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.
Don't Weep After Me
Joan Baez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't you weep after me
When I'm dead and buried
Don't you weep after me
When I'm dead and buried
Don't you weep after me
Oh, I don't want you to weep after me
Don't you weep after me
In the good old ship of Zion
King Peter is the captain
Bright angels are the sailors
You poor distressed sinners
Oh, look a Mary
She's lookin' over Jordan
Oh, look-a Martha
Oh, run along my friends
Tell my Lord I'm coming
The lyrics of Joan Baez's song Don't Weep After Me begins with the repeated chorus urging loved ones not to mourn when the singer is dead and buried. The singer is confident in her faith and prepared for whatever is to come. The lyrics give the impression that the singer is at peace with death and her passing is expected. The song goes on to describe the afterlife as similar to the biblical tale of Noah's Ark. The singer imagines herself sailing on the ocean on the 'Good Old Ship of Zion,' with King Peter as the captain, and bright angels as sailors. The song's message suggests that death is not the end of life, and that the singer will be reunited with others who have passed on before her, like Mary and Martha. The song exhorts the singer's friends to pass on the message that she is on her way to see the Lord.
The lyrics of Don't Weep After Me contain many biblical reference and symbolism. The 'Good Old Ship of Zion' is a metaphor for the Church as the vessel that safely transports the believers to their final destination. King Peter symbolizes St. Peter, the heavenly gatekeeper. Mary and Martha, the sisters from the New Testament, are also mentioned in the song. The passage evokes the idea that the singer imagines the afterlife to be like being on a ship sailing towards Heaven with God, Saint Peter, and angels.
Line by Line Meaning
When I'm dead and buried
When my physical body has decayed and returned to the earth
Don't you weep after me
Do not mourn or grieve for my passing
Oh, I don't want you to weep after me
I ask of you to let go of me and not be burdened by my death
Sailin' on the ocean
Traveling through life's journey
Don't you weep after me
Don't be sad after I am gone
In the good old ship of Zion
In the safe haven of heaven
King Peter is the captain
The leader and guide of my journey is the divine being, Peter
Bright angels are the sailors
The celestial beings are the protectors and helpers on my journey
You poor distressed sinners
Those who are troubled and suffer because of their misdeeds
Oh, look a Mary
Reference to the biblical figure Mary who represents purity and grace
She's lookin' over Jordan
Mary is watching over me as I cross the metaphorical river Jordan to reach heaven
Oh, look-a Martha
Reference to the biblical figure Martha who represents humility and service
Oh, run along my friends
Calling on my loved ones to continue their lives and not be held back by my death
Tell my Lord I'm coming
Sending the message to my divine being that I am on my way to meet them
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BILL WOOD, JOAN BAEZ, TED ALEVIZOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kandykanedee2702
Awesome song!
@MrMusicguyma
This might be first commercial recording of Joan Baez. Hardly the "Best of", but OK.