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
Cry Me A River
Joan Baez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You cried the long night through
Well, you can cry me a river, cry me a river
I cried a river over you
Now you say you're sorry
For being so untrue
Well, you can cry me a river, cry me a river
You drove me, nearly drove me, out of my head
While you never shed a tear
Remember, I remember, all that you said
You told me love was too plebeian
Told me you were through with me and
Now you say, you say you love me
Well, just to prove that you do
Come on and cry me a river, cry me a river
'Cause I cried a river over you
You drove me, nearly drove me, out of my head
While you never shed a tear
Remember, remember, all that you said
Told me love was too plebeian
Told me you were through with me and
Now, now you say you love me
Well, just to prove you do
Come on and cry, cry, cry me a river, cry me a river
'Cause I cried a river over you
If my pillow talk, imagine what it would have said
Could it be a river of tears I cried in bed?
So you can cry me a river
Daddy, go ahead and cry that river
'Cause I cried, how I cried a river over you
How I cried a river over you
The Joan Baez song "Cry Me A River" is a powerful ballad about the aftermath of a breakup. The song starts with the singer acknowledging that her ex-partner is lonely and crying through the night. However, this only serves to remind her of her own pain, which led her to cry "a river over you."
The singer then flips the script by telling her ex that she understands he's sorry for being untrue, but that his apologies won't change anything. She then reminds him of how he had driven her out of her head and had never shed a tear for her own pain. He had told her that love was too plebeian and that he was through with her.
The chorus repeats the main message: if the ex wants to prove he loves her, he can cry her a river, because she had already shed one over him. The final verse adds a new element with the idea of pillow talk, hinting at an intimacy that was once there but is now gone. The song ends with the singer asserting that she will not be hurt any longer; she has already cried her river for him.
Overall, the song is a poignant reflection on a failed relationship and the damage that can be done when love is lost.
Line by Line Meaning
Now you say you're lonely
You are telling me now that you feel deserted and forlorn
You cried the long night through
You spent the night crying and weeping
Well, you can cry me a river, cry me a river
I am not going to be sympathetic towards you even if you ask me to
I cried a river over you
I have already cried a lot because of you
Now you say you're sorry
You want to apologize now
For being so untrue
For not being loyal to me earlier
You drove me, nearly drove me, out of my head
You made me so upset that I almost went crazy
While you never shed a tear
You didn't show any emotions and didn't even cry
Remember, I remember, all that you said
I still remember every word you spoke to me
You told me love was too plebeian
You said that love was too ordinary and common
Told me you were through with me and
You also said that our relationship is over
Now you say, you say you love me
You are telling me now that you love me
Well, just to prove that you do
In order to prove your love to me
Come on and cry me a river, cry me a river
I still won't be sympathetic towards you even if you cry
'Cause I cried a river over you
Because of you, I have already cried a lot
If my pillow talk, imagine what it would have said
If my pillow could talk, it would tell you how much I cried at night
Could it be a river of tears I cried in bed?
I may have cried so much that it felt like a river in my bed
So you can cry me a river
You can cry as much as you want
Daddy, go ahead and cry that river
Even if your father told you to cry, it won't make a difference to me
'Cause I cried, how I cried a river over you
I cried a lot because of you
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Arthur Hamilton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@alfredotaperubin7645
Traducción automática vía Google Translate
Now you say you're lonely
You cried the long night through
Well, you can cry me a river
Cry me a river
I cried river over you
Now you say you're sorry
For being so untrue
Well, you can cry me a river
Cry me a river
'Cause I cried, I cried, I cried a river over you
You drove me
Nearly drove me out of my head
While you never shed a tear
Remember?
I remember all that you said
Told me love was to plebeian
Told me you were through with me
Now you say, you say you love me
Well, just to prove you do
Cry me a river
Cry me a river
I cried a river over you
@MariajoseBPARRE
What a marvel Joan Baez. He was looking for versions of this song and did not imagine that she would have recorded it. When I saw her name, I knew it would be the best. Thank you. I always tell you. ♥ ️
@anotheryou218
Baez is something of an enigma to me. I never understood why such a sensational voice was forever singing material that didn't fully display all its charms. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe those lovely old folk songs from the early days were perfect for it. One of the purest, most perfect voices I have ever heard. This wonderful song doesn't seem to bring out the best in it but it is great to hear her sing something out of her usual wheelhouse for a change.
@raecoyote
Sublime ... Joan can sing anything 💗
@nadiasimmons5403
Absolutely wonderful version! 🌼💛
@MiserableOldFart
This is the best cover of this song I've ever heard.
@mikewilbourne9492
Joan does such a great job with this song, also her photo on the cover is her best ever!
@Kanonalegria5
Yo la oí por ella hace tiempo, y la canta fenomenal!!
@CaitlinGilliganMusic
She was, is and always will be beyond beautiful.
@andresschell9193
Perfect for a moonlight night like this.
@SuperAlemoya
Thank you so much for sharing beautiful music! And excellent artist !!!