A Young Gypsy
Joan Baez Lyrics

A young gypsy fell out in a slumber
A young gypsy man fell into a deep sleep

Heading north with a driver he knew
He was traveling towards north with a familiar driver

Someone he'd lived with and trusted
He had lived with and trusted the driver with him

A young woman who trusted him too
A young woman, who also trusted him was with him

That very same day the young gypsy
On that day, the young gypsy man

Had come from a farm in the west
Had come from a western farm

Where the children had played throughout the heat of the day
Where children played in the day heat

Affording the gypsy no rest
Not allowing the gypsy man to rest

And the gypsy's bones were weary
The gypsy man was exhausted

And the front seat looked secure
The front seat looked comfortable

And the gypsy slept on until the sun it was gone
And he kept sleeping until sunset

And the stars pierced the eyes of the girl at his side
The girl sitting next to him watched the stars in the sky

The next morning's day would be Easter
The next day would be Easter morning

He'd dress in his only fine shirt
He would wear his best shirt

And shuffle through clusters of strangers
And walk through crowds of strangers

With his gaze and his shoes in the dirt
Looking down, with shoes full of dirt

And the woman who loved him would watch him
And the woman who loved him would watch over him

Protect him from curious stares
Protecting him from curious glances

For the womenfolk tend to be friendly
As women are generally amicable

And the gypsy's as young as he's fair
As the gypsy man is still very young

And the evening brought on laughter
The evening became joyous

And jars of bright red wine
And bright red wine bottles

And the gypsy drank some and the gypsy had fun
And the gypsy drank and had a good time

And his dancing got wild and the grandmothers smiled
The grandmothers smiled as he danced wildly

Sleeping came easily after
He found sleeping easy afterward

In the arms of the woman that fold
In the woman's arms who cares for him

Up the secrets and dreams of the gypsy
She holds the secrets and dreams of the gypsy

That will never be sought or be sold
Secrets and dreams that are not for sale

In fact, they will never be told
They are secrets and dreams that will never be revealed

For the gypsy is two years old
Because the gypsy man is still very young