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
Don't Cry for Me Argentina
Joan Baez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I try to explain how I feel
But I still need your love after all that I've done.
You won't believe me
All you will see is a girl you once knew
Although she's dressed up to the nines
At sixes and sevens with you.
I had to let it happen, I had to change
Couldn't stay all my life down at heel
Looking out of the window, staring out of the sun.
So I chose freedom
Running around, trying everything new
But nothing impressed me at all
I never expected it to.
Don't cry for me Argentina
The truth is I never left you
All through my wild days
My mad existence
I kept my promise
Don't keep your distance.
And as for fortune, and as for fame
I never invited them in
Though it seemed to the world they were all I desired.
They are illusions
They are not the solutions they promised to be
The answer was here all the time
I love you and hope you love me.
Don't cry for me Argentina
Don't cry for me Argentina
The lyrics of "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" by Joan Baez highlight the emotions of a woman who is leaving behind a past life and a lover to pursue freedom and new experiences. The opening stanzas express the challenges of attempting to explain these feelings to the one she is leaving behind, recognizing that they will see her as simply the same girl in different clothing. She declares her need for love despite the mistakes she has made.
Moving forward, the song describes the singer's newfound freedom and explorations, although she admits that none of the experiences has impressed her as much as she thought they would. She then reassures her former lover that he should not cry for her, and that she never truly left him. The final lines declare her love for him and reiterate that the promises they had made to each other still stand.
Overall, the song captures complex emotions of change, exploration, and love. The lyrics recognize the difficulties of these feelings, particularly when trying to communicate them to those left behind, and ultimately show that love can persist and grow through change and separation.
Line by Line Meaning
It won't be easy, you'll think it strange
I understand that you might not understand how I am feeling and that what I must say may be odd or unfamiliar to you.
When I try to explain how I feel
I am going to try to express to you the emotions that I am overwhelmed with.
But I still need your love after all that I've done.
Despite any faults I may have, I still require your love and support to help me through things.
You won't believe me
I feel as though what I say will be hard for you to accept.
All you will see is a girl you once knew
Despite the changes in my life, I fear that you will only see the person I once was and not the person I have become.
Although she's dressed up to the nines
Even if I put on a good front and appear confident and successful, there is more going on beneath the surface.
At sixes and sevens with you.
There is a sense of confusion and uncertainty about our relationship that I cannot shake.
I had to let it happen, I had to change
I had to allow myself to evolve and grow, even if it wasn't an easy process.
Couldn't stay all my life down at heel
I couldn't continue living my life in a state of poverty or uncertainty.
Looking out of the window, staring out of the sun.
I spent a great deal of time searching for direction, but couldn't find it just by looking out the window or staring at the sun.
So I chose freedom
I decided that the most important thing for me was to be free to explore my life and the world around me, without any limitations or constraints.
Running around, trying everything new
I lived life in pursuit of new experiences and tried various things that I had never done before.
But nothing impressed me at all
Despite all of the different opportunities and experiences available to me, none of them truly resonated with me or made me happy.
I never expected it to.
I had no expectations that any of these experiences would lead me to find the answers I was looking for.
Don't cry for me Argentina
Please don't mourn for me, Argentina.
The truth is I never left you
Despite my many travels and experiences, I never forgot my roots or my connection to the people and culture of Argentina.
All through my wild days
Even during my most adventurous and unpredictable moments,
My mad existence
During the times when it felt like the world around me was in chaos or that I was losing control,
I kept my promise
I made a commitment to myself to never lose sight of who I was and where I came from,
Don't keep your distance.
I hope that you will continue to be a part of my life and not let my changes push us apart.
And as for fortune, and as for fame
Although it may seem like having wealth or status is what I desire most in life,
I never invited them in
I never actively pursued these things or made them a priority in my life.
Though it seemed to the world they were all I desired.
Despite not actively seeking fortune or fame, it may have seemed like these were my ultimate goals to those observing my life from the outside.
They are illusions
I have come to realize that wealth and fame are not enduring, and cannot bring true happiness or fulfillment.
They are not the solutions they promised to be
Despite the messages we hear in society about the value of money and fame, in reality, they cannot provide solutions to the deeper problems and challenges that we face in life.
The answer was here all the time
Ultimately, I have come to the realization that the true answer to my quest for fulfillment and purpose was with me all along.
I love you and hope you love me.
Despite everything, you are still important to me, and I hope that we can continue to share a bond of love and caring.
Don't cry for me Argentina
Please don't mourn for me, Argentina.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@fatihasini4402
❤🇦🇷
@taddyd1
Most heartbreaking version of this song ever.
@annecohen8927
I never knew that this song was so popular! Joan Baez sang this version? I previously heard it from Olivia Newton John, a rare one from Karen Carpenter, one from Madonna, which I didn’t like, and one from Donna Summer !! But I can’t find it on album of Karen Carpenter’s which is a huge disappointment. And I don’t think I can find it on cd either. Oh yes there’s one with Sarah Brightman, too😮
@claudiesix3559
Hello ! Joan Baez sang it in 1980.
@thepizzasnobofnepasnj3730
Sorry Joan, your interpretation of this song is too fast and muffled. 😢
You voice is beautiful and resonates with fire. You have blessed us with other lovely songs. Thank you.