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
Dona Dona
Joan Baez Lyrics
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There's a calf with a mournful eye.
High above him there's a swallow,
Winging swiftly through the sky.
How the winds are laughing,
They laugh with all their might.
Laugh and laugh the whole day through,
Donna, Donna, Donna, Donna; Donna, Donna, Donna, Don.
Donna, Donna, Donna, Donna; Donna, Donna, Donna, Don.
"Stop complaining!" said the farmer,
"Who told you a calf to be ?
Why don't you have wings to fly with,
Like the swallow so proud and free?"
How the winds are laughing,
They laugh with all their might.
Laugh and laugh the whole day through,
And half the summer's night.
Donna, Donna, Donna, Donna; Donna, Donna, Donna, Don.
Donna, Donna, Donna, Donna; Donna, Donna, Donna, Don.
Calves are easily bound and slaughtered,
Never knowing the reason why.
But whoever treasures freedom,
Like the swallow has learned to fly.
How the winds are laughing,
They laugh with all their might.
Laugh and laugh the whole day through,
And half the summer's night.
Donna, Donna, Donna, Donna; Donna, Donna, Donna, Don.
Donna, Donna, Donna, Donna; Donna, Donna, Donna, Don.
The lyrics of Joan Baez's song Dona Dona convey a message of the struggle for freedom and the inherent unfairness of some individuals being able to experience it while others are bound to their fate. The song tells the story of a calf being taken to market on a wagon alongside a swallow flying freely above. While the winds laugh around them, the farmer questions why the calf cannot fly like the swallow instead of being made to go to market. He implies that if the calf had wings, it could be free like the swallow. The song suggests that the calf is a metaphor for the human struggle for freedom, and the inherent injustice of those who have it using their power to deny it to others.
The lyrics "calves are easily bound and slaughtered, never knowing the reason why" suggest the tragedy and cruelty that exists in society when freedom is denied. In contrast, "whoever treasures freedom, like the swallow has learned to fly" conveys the idea of the need for individuals to seek and cherish their own freedom. These contrasting images create a powerful commentary on what it means to be free and the role freedom plays in human life.
Line by Line Meaning
On a wagon bound for market
On a wagon heading towards the marketplace
There's a calf with a mournful eye.
There is a sad-looking calf on the wagon
High above him there's a swallow,
A swallow is flying above the calf
Winging swiftly through the sky.
Flying quickly through the air
How the winds are laughing,
The winds sound like they are laughing
They laugh with all their might.
The winds are laughing loudly
Laugh and laugh the whole day through,
The winds laugh continuously throughout the day
And half the summer's night.
And for half of the summer night
Donna, Donna, Donna, Donna; Donna, Donna, Donna, Don.
The repeated phrase 'Donna, Donna, Donna, Donna; Donna, Donna, Donna, Don.' represents a refrain or chorus in the song
"Stop complaining!" said the farmer,
The farmer tells the calf to stop complaining
"Who told you a calf to be ?
The farmer questions the calf's existence on the wagon
Why don't you have wings to fly with,
The farmer questions why the calf cannot fly like the swallow
Like the swallow so proud and free?"
The farmer compares the calf's lack of freedom to the swallow's freedom of flight
Calves are easily bound and slaughtered,
Calves are easily captured and killed for their meat
Never knowing the reason why.
The calves do not understand why they are being killed
But whoever treasures freedom,
People who value freedom
Like the swallow has learned to fly.
Are like the swallow, which has learned how to fly
Contributed by Nathan P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@asifloading3042
On a wagon bound for market
There's a calf with a mournful eye
High above him there's a swallow
Winging swiftly through the sky
How the winds are laughing
They laugh with all the their might
Laugh and laugh the whole day through
And half the summer's night
Donna Donna Donna Donna
Donna Donna Donna Don
Donna Donna Donna Donna
Donna Donna Donna Don
"Stop complaining", said the farmer
Who told you a calf to be
Why don't you have wings to fly with
Like the swallow so proud and free
How the winds are laughing
They laugh with all the their might
Laugh and laugh the whole day through
And half the summer's night
Donna Donna Donna Donna
Donna Donna Donna Don
Donna Donna Donna Donna
Donna Donna Donna Don
Calves are easily bound and slaughtered
Never knowing the reason why
But whoever treasures freedom
Like the swallow has learned to fly
How the winds are laughing
They laugh with all the their might
Laugh and laugh the whole day through
And half the summer's night
Donna Donna Donna Donna
Donna Donna Donna Don
Donna Donna Donna Donna
Donna Donna Donna Don
@binanovida7948
Donna Donna"
On a wagon bound for market
there's a calf with a mournful eye.
High above him there's a swallow,
winging swiftly through the sky.
[Chorus:]
How the winds are laughing,
they laugh with all their might.
Laugh and laugh the whole day through,
and half the summer's night.
Donna, Donna, Donna, Donna; Donna, Donna, Donna, Don.
Donna, Donna, Donna, Donna; Donna, Donna, Donna, Don.
"Stop complaining!" said the farmer,
"Who told you a calf to be?
Why don't you have wings to fly with,
like the swallow so proud and free?"
[Chorus:]
How the winds are laughing,
they laugh with all their might.
Laugh and laugh the whole day through,
and half the summer's night.
Donna, Donna, Donna, Donna; Donna, Donna, Donna, Don.
Donna, Donna, Donna, Donna; Donna, Donna, Donna, Don.
Calves are easily bound and slaughtered,
never knowing the reason why.
But whoever treasures freedom,
like the swallow has learned to fly.
[Chorus:]
How the winds are laughing,
they laugh with all their might.
Laugh and laugh the whole day through,
and half the summer's night.
Donna, Donna, Donna, Donna; Donna, Donna, Donna, Don.
Donna, Donna, Donna, Donna; Donna, Donna, Donna, Don.
@Dianelee999
My older sister and I would sing this song together as she played guitar. My sweetest memories are when we sang harmony together. She died at age 18 of liver cancer. I was 17 then, and now at age 62 this song makes me 12 again, singing harmony with my sister. 💜 I miss you, Chrissy.
Edit: since this post, I have been so moved by the compassion of readers from all over the world. You have been a great comfort. Christine Ann was my only sister. When I was little, I would curl up at the foot of her bed rather than sleep in my own. I was always in awe of her mastery of music theory. Our singing was a deep bond. This song touches me still. Thank you for the love. Diane 🦋
@sitifaizah3628
This cut me deep :(
@Dianelee999
@Sabina Huseynova Thank you 🙏
@babayaga5638
İ'm too much sad to hear
@clairel254
<3
@dukechan8924
Sorry about your sister
@rodeboer2
Due to a horrible divorce I lost contact with my children for 7 years now. Almost every evening I sang this song two times when bringing my youngest daughter to bed. First time on the original melody, second time with the refrain on a selfmade melody. Almost every night, year after year. One of my dearest and most painfull memories. We had an intimate joke together: I always skipped the last word 'don', and my daughter was always waiting untill that last 'don' to come. And then, when she no longer expected it or was almost falling asleep, that last word 'don' sounded and we laughed together.
I hope she will remember this beautifull sung. The words are so simple and true. I hope she finds the strength to put the terrible misery of her parents' divorce behind her - a divorce that she never wanted but which has shaped her. And that she finds the strength, that inner power, to become a swallow once again, and not a calf.
@ahmedayaz6685
Men should not lose their children after divorce. Something is wrong
@alexanderkieding2268
Thank you for sharing your pain. It resonates with so manys. Mine too.
@humanfirst1578
How can a voice be so haunting, so livid, so beautiful? Always puts a tear in my eye, inadvertently.