From miles of beautiful gulf coastline to unique shopping and dining, our beautiful city is the perfect place to relax, vacation, and take in a little bit of Texas culture, Cajun style!
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Port Arthur-born rock queen Janis Joplin had a hit with "Mercedes Benz," but it's a replica of her psychedelic Porsche that draws international visitors to Museum of the Gulf Coast in nearby Port Arthur, Texas. Fans from across America and overseas, especially the Japanese, rock out to the Joplin area in the music hall of fame, which includes nods to The Big Bopper, Wayne Toups and other regional talents. The Museum reports a man in England sends a dozen or two roses in her honor each year.
Joplin, who sang "Me and Bobbie McGee," posed for several publicity shots with her yellow Porsche, accented by a butterfly and swirly portraits in eye-popping colors. But fans hum her heartfelt prayer for material assets in "Mercedes Benz."
It starts off:
"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 ?"
Here's another tidbit on that song: "Dialing for Dollars" refers to a local TV game show that aired in Joplin's youth. Her song continues:
"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 ? "
Across from the Museum, Pleasure Island offers Port Arthur fishing and a chance to soak in memories of where Joplin joined friends for bonfires and parties in fishing shacks along the highway.
The Museum of the Gulf Coast and Port Arthur Convention & Visitors Bureau offer a brochure featuring a map of Port Arthur sites that formed Joplin's style. It includes info on her childhood home, her former schools and KPAC radio station on the campus of Lamar State College.
By Darragh Castillo, Guest Blogger and our good partner from Port Arthur Convention & Visitors Bureau
For more information on Port Arthur, Texas, including Texas fishing and Texas birding, visit www.visitportarthurtx.com For information on Sea Rim State Park, visit www.tpwd.state.tx.us
