el poeta Michael McClure y Bob Neuwirth, con la idea de hacer una critica social acerca de cómo las personas relacionan la felicidad con el dinero y todo lo material. La canción fue escrita originalmente como un comentario negativo sobre las personas materialistas y aparentadoras que le dan demasiado valor a elementos como, por ejemplo, un Mercedes-Benz. La canción refleja la visión critica que tenía Joplin sobre este mundo materialista.
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 ?
That's it!