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
El Salvador
Joan Baez Lyrics
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Take to your bibles, take to your beds, now that nothing seems right
National Guards who they pay by the week are gonna clash in the curfew tonight
With Los companeros born in the war, from Warsaw to San Salvador
A voice from the past comes a callin', saying hold every strong heart dear
These are the days when it seems like there's nothing but newspapers, order, fear
Praise to the ones who are burried gone, and to the brave hearts who just disappeared
Whad'a you got to do to get through
They're deaf as a graveyard
What does Nicaragua say to you?
Think of the midnight, silver & black, think if the sun can be fooled
Think of the four sisters shot in the back for running a land reform school
Think of the ones taken hard in the hills, they can be beaten but they can never be ruled
Los Companeros, born in the war, viva El Salvador
The lyrics to Joan Baez's song El Salvador paint a vivid picture of a country in turmoil. The first verse begins with a sense of resignation as the city sleeps and nothing seems right. The National Guards, who are paid by the week, are set to clash in the curfew. The reference to "Los Companeros" suggests that this is a civil war between different factions, and the mention of both Warsaw and San Salvador implies that this is a global conflict.
The second verse brings in a voice from the past that exhorts the listener to hold strong in the face of fear and adversity. The focus is on those who suffered and died fighting for their beliefs, including the buried and the disappeared. Again, the reference to Los Companeros suggests that this is a political struggle, not just a violent conflict.
The final lines of the song celebrate the resilience and determination of those who fight for their ideals, no matter the cost. The repeated cry of "viva El Salvador" emphasizes that this is a song about a specific place and people, but it also speaks to the universal human desire for freedom and justice.
Line by Line Meaning
Now that the city is dreaming, viva the pale moonlight
In the silence of the night, the city is peaceful, however, this peace is due to the exhaustion of the people with the ongoing conflicts in El Salvador.
Take to your bibles, take to your beds, now that nothing seems right
In times of crisis, people tend to resort to religion and intimacy as a way to escape the harsh realities of the world.
National Guards who they pay by the week are gonna clash in the curfew tonight
The National Guards hired by the government are going to confront people who violate their curfew tonight; these guards are only following orders without considering the humanitarian consequences of their actions.
With Los companeros born in the war, from Warsaw to San Salvador
Los Companeros are a group of people who were born and raised in the midst of war and conflict across different countries, which made them experience the same struggle and determined them to support the Salvadorian revolution.
A voice from the past comes a callin', saying hold every strong heart dear
The voice from the past is reminding the people of the courage and determination that they have displayed in the face of adversity and urges them to hold onto hope and determination to see a better future ahead.
These are the days when it seems like there's nothing but newspapers, order, fear
The days are frightening and uncertain with the news only reflecting chaos, and the government enforcing more laws to control the population, breeding fear among the masses.
Praise to the ones who are burried gone, and to the brave hearts who just disappeared
The singer is paying tribute to the people who lost their lives due to this conflict, and to those who fought for justice but were silenced, and honors their contribution by continuing to sing their struggles through her songs.
Los companeros, born in the war, from Belfast to San Salvador
The Companeros are a widespread group of people born in the war-torn societies across different countries, who share the same spirit of rebellion and revolution as the Salvadorians.
Whad'a you got to do to get through
The singer is expressing her frustration at the deafness of the government towards the cries of the people and questioning what it will take for them to truly listen and address the concerns of the population.
They're deaf as a graveyard
The government is not listening to the people's cries for freedom and democracy and is turning a deaf ear to all their demands.
What does Nicaragua say to you?
The singer is questioning the Government's position on fellow war-torn country Nicaragua, which has also experienced devastating conflicts, warning that what's happening across the border can happen in El Salvador as well.
Think of the midnight, silver & black, think if the sun can be fooled
The singer is reminiscing on the darkness of the night, the silver lining of hope that shines through the blackness, and the possibility of changing one's perspective to understand and face the realities of the world.
Think of the four sisters shot in the back for running a land reform school
The singer is highlighting the story of the four sisters who were running a school to bring awareness about land reform who were shot dead in the back as an example of the cruelty and violence towards peaceful protestors and activists.
Think of the ones taken hard in the hills, they can be beaten but they can never be ruled
The singer is reminding the masses of the people in the hills who are fighting for freedom and justice and how they might be losing many battles but will ultimately emerge victorious as they cannot be ruled forever and are fighting for a just cause.
Los Companeros, born in the war, viva El Salvador
As a tribute to the spirit and determination of the Companeros and their support for the Salvadorian revolution, the singer ends the song by saying, "Long live El Salvador".
Contributed by Molly N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ricardorebollo6621
Una canción dedicada a mi patria El Salvador, gracias por tanta solidaridad .
@militodiax360
LA MEJOR CANTANTE DE FOLK DE ESTADOS UNIDOS Y QUIZA DEL MUNDO, JOAN BAEZ, LLENA DE BELLEZA ESPIRITUAL...
@mariareinildesrodriguesdac1045
Mulher, cantora e grande guerreira 💖
@dougcastel
Viva Bukele..
@andrestejada1973
Esta canción hace alusión a lo que fue la guerra civil de mi país, una linda canción a pesar que fue de uno de los episodios más tristes en la historia.
@helloskinny510
Los ochentas son recordados como la mejor decada por mucha gente, pero lamentablemente para Centro America fue la peor decada, ya que toda la regiòn fue duramente castigada por EEUU en represalia por el triunfo de la Revolucion Sandinista de 1979 en Nicaragua.