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 FariΓ±a's ( of Richard & Mimi FariΓ±a 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
Gospel Ship
Joan Baez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And that is why I sing
All my joy with you I'll share
I'm gonna take a trip on that old Gospel Ship
And go sailin' through the air
I'm gonna take a trip on that old Gospel Ship
Goin' far beyond the sky
When I bid this world goodbye
I can hardly wait
I know I won't be late
I'll spend my time in prayer
And when the ship comes in, I'll leave this world of sin
And go sailin' through the air
I'm gonna take a trip on that old Gospel Ship
Goin' far beyond the sky
I'm gonna shout and sing until the bells gonna ring
When I bid this world goodbye
If you are ashamed of me
You ought not to be
And you'd better have a care
If too much fault you find you'll sure be left behind
When I'm sailin' through the air
I'm gonna take a trip on that old Gospel Ship
Goin' far beyond the sky
I'm gonna shout and sing until the bells gonna ring
When I bid this world goodbye
Joan Baez's "Gospel Ship" is a song about one's journey towards salvation. The lyrics deal with the singer's desire to share the good news of salvation with others and his/her conviction in the glory that awaits him/her in the afterlife. The singer talks about taking a journey on the Gospel Ship, which is a metaphor for the path towards salvation. The ship represents the church, and sailing through the air is a metaphor for the soul's ascent towards heaven. The lyrics also touch upon the theme of judgment, cautioning listeners that if they are ashamed of the singer or if they find too much fault, they will be left behind.
The song is quintessentially American gospel music, one that captures the essence of the African American spiritual genre. The lyrics reflect the religious fervor and optimism of that era, which was marked by the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War, and a general sense of disillusionment. The song encourages believers to persevere and keep the faith, despite the world's troubles, for the journey towards salvation is an arduous but ultimately fulfilling one. Through its ebullient melody and powerful lyrics, the song aims to inspire listeners to embark upon their own Gospel Ship journey.
Line by Line Meaning
I have the news to bring
I have important news to share
And that is why I sing
That's why I'm singing this song
All my joy with you I'll share
I want to share my happiness with you
I'm gonna take a trip on that old Gospel Ship
I'm going on a journey of faith
And go sailin' through the air
I'll soar through the sky
Goin' far beyond the sky
I'm heading to heaven
I'm gonna shout and sing until the bells gonna ring
I'll sing and celebrate until the end
When I bid this world goodbye
When I depart from this earthly life
I can hardly wait
I'm eagerly anticipating it
I know I won't be late
I'm confident I won't miss the journey
I'll spend my time in prayer
I'll use my time wisely, connecting with God
And when the ship comes in, I'll leave this world of sin
When the time comes, I'll leave behind my sinful life
If you are ashamed of me
If you disapprove of my beliefs
You ought not to be
You shouldn't feel that way
And you'd better have a care
You should be cautious about your actions
If too much fault you find you'll sure be left behind
If you're too critical, you'll miss the journey
Lyrics Β© O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
L. J. Carpenter
Gospel Ship
Joan Baez
I have the news to bring
And that is why I sing
All my joy with you I'll share
I'm gonna take a trip on that old Gospel Ship
And go sailin' through the air
I'm gonna take a trip on that old Gospel Ship
Goin' far beyond the sky
I'm gonna shout and sing until the bells gonna ring
When I bid this world goodbye
I can hardly wait
I know I won't be late
I'll spend my time in prayer
And when the ship comes in, I'll leave this world of sin
And go sailin' through the air
I'm gonna take a trip on that old Gospel Ship
Goin' far beyond the sky
I'm gonna shout and sing until the bells gonna ring
When I bid this world goodbye
If you are ashamed of me
You ought not to be
And you'd better have a care
If too much fault you find you'll sure be left behind
When I'm sailin' through the air
I'm gonna take a trip on that old Gospel Ship
Goin' far beyond the sky
I'm gonna shout and sing until the bells gonna ring
When I bid this world goodbye
Dunjak111
I am in love with this voice, since decades.
L. J. Carpenter
Gospel Ship
Joan Baez
I have the news to bring
And that is why I sing
All my joy with you I'll share
I'm gonna take a trip on that old Gospel Ship
And go sailin' through the air
I'm gonna take a trip on that old Gospel Ship
Goin' far beyond the sky
I'm gonna shout and sing until the bells gonna ring
When I bid this world goodbye
I can hardly wait
I know I won't be late
I'll spend my time in prayer
And when the ship comes in, I'll leave this world of sin
And go sailin' through the air
I'm gonna take a trip on that old Gospel Ship
Goin' far beyond the sky
I'm gonna shout and sing until the bells gonna ring
When I bid this world goodbye
If you are ashamed of me
You ought not to be
And you'd better have a care
If too much fault you find you'll sure be left behind
When I'm sailin' through the air
I'm gonna take a trip on that old Gospel Ship
Goin' far beyond the sky
I'm gonna shout and sing until the bells gonna ring
When I bid this world goodbye
Thiny1991
Beautiful gospel song ....
Dan D. Dirges
I do declare I have never heard Joan sound this good!
rose jane
Voice of a angel ππππππ
Nathalie Peignet
super chanson et chanteuse
Jack Brown
One of the greatest!!How do I get a ticket????
Nancy King-Badran
by grace through faith in Jesus Christ
city zen
Lead a righteous Life.
Andrew C.
Time machine down the Shenandoah River.