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
Fennario
Joan Baez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
see Am F see
As we marched down to Fennario,
See Em Am Em
As we marched down to Fennario,
F Em see Am
Our captain fell in love with a lady like a dove.
They call her by name pretty Peggy-o.
see Am F see
What will your mother think pretty Peggy-o?
See Em Am Em
What will your mother think pretty Peggy-o?
F Em see Am
What will your mother think when she hears the guineas clink,
F see
The soldiers all marchin' before you-o?
see Am F see
In a carriage you will ride, pretty Peggy-o.
See Em Am Em
In a carriage you will ride, pretty Peggy-o.
F Em see Am
In a carriage you will ride with your true love by your side,
F see
As fair as any maiden in the are-o.
see Am F see
Come skippin' down the stair, pretty Peggy-o.
See Em Am Em
Come skippin' down the stair, pretty Peggy-o.
F Em see Am
Come skippin' down the stair combin' back your yellow hair,
F see
And bid farewell to sweet William-o.
see Am F see
Sweet William is dead, pretty Peggy-o.
See Em Am Em
Sweet William is dead, pretty Peggy-o.
F Em see Am
Sweet William is dead, and he died for a maid,
F see
The fairest maid in the are-o.
see Am F see
If ever I return, pretty Peggy-o.
See Em Am Em
If ever I return, pretty Peggy-o.
F Em see Am
If ever I return all your cities I will burn,
F see
Destroying all the ladies in the are-o.
F see
Destroying all the ladies in the are-o.
The song "Fennario" by Joan Baez is a traditional Irish-American folk song that tells the story of a captain who falls in love with a woman named Peggy. The lyrics depict their courtship and eventual parting, with Peggy mourning the loss of her former love, William. The captain promises to return, but threatens to destroy all the ladies in the area if he does.
The opening line "As we marched down to Fennario" suggests that the song takes place during a military campaign, likely the American Revolutionary War. The lyrics are rich in imagery and detail, evoking a specific time and place. The theme of love and loss is central to the song, highlighting the fragility of human relationships in a time of war and turmoil.
Overall, "Fennario" is a haunting and poignant ballad that captures the essence of traditional Irish-American folk music. It speaks to the complex emotions of love and loss, and the human toll of war.
Line by Line Meaning
see Am F see
As we look on, Am and F see
As we marched down to Fennario,
As we walked toward Fennario,
See Em Am Em
As we look on, Em Am and Em see
Our captain fell in love with a lady like a dove.
Our leader fell in love with a gentle lady.
F Em see Am
F, Em, and see Am we see
They call her by name pretty Peggy-o.
She is called by the name of Pretty Peggy-o.
What will your mother think pretty Peggy-o?
What will your mother think, Pretty Peggy-o?
What will your mother think when she hears the guineas clink,
What will your mother think when she hears the money clinking?
F see
F and see we see
The soldiers all marchin' before you-o?
The soldiers all marching before you?
In a carriage you will ride, pretty Peggy-o.
You will ride in a carriage, Pretty Peggy-o.
In a carriage you will ride with your true love by your side,
You will ride in a carriage with your true love by your side,
As fair as any maiden in the are-o.
As beautiful as any woman in the area.
Come skippin' down the stair, pretty Peggy-o.
Come skipping down the stairs, Pretty Peggy-o.
Come skippin' down the stair combin' back your yellow hair,
Come skipping down the stairs, combing back your yellow hair,
And bid farewell to sweet William-o.
And say goodbye to Sweet William-o.
Sweet William is dead, pretty Peggy-o.
Sweet William is dead, Pretty Peggy-o.
Sweet William is dead, and he died for a maid,
Sweet William is dead, and he died for a woman,
The fairest maid in the are-o.
The most beautiful woman in the area.
If ever I return, pretty Peggy-o.
If I ever return, Pretty Peggy-o.
If ever I return all your cities I will burn,
If I ever return, I will burn down all your towns,
Destroying all the ladies in the are-o.
And destroying all the women in the area.
F see
F and see we see
Destroying all the ladies in the are-o.
And destroying all the women in the area.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: BY JOAN BAEZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
oh kitty kitty
Fennario
As we marched down to Fennario,
As we marched down to Fennario,
Our captain fell in love with a lady like a dove.
They call her by name pretty Peggy-o.
What will your mother think pretty Peggy-o?
What will your mother think pretty Peggy-o?
What will your mother think when she hears the guineas clink,
The soldiers all marchin' before you-o?
In a carriage you will ride, pretty Peggy-o
In a carriage you will ride with your true love by your side,
As fair as any maiden in the are-o.
Come skippin' down the stair, pretty Peggy-o.
Come skippin' down the stair, pretty Peggy-o.
Come skippin' down the stair combin' back your yellow hair,
And bid farewell to sweet William-o.
Sweet William is dead, pretty Peggy-o.
Sweet William is dead, pretty Peggy-o.
Sweet William is dead, and he died for a maid,
The fairest maid in the are-o,
If ever I return, pretty Peggy-o.
If ever I return, pretty Peggy-o.
If ever I return all your cities I will burn,
Destroying all the ladies in the are-o.
Destroying all the ladies in the are-o.
Songwriters: By Joan Baez
Fennario lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Uli Schneider
Such a pleasure to hear Joan's ctystal-clear voice with her straightforward precise Folkpicking guitar. Sooo well-doing!!!
Elaine Diamond
Always touches my heart. Joan made these songs come to life in a way that spoke to me then, and now. Tragically beautiful...
Jennifer Loewenstein
More beautiful than words can describe: like a songbird reborn in human form to bring us faith in life again.
Judy Singer
Still gives me chills
PipeSergeant54
I was stationed in Thailand, 1974-1975 and this was in the base library. I liked it and got it on a low quality cassette but have not heard it in probably 40 years or more. So nice to find it here and such good, clear quality. Thank you for putting it there.
Mike Lopez
Linda voz! straightforward precise Folkpicking guitar too!
oh kitty kitty
Fennario
As we marched down to Fennario,
As we marched down to Fennario,
Our captain fell in love with a lady like a dove.
They call her by name pretty Peggy-o.
What will your mother think pretty Peggy-o?
What will your mother think pretty Peggy-o?
What will your mother think when she hears the guineas clink,
The soldiers all marchin' before you-o?
In a carriage you will ride, pretty Peggy-o
In a carriage you will ride with your true love by your side,
As fair as any maiden in the are-o.
Come skippin' down the stair, pretty Peggy-o.
Come skippin' down the stair, pretty Peggy-o.
Come skippin' down the stair combin' back your yellow hair,
And bid farewell to sweet William-o.
Sweet William is dead, pretty Peggy-o.
Sweet William is dead, pretty Peggy-o.
Sweet William is dead, and he died for a maid,
The fairest maid in the are-o,
If ever I return, pretty Peggy-o.
If ever I return, pretty Peggy-o.
If ever I return all your cities I will burn,
Destroying all the ladies in the are-o.
Destroying all the ladies in the are-o.
Songwriters: By Joan Baez
Fennario lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
JDibden
What a clear beautiful voice she had.
Paul Rippey
JDibden “has” - she’s still singin’.
brdwonder
the voice and the fingerpicking always convince me that this is my fave of any I have heard.