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. On July 28, 2019, following dates across Europe, Baez performed her final concert at Madrid's Teatro Real. In January 2021, Baez received a 2020 Kennedy Center Honor.
David's Song
Joan Baez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
By the stony gate
And the little one
In my arms will sleep.
Every rising of the moon
Makes the years grow late
And the love in our hearts will keep.
There are friends I will make
As the seasons roll by
And we build our own sky.
In my heart I will wait
By the stony gate
And the little one
In my arms will sleep.
And the stars in your sky
Are the stars in mine
And both prisoners
Of this life are we.
Through the same troubled waters
We carry our time,
You and the convicts and me.
There's a good thing to know
On the outside or in,
To answer not where
But just who I am.
Because the stars in your sky
Are the stars in mine
And both prisoners
Of this life are we.
And the hills that you know
Will remain for you
And the little willow green
Will stand firm.
The flowers that we planted
Through the seasons past
Will all bloom
On the day you return.
To a baby at play
All a mother can say,
He'll return on the wind
To our hearts, and till then
I will sit and I'll wait
By the stony gate
And the little one
'Neath the trees will dance.
The lyrics of Joan Baez's song A Song For David describe a mother's love for her child and her unwavering faith that he will return to her, even if it takes a long time. The imagery of the stony gate and the rising moon gives a sense of the passing of time, as the mother waits for her child with patience, comforted by the love in her heart. However, the song also acknowledges the harsh realities of life, with lines like "both prisoners of this life are we" reflecting the struggles and challenges faced by all people, including the child who has left his mother's side.
The song's lyrics also touch on the themes of identity and belonging, with the mother singing that it is more important to know "just who I am" rather than where she is or where she is going. This speaks to the idea that our true selves are not defined by external factors like our surroundings, but by our inner thoughts and feelings. The song's gentle, calming melody and heartfelt lyrics make it a poignant tribute to the enduring bond between a mother and her child.
Line by Line Meaning
In my heart I will wait
I will be patient and wait for the person to return.
By the stony gate
I will wait at a specific location - the stony gate.
And the little one
While I wait, I will hold a child in my arms.
In my arms will sleep.
The child will sleep peacefully in my arms as I wait.
Every rising of the moon
As time passes, with every new moon.
Makes the years grow late
I will get older with each passing year.
And the love in our hearts will keep.
But the love I have for the person I am waiting for will remain the same.
There are friends I will make
I will make new friends while waiting.
And bonds I will break
And I will end relationships with others.
As the seasons roll by
As time goes on, and the seasons change.
And we build our own sky.
We will create our own futures, and make our own happiness.
And the stars in your sky
The world you see, with the stars above it.
Are the stars in mine
Are the same as the ones above mine.
And both prisoners
We are both trapped.
Of this life are we.
We are trapped in this life.
Through the same troubled waters
We all face hardships, struggles.
We carry our time,
We have to carry on with our lives, despite the struggles.
You and the convicts and me.
We are all in the same boat and fighting the same battle.
There's a good thing to know
There is something important to remember.
On the outside or in,
No matter where we are, inside or out.
To answer not where
It's not important to know where someone is.
But just who I am.
Knowing who we are as people, and staying true to ourselves, is what matters.
And the hills that you know
The world you know, the landscape.
Will remain for you
Will always be there.
And the little willow green
The small, tender trees.
Will stand firm.
Will remain strong and rooted in place.
The flowers that we planted
The beauty and goodness we create in this world.
Through the seasons past
Over the years, the good that we have done.
Will all bloom
Will bear fruit, blossom.
On the day you return.
When the person comes back, everything will be as it was.
To a baby at play
To a playful child.
All a mother can say,
A mother can only say so much.
He'll return on the wind
The person will come back, as if carried by the wind.
To our hearts, and till then
Until that day comes.
I will sit and I'll wait
I will be patient and wait.
By the stony gate
I will wait at a specific location.
And the little one
While I wait, I will hold a child in my arms.
'Neath the trees will dance.
The child will dance and play under the trees, while I wait with love and patience.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JOAN BAEZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@goran586
David Victor Harris (February 28, 1946 – February 6, 2023) R.I.P.
@sharlaroc
Rest in Peace❣️
@namyarasree
Wonderful song composed during war in Vietnam for her husband David while he is in jail, that splendid voice of Joan Baez....Beautiful..!!!
@paullum1859
Beautiful! My parents bought her albums in the mid 60’s,. My Dad loved her music
@hometruths9411
I love this song, thanks so much for the upload. Joan's singing voice has changed so much through the years but has always remained beautiful.
@ceciliaaguayo7249
Hermosa canción, hermosa voz.
@christinemidora9514
David Passed away today. 02/07/23.
@rockmail1
A wonderful song, a wonderful voice.
@dd-dd7uz
wonderful song
@sharlaroc
Thanks David!