Joan Baez, born on January 9th, 1941, is an American folk singer and a song… Read Full Bio ↴Joan Baez, born on January 9th, 1941, is an American folk singer and a songwriter who is of mixed Mexican and Scottish descent. Baez rose to prominence in the early '60s with her stunning renditions of traditional balladry.

In the late '60s and early '70s, Baez came into her songwriting own, penning many songs (most notably "Diamonds & Rust," a nostalgic piece about her ill-fated romance with Bob Dylan, and "Sweet Sir Galahad," a song about sister Mimi Fariña's ( of Richard & Mimi Fariña fame) second marriage, and continued to meld her songcraft with topical issues. She was outspoken in her disapproval of the Vietnam war and later the CIA-backed coups in many Latin American countries.

She was also instrumental in the Civil Rights movement, marching with Dr. Martin Luther King on many occassions and being jailed for her beliefs. In 1963, her performance of "We Shall Overcome" at the Lincoln Memorial just prior to Dr. King's famous "I Have A Dream..." speech helped confirm the song as the Civil Rights anthem.

In December 1972, she traveled to Hanoi, North Vietnam, and was caught in that country's "Christmas Campaign," in which the U.S. bombed the city more times than any other during the entire war. While pregnant with her only son, Gabriel, she performed a handful of songs in the middle of the night on day one of the 1969 Woodstock festival. She is considered the "Queen of Folk" for being at the forefront of the 1960s folk revival and inspiring generations of female folksingers that followed. Over fifty years after she first began singing publicly in 1958, Joan Baez continues to tour, demonstrate in favor of human rights and nonviolence, and release albums for a world of devoted fans.

1959

Annie Had a Baby
Joan Baez Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Annie had a baby, can't work no more
No, no, no, no, no, no, no
Annie had a baby, can't work no more
Every time she start to working
She has to stop to walk the baby 'cross the floor

She had to walk with the baby
Instead of me

Talk to the baby
Instead of me
Sing to the baby
Instead of me
Cling to the baby
Instead of me

Now I know I know Annie understood
That's what's happens when the game gets good

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Annie Had a Baby" by Joan Baez are primarily about the struggles of a young mother named Annie. The song describes how Annie had to stop working because she had a baby and how the baby's needs interrupted her work whenever she tried to resume it. The lyrics describe how Annie had to spend her time walking, talking, singing, and clinging to the baby instead of doing her own work. The singer of the song acknowledges that Annie made a choice to prioritize her baby's needs over her own and understands that this is a common experience for women who become mothers.

The song reflects the social and cultural norms of the time when it was written. In the mid-20th century, it was common for women to have limited career opportunities and to be expected to prioritize their family responsibilities over their own personal goals. The song also touches on issues of gender inequality and the ways that women's work is often undervalued compared to men's.

Overall, "Annie Had a Baby" is a poignant reflection on the sacrifices that mothers make for their children and the ways that societal expectations and gender norms can limit women's opportunities.

Line by Line Meaning

Annie had a baby, can't work no more
Annie is unable to work because she had a baby

No, no, no, no, no, no, no
Repetition of 'no' to show the seriousness of the situation

Every time she start to working She has to stop to walk the baby 'cross the floor
Annie has to keep stopping her work to attend to the baby by walking it across the floor

She had to walk with the baby Instead of me
Annie had to take care of the baby while I could not

Talk to the baby Instead of me
Annie had to communicate with the baby instead of me

Sing to the baby Instead of me
Annie had to sing to the baby instead of me

Cling to the baby Instead of me
Annie had to hold on to the baby instead of me

Now I know I know Annie understood That's what's happens when the game gets good
I realize that Annie understood the consequences of having a baby when things get serious

Writer(s): H. Glover, L. Mann

Contributed by London H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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