"I heard [Big Mama Thornton perform 'Ball and Chain' once] and really loved it. I… asked [her] if I could do it. She said, 'I don't care what you do with my tunes, just let me get it recorded first.'... I've never heard her sing it except once... I... asked the guitar player for the chord changes... Half the words, I don't think, are even hers ‘cause I forgot them. I only heard it once. So I just sort of made up half the words. But the arrangement and chords are hers." - Janis Joplin Photo court