‘Piece of My Heart’ is a romantic soul song written by Jerry Ragovoy and Bert Berns, originally recorded by Erma Franklin in 1967. Franklin's single peaked in December 1967 at number 10 on the Billboard Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles chart in the United States.
The song came to mainstream attention when Big Brother and the Holding Company’ featuring Janis Joplin on lead vocals covered the song in 1968 and had a much bigger hit. The song was taken from the group's album Cheap Thrills, recorded, and released in 1968. This four-minute, 15-second rendition made it to number 12 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. Cheap Thrills is the second studio album by American rock band Big Brother and the Holding Company. It was their last album with Janis Joplin as lead singer before she started a solo career.
In 2004, the Big Brother and the Holding Company version was ranked No. 353 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The song is also included among The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.
‘Piece of My Heart’ has since been remade by Dusty Springfield, also in 1968, Faith Hill in 1994 and as a duet by Melissa Etheridge and Joss Stone in 2005.
Songwriters – Jerry Ragovoy, Bert Berns
Producer – John Simon
SONG LYRICS
[Intro]Oh, come on, come on, come on, come on
[Verse 1]
Didn't I make you feel like you were the only man? Yeah
An' didn't I give you nearly everything that a woman possibly can?
Honey, you know I did
[Pre-Chorus]
And, and each time I tell myself that I, well I think I've had enough
But I'm gonna, gonna show you baby, that a woman can be tough
I want you to come on, come on, come on, come on and take it
[Chorus]
Take another little piece of my heart now, baby
Oh, oh, break it
Break another little bit of my heart now, darling, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Oh, oh, have a
Have another little piece of my heart now, baby
Well you know you got it, if it makes you feel good
Oh, yes indeed
[Verse 2]
You're out on the streets looking good
And baby deep down in your heart I guess you know that it ain't right
Never, never, never, never, never, never hear me when I cry at night
Babe and I cry all the time
[Pre-Chorus]
But each time I tell myself that I, well I can't stand the pain
But when you hold me in your arms, I'll sing it once again
I'll say come on, come on, come on, come on and take it
[Chorus]
Take another little piece of my heart now, baby
Oh, oh, break it
Break another little bit of my heart now, darling, yeah
Oh, oh, have a
Have another little piece of my heart now, baby
Well you know you got it, child, if it makes you feel good
I need you to come on, come on, come on, come on and take it
Take another little piece of my heart now, baby
Oh, oh, break it
Break another little bit of my heart, now darling, yeah, c'mon now
Oh, oh, have a
Have another little piece of my heart now, baby
You know you got it -
Waaaaah!
Take it, take another little piece of my heart now, baby
Oh, oh, break it
Break another little bit of my heart, now darling, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Oh, oh, have a
Have another little piece of my heart now, baby, hey
You know you got it, child, if it makes you feel good
[Outro]