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 Color
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.
In Joan Baez's song "Black Is the Color," the color black is repeatedly used to describe the physical features of the singer's true love. The song begins with "black, black, black is the color of my true love's hair." The color black is commonly associated with darkness, mystery, and depth, which could imply that the singer's love is someone who has a deep and mysterious personality. The singer describes her love's lips as "like a rose so fair," which could imply that her love is someone who is beautiful and delicate. Furthermore, the singer also describes her love's face as "something truly rare," which could imply that her love is unique and special. Overall, the use of the color black and the physical descriptions of the singer's love provide insight into the singer's perception of her true love.
The singer's love is also described as having the "prettiest face and the neatest hands," and the singer states that she loves the grass where her love stands. These descriptions suggest that the singer appreciates her love for more than just her physical appearance. She appreciates her love's grace and elegance, as well as her connection to nature. Moreover, the singer states that her life would be bare without her love and that her love is "way beyond compare." These statements suggest that the singer's love is essential to her and that she values her love immensely.
In conclusion, "Black Is the Color" is a love song that uses the color black and physical descriptions to paint a picture of the singer's true love. The song implies that the singer's love is someone who is deep, mysterious, and beautiful, but also someone who has grace and elegance. The love is also essential to the singer and valued immensely.
Line by Line Meaning
Black, black, black
The color of the singer's true love's hair is black and this is emphasized by repeating the word.
Is the color of my true love's hair
The singer's true love has black hair and this is significant enough to be mentioned multiple times throughout the song.
Her lips are like a rose so fair
The singer's true love has lips that are as beautiful and delicate as a rose flower.
And the prettiest face and the neatest hands.
The artist's true love has a beautiful face and well-groomed hands.
I love the grass whereon she stands
The artist loves everything that surrounds their true love, even the grass beneath their feet.
She with the wondrous hair.
The singer's true love has truly amazing hair and this is a central aspect of their beauty.
Her face is something truly rare.
The singer considers their true love's face to be extremely beautiful and unique.
Oh I do love my love and so well she knows
The artist's love for their true love is strong and their love is aware of this fact.
I love the ground whereon she goes.
The artist loves everything that their true love touches, even the ground underneath their feet.
Alone, my life would be so bare.
Without their true love, the artist's life would be empty and unfulfilling.
I would sigh, I would weep,
The singer would feel sad and emotional if they were without their true love.
I would never fall asleep
The artist implies that they would find it difficult to sleep if their true love was not by their side.
My love is 'way beyond compare
The singer considers their love for their true love to be unmatched by anything else.
She with the wondrous hair.
The singer's true love has truly amazing hair and this continues to be a central aspect of their beauty.
Black, black, black
The song ends with a repetition of the first line, emphasizing once again the significance of the color of the singer's true love's hair.
Is the color of my true love's hair.
The song concludes by reminding the listener that the artist's true love has black hair, which is significant enough to be repeated throughout the song.
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" .