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
Be Not Too Hard
Joan Baez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And nothing is given to man
Be not too hard when he is sold or bought
For he must manage as best he can
Be not too hard when he blindly dies
Fighting for things he does not own
Be not too hard when he tells lies
Be not too hard for soon he'll die
Often no wiser than he began
Be not too hard for life is short
And nothing is given to man
And nothing is given to man
In this poignant song, Joan Baez urges listeners to be kind and compassionate to others, even when they don't necessarily deserve it. The lyrics speak to the fleeting nature of life, emphasizing that each person is simply doing their best with what they have been handed. Baez admonishes us not to be too harsh or judgemental when someone falls short or fails, exhaling that forgiveness and understanding are key to living a peaceful and happy life.
In the first stanza, Baez urges us not to be too critical of those who have been dealt a bad hand in life, recognizing that we all have limitations and challenges to overcome. In the second stanza, she reminds us that people fight and struggle for things that they believe in, even if we may not agree with their motivations or their actions. In the third stanza, Baez notes that a person's heart may be hardened or they may tell lies, but again, stresses the importance of forgiveness and understanding, and not being too hard.
Overall, the song is a powerful reminder that we should treat others with kindness and compassion, recognizing that everyone is just trying to do their best in this all-too-short existence we call life.
Line by Line Meaning
Be not too hard for life is short
Don't be excessively strict because life is brief
And nothing is given to man
Humans are not given anything without effort or struggle
Be not too hard when he is sold or bought
Don't be too hard on someone for their situation of being traded
For he must manage as best he can
Because they must take care of themselves as best they can
Be not too hard when he blindly dies
Don't judge too harshly for foolish death
Fighting for things he does not own
While fighting for what they don't own
Be not too hard when he tells lies
Don't be too tough on them for dishonest acts
Or if his heart is sometimes like a stone
Or if they come across as someone who is emotionless or unfeeling
Be not too hard for soon he'll die
Don't be severe since they will soon leave this world
Often no wiser than he began
Many times having gained no knowledge or wisdom
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Christopher Logue, Donovan Leitch
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Aminimax
Be not too hard for life is short
And nothing is given to man.
Be not too hard when he is sold or bought,
For he must manage as best he can.
Be not too hard when he blindly dies
Fighting for things he does not own.
Be not too hard when he tells lies
Or if his heart is sometimes like a stone.
Be not too hard for soon he'll die,
Often no wiser than he began.
Be not too hard for life is short
And nothing is given to man.
And nothing is given to man.
@susanbryan4939
When my husband and I were new hippies, we were ready to tear down our country AND our fellows who didn't agree with us, or who were not like us. I had a very quiet, humble hippie friend that I worked with who one day shared, after a tiraid of mine, the words to this Joan Baez song, "Be Not Too Hard." It was a beginning I think for me of realizing the stuff of which I am made and not just seeing the stuff of what others are made....the good and the bad. Joan wrote later, "There But for Fortune" and that now is my favorite song to sing of hers.
She goes through a few of the "least of these"....those who at the bottom of our list and after describing each, she says,
"...and I'll show you a young man for so many reasons why,
there but for fortune go you or I.....go you or I."
There is a deep commrodary we have with our fellows. This ever present struggle between good and bad and how it all effects our hearts. It is so hard here with all that can happen to our hearts through the wounds of others and circumstances. I love my fellows now more than I ever have (and indeed it was a long journey) because I know what I might never do in actuality, I could do in possibility. I am humbled and so I must love, forgive, forbear and show above all, grace to my precious fellows. Don't you think that is what Jesus did?
It ain't easy and many times I fall. But it is truly the hard but right way.
@harshavswaminathan
Joan Baez you are great and this world needs more like you. Harsha Vardhana (India)
@davidchamberlain5425
Another wonderful melody..🎶🎵🙏👍
@verbaud
One of the songs by Joan AND Donovan that still drives my heart. Compassion & forgiveness. What a concept.
@Aminimax
Be not too hard for life is short
And nothing is given to man.
Be not too hard when he is sold or bought,
For he must manage as best he can.
Be not too hard when he blindly dies
Fighting for things he does not own.
Be not too hard when he tells lies
Or if his heart is sometimes like a stone.
Be not too hard for soon he'll die,
Often no wiser than he began.
Be not too hard for life is short
And nothing is given to man.
And nothing is given to man.
@AgeevDmitry
Brava!
@ranaldbruce9524
The song was written by Donovan and Christopher Logue and was recorded by Joan Baez. The older I get the more I accept that compassion is the only thing that really matters in this world.
@trevormcgaughran9351
You could very well be right there. :)
@tedfournier5590
TREVOR MCGAUGHRAN
@mariaalanis8486
Porque me has besado
@dougr.2398
And yet the song also, amazingly, seems to excuse (perhaps better, forgive—-at least partially) those who are lacking in it!!