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
Black Is The Colour
Joan Baez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is the color of my true love's hair
Her lips are like a rose so fair
And the prettiest face and the neatest hands.
I love the grass whereon she stands
She with the wondrous hair.
Black, black, black
Her face is something truly rare.
Oh I do love my love and so well she knows
I love the ground whereon she goes.
She with the wondrous hair.
Black, black, black
Is the color of my true love's hair
Alone, my life would be so bare.
I would sigh, I would weep,
I would never fall asleep
My love is 'way beyond compare
She with the wondrous hair.
Black, black, black
Is the color of my true love's hair.
The song "Black Is the Color of My True Love's Hair" by Joan Baez is a love song that describes the physical attributes of a woman, focusing specifically on her hair. In each stanza, the singer repeats that her true love's hair is black, while also describing her other physical features. The singer expresses her love for her true love and her admiration for her appearance, continuously emphasizing the beauty of the woman's hair.
The repeated use of the color black is significant, as it symbolizes the depth and meaning in the love that the singer feels for her true love. The singer clearly sees her true love's beauty as more than skin deep, and it goes beyond just her physical appearance. The song's focus on the woman's hair as a symbol of her beauty and uniqueness sets her apart and makes her special in the eyes of the singer.
In addition to the song's romantic message, it also speaks to the universal theme of the power of love to transform and inspire. The singer's love for her true love is so strong that it would leave her feeling empty and incomplete without her. Therefore, the song conveys a message that love is not just a feeling but a way of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Black, black, black
My true love's hair is a deep and rich black color, which I find stunning and captivating.
is the color of my true love's hair
I am describing the physical appearance of my true love, and emphasizing how much I adore the color of their hair.
Her lips are like a rose so fair
In addition to their hair, I also find my true love's lips to be equally beautiful and alluring, like a perfect rose.
And the prettiest face and the neatest hands.
My true love is not only blessed with a stunning hair color and lovely lips, but they also possess a gorgeous face and neat, well-groomed hands.
I love the grass whereon she stands
I love everything about my true love, including the surroundings where they stand and the environment we share together.
She with the wondrous hair.
I am repeating my love and adoration for my true love's hair, which appears to be one of the most captivating attributes about them in my eyes.
Her face is something truly rare.
I am emphasizing how unique and special my true love's face is, which I believe to be one-of-a-kind and incredibly beautiful.
Oh I do love my love and so well she knows
I am expressing how deeply and passionately I love my true love, and how aware they are of my true feelings and emotions towards them.
I love the ground whereon she goes.
My love and affection for my true love extend beyond just their physical appearance, and I also cherish the places where they go and stand.
Alone, my life would be so bare.
Without my true love in my life, I feel as though I would be missing a vital piece of myself and living a much less fulfilling existence.
I would sigh, I would weep,
The mere thought of losing my true love fills me with great sadness and despair, causing me to sigh and weep at the possibility.
I would never fall asleep
The absence of my true love would make it difficult for me to find rest or peace, as my mind would be constantly consumed by thoughts of them.
My love is 'way beyond compare
I believe that my love for my true love is unparalleled and unmatched, and that they are truly one-of-a-kind and irreplaceable.
She with the wondrous hair.
I am repeating my admiration for my true love's hair, which continues to captivate and enchant me in ways that are hard to describe.
Black, black, black
I am reminding the listener of my true love's hair color, which remains a central focus and theme throughout the song.
is the color of my true love's hair.
I am concluding the song by reiterating the importance and beauty of my true love's black hair, which I find incredibly mesmerizing and alluring.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: . TRADITIONAL, DAMIEN GEORGE RICE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lcymds
I fell in love with this song when in my twenties. Now in my sixties, nothing has changed - a timeless beauty sung by one of the best voices in the world.
@nexttvmarketing
JOAN BAEZ IS NOT ONLY A HIGH QUALITY HUMAN BEING BUT ONE ON THE MOST ANGELIC VOICES IVE EVER HEARD
@maevemcmahon4286
and an astonishingly brave woman! been under fire many times … she was and always will be my inspiration
@richardportman8912
Well you don't need to shout about it! I agree already. Eh, what did you say?
@bobfreiburghouse7830
Joan Baez voice is so pure and she sings with such feeling no one can compare to her.
@jayloewe
This is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard. Only Joan Baez could do it justice.
@neeceeblack
Nina Simone’s version does it more than justice, she adds value and depth to a song already heavy with the weight of time. But I think this is beautiful too. Joan Baez’s rendition sounds magical and mysterious while Nina’s is full of yearning, and emotion, and maybe even heartache.
@neeceeblack
Joan Baez’s rendition sounds magical and mysterious while Nina’s is full of yearning, and emotion, and maybe even heartache.
@theolfa
The closest version to my teenage memory of it. the best!
@visionbear
THIS IS AMAZING TO HEAR NOW: BUT I REMEMBER THE CHILLS WHEN I HEARD IT "LIVE" .