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
Forever Young
Joan Baez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay
Forever young
May you grow up to be righteous
May you grow up to be true
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you
May you always be courageous
Stand upright and be strong
And may you stay
Forever young
Forever young
Forever young
May you stay
Forever young
May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift
May your heart always be joyful
May your song always be sung
And may you stay
Forever young
Forever young
Forever young
May you stay
Forever young
The song Forever Young by Joan Baez is a beautiful song with a strong message wishing well and imparting wisdom to a young person. In the first verse, the singer wishes for God's blessings on the young person and hopes that all their wishes come true. The next line is a significant piece of advice, asking the person always to do for others and let others do for them. This line encapsulates the essence of living in harmony and empathy with other people. In the following line, the singer encourages the young person to aim for the stars and never give up. Again, the imagery of climbing a ladder and reaching for the stars is a metaphor for always striving to be better.
The second verse is a continuation of the first, with the singer wishing for the young person to grow up to be righteous and true. The singer encourages the person to always see the truth and the lights surrounding them. This line alludes to the idea of keeping an open mind and seeing the beauty and goodness that surrounds us all. In the next line, the singer asks the person to be courageous and strong, reminding them to stand upright in the face of adversity. Finally, the singer repeats the phrase "Forever young," driving home the message of staying young in spirit and never losing hope.
Overall, the song's lyrics are a beautiful and poetic message wishing for the young person's happiness, strength, and success in life. The words are simple, but the message is profound, and this is what makes the song so timeless and beloved.
Line by Line Meaning
May God's blessing keep you always
May you always feel the comforting presence of God's blessing in your life.
May your wishes all come true
May all your hopes and dreams be fulfilled.
May you always do for others
May you have a kind and selfless heart that always seeks to help others in need.
And let others do for you
May you be open to receiving help and kindness from others when you need it.
May you build a ladder to the stars
May you have the ambition and drive to reach for the highest goals and achieve greatness.
And climb on every rung
May you never give up on your dreams, and keep striving to reach new heights and overcome obstacles.
May you stay
May you remain true to yourself and your values, and never lose sight of what is important in life.
Forever young
May you always maintain a youthful spirit of wonder, curiosity, and vitality, regardless of your age.
May you grow up to be righteous
May you develop a strong sense of moral integrity and act with honesty and decency in all your interactions.
May you grow up to be true
May you stay true to yourself and your beliefs, and never compromise your values for anyone else's sake.
May you always know the truth
May you have the wisdom and discernment to see through lies and deception, and always seek the truth.
And see the lights surrounding you
May you be surrounded by positivity, love, and encouragement from those around you.
May you always be courageous
May you have the bravery and inner strength to face challenges and take risks, even when it's hard.
Stand upright and be strong
May you always stand up for what is right and just, and have the resilience to bounce back from difficult times.
And may you stay
May you always hold on to the values and qualities that make you a good person.
Forever young
May you always maintain a youthful spirit of wonder, curiosity, and vitality, regardless of your age.
Forever young
May you never lose your sense of childlike wonder, and always approach life with curiosity and enthusiasm.
May you stay
May you never lose sight of your values and aspirations.
Forever young
May you always maintain a youthful spirit of wonder, curiosity, and vitality, regardless of your age.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bob Dylan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@guerinopolimeno9034
May God's blessing keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay
Forever young
May you grow up to be righteous
May you grow up to be true
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you
May you always be courageous
Stand upright and be strong
And may you stay
Forever young
Forever young
Forever young
May you stay
Forever young
May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift
May your heart always be joyful
May your song always be sung
And may you stay
Forever young
Forever young
Forever young
May you stay
Forever young
@thejarhead1369
May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
And may you stay
Forever young
May you grow up to be righteous
May you grow up to be true
May you always know the truth
And see the light surrounding you
May you always be courageous
Stand upright and be strong
And may you stay
Forever young
Forever young
Forever young
May you stay
Forever young
May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation
When the winter changes shift
May your heart always be joyful
May your song always be sung
And may you stay
Forever young
Forever young
Forever young
May you stay
Forever young
@GracielaNorris
"Forever Young"
May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.
May you grow up to be righteous
May you grow up to be true
May you always know the truth
And see the light surrounding you
May you always be courageous
Stand upright and be strong
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.
May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift
May your heart always be joyful
And may your song always be sung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.
@billcampbell1627
Im 71. Heard this a time ago. I never thought of myself as getting older. Then one day you look in the mirror and wonder who that is. Then you survive cancer and then lookin perfect doesn't take up much of your time. Bosses in their 40s and 50s driven to get that next thing. Then tonight I happened to find this and am glad I stopped by. With the anger in this world just getting more widespread it's nice to let some air out of the balloon.
@W7DSY
Well said, Bill. I will turn 73 in a few months. Growing old is weird. And I do not wish to be young.
@mortarsquad
cheers from Brasil
@mrgordonjohn6143
Bill, May your heart always be joyful and may you stay forever young just as I am striving to do !!
@mrgordonjohn6143
@@W7DSY
“BUT…But I do not want to be old”
@johnwilson180
For years I’ve been looking in the mirror wondering who the hell is that. Can’t say I’m particularly fond of the person who looks back.
@taragreenetarotastro
Joan Baez has the voice of a nightingale. She discovered Bob and introduced him to Newport, she was the older woman star. She was in love with him, and she sings his songs so beautifully. This brings tears so gorgeous. I want to sing it to my precious little grandson Thais only 18 months old now.
@staceyjohnson4436
This is the song for my oldest daughter. She’s 33 last week and…she’s in the hospital.. dying. We’re not supposed to bury our children. I can’t say any more.
@jesusislukeskywalker4294
🙏❤️
@ThisTheBreaks
🙏