Lyric discussion by Libraquarius 

Cover art for Ball and Chain lyrics by Big Brother & The Holding Company

Heh! We're here, anakwill, and.. We don't understand, how come, She's gone, man?

When a beautiful creature destroys herself with drugs, and leaves us alone, we all ask deep questions.

Janis had many ways of looking at love. Ball and Chain was one of the most pessimistic, laying out how lost love can be sooooo bad in the heart. We've all been there, even old farts like me can still get fucked-up over a woman. The band's discovery on the train, "There is no tomorrow, man, It's all the same fucking day..." blows apart the good day / bad day thing. Moments, NOW, life; do it or regret not doing it. Janis feared sleep; in case she "...missed a party, man," : Gurdjieff wrote, "Sleep little without regret.". This song is not about regret, it's about what we feel.