Joan Baez, born on January 9th, 1941, is an American folk singer and a song… Read Full Bio ↴Joan Baez, born on January 9th, 1941, is an American folk singer and a songwriter who is of mixed Mexican and Scottish descent. Baez rose to prominence in the early '60s with her stunning renditions of traditional balladry.

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

Edge of Glory
Joan Baez Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

My house stands at the edge of glory
Steady as the seasons change
Dreams of grace arise before me
And they call me home again

I went forth with no protection
Through a fierce and a blinding rain
Seeking truth but not perfection

Saw my father's face again

Father father can you hear me
Through this swirl of thoughts unsaid
Dreams of grace arise before me
And they call me home again

My house stands at the edge of glory
Steady as the seasons change
Dreams of grace arise before me
And they call me home again

Take this hand that I hold out
Meant to bridge the years apart
Come in come in from the howling wind
To the clearing of my heart

Still and lovely came the morning
Gone was my father's face
In my house a bright reflection
New among my dreams of grace

My house stands at the edge of glory
Steady as the seasons change

Dreams of grace arise before me
And they call me home again

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Joan Baez's song “Edge of Glory” are soulful and poignant, expressing a deep sense of longing, seeking, and belonging. The singer begins by describing her house that stands at the edge of glory, representing a place that she finds serene, peaceful, and steadfast, even in the midst of changing seasons. She then talks about her inner struggles and the journey she undertakes without any protection, seeking truth but not perfection. She seeks her father's guidance, who appears in her dream, symbolizing the emotional bond that she craves.

In the second stanza, she reaches out to her father and asks him to hear her amidst the “swirl of thoughts unsaid.” She then invites him to come in from the howling wind and the clamor of the world outside to the clearing of her heart, symbolizing a space of intimacy and tranquility. In the final stanza, she glimpses the morning, seeing a bright reflection in her house, which seems to represent a new hope for her. The dreams of grace that arise before her call her home again, bringing her closer to the things that matter to her.

The song conveys a strong sense of yearning, seeking, and reconciliation with oneself, one's past, and the world around. It shows that despite the many struggles that we face and the tasks we undertake, there is always a place where we belong, a space where we can find solace, and a sense of purpose. The lyrics beautifully capture the complexities of human emotions and the desires that drive us to explore, seek, and dream.

Line by Line Meaning

My house stands at the edge of glory
My residence is situated in a place where one can observe greatness and mastery of life.

Steady as the seasons change
My dwelling place is unwavering, even as the world around me inevitably transforms through time.

Dreams of grace arise before me
Images of elegance and charm manifest in my mind's eye, inspiring and uplifting me.

And they call me home again
These visions draw me back to myself, bringing me back to where I belong.

I went forth with no protection
I ventured forth into the unknown without any physical safeguards.

Through a fierce and a blinding rain
I encountered turbulent storms that were both intense and disorienting.

Seeking truth but not perfection
My purpose was to uncover the essence of reality, not to attain undeviating exactness.

Saw my father's face again
I caught a glimpse of my deceased father, bringing back memories of him.

Father father can you hear me
I call out to my father, hoping that he can still hear my voice.

Through this swirl of thoughts unsaid
Amidst conflicting and unexpressed emotions and ideas.

Take this hand that I hold out
Please accept my offer of companionship and connection.

Meant to bridge the years apart
My gesture aims to bring us closer, despite the temporal distance between us.

Come in come in from the howling wind
I invite you to come out of the brutal and merciless elements outside.

To the clearing of my heart
To the open and serene space within my soul.

Still and lovely came the morning
The morning arrived, tranquil and beautiful.

Gone was my father's face
I no longer saw my father's visage.

In my house a bright reflection
Inside my abode, a brilliant and positive reflection is present.

New among my dreams of grace
A novel image of elegance is now part of my inspirational mental imagery.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, GABRIEL EARL MUSIC
Written by: JOAN BAEZ, KAREN O'CONNOR, KENNY GREENBERG, WALTER WILSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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