Gulf Winds
Joan Baez Lyrics

It's only when the high winds blow that I wish my hair was long
The singer cherishes wild and free-spirited moments which the wind reminds them of, and wishes for a long, free-flowing hair to blend in with the natural landscape.

Sailing through the autumn leaves singing an ancient song
The singer longs for moments that involve sailing through the winds and singing an old song, enjoying the sound of rustling autumn leaves in the background.

Or falling in love in the streets at night at the edge of a local square
The singer is reminiscing about a romantic encounter they had in their youth, that took place at the edge of a local square in the dark, in the midst of a lively atmosphere.

It's only that I'm here tonight thinking I was there
The artist is reflecting on a past moment that they deeply cherished, that they are not able to relive anymore.

There are high winds on the pier tonight, my soul departs from me
The artist is projecting their feelings of detachment and otherworldliness onto the high winds blowing on the pier that they are standing on.

Striding like Thalia's ghost south on the murky sea
The singer feels like they are moving through the sea like a ghostly figure from Greek mythology, embodying Thalia, one of the nine muses of comedy and pastoral poetry.

And into midnight's tapestry she fades, ragged and wild
The singer is lured into the night's mystery and obscurity, and feels like they blend in with the dark as a natural, ragged and wild entity.

Searching down her ancestry in the costume of a Persian child
The artist is undertaking a deep introspection of their past and heritage, symbolized by a Persian costume, in the hopes of finding a sense of belonging.

And gulf winds bring me flying fish that shine in the crescent moon
The artist is associating the Gulf winds with a sense of joy and wonder, watching flying fish moving in the moon's reflection.

Show me the horizon where the dawn will break anew
The artist is seeking a new beginning, represented by the dawn, and is hoping for a glimpse of the horizon, where it promises to return.

And cool me here on this lonely pier where the heron are flying low
The singer is finding a temporary respite from their worries on the lonely pier, where they observe the herons flying low over the sea.

Echo the songs my father knew in the towns of Mexico
The artist is reminiscing about the songs their father used to sing, likely in their hometown of Mexico, and is hoping to hear them again, echoing through the sound of the wind and waves.

When I was young my eyes were wise, my father was good to me
The singer recalls their childhood, when they were immensely wise for their age, and in which their father was always kind and supportive towards them.

Instead of having a flock of sons he had two other girls and me
The singer notes that their father, who is characterized as progressive, chose to have three daughters rather than multiple sons, in contrast to patriarchal norms.

And if we had used our Spanish names, here's the way they'd run
The singer imagines how their and their sisters' names would sound if they had used their Spanish versions, indicating a connection with their Mexican heritage.

Thalia, Margarita and Juanita, I'm the middle one.
The artist shares the names of their sisters Thalia and Margarita, indicating that they are the middle sister among three siblings.

The screen door kept the demons in as we moved from town to town
The artist recalls how they and their family had to move from town to town, and how the screen door provided a sense of comfort and protection against any negative influences outside.

It's hard to be a princess in the States when your skin is brown
The singer is reflecting on the difficulties of being a non-white person in America, where prevalent systemic racism treats them inferior to the dominant culture.

And mama smoothed my worried brow as I leaned on the kitchen door
The singer recalls how their mother reassured them when they were anxious, likely while they were leaning on the kitchen door or elsewhere.

Why do you carry the weight, she said, of the world and maybe more?
The artist's mother questioned why they were carrying a heavy burden upon their back, encompassing everything in the world and maybe beyond, and advised them to ease their worries.

My grandfathers were ministers and it came on down the line
The artist notes a lineage of preachers in their family, passed down through generations.

My father preached in his parents' church when he was ten years and nine
The artist recalls how their father's religious vocation began when he was only nine years old, preaching in the church his parents attended.

And mama dressed in parishoners' clothes and didn't believe in hell
The singer's mother dressed up in the clothes typically worn by church members, but had a personal belief system that did not accord with the concept of hell.

Her daddy fought the DAR, if he'd lived I'd have known him well
The artist speculates what it would have been like to know their mother's father, who belonged to an organization that they disapproved of and fought against.

They said go find a Sunday School, we must have tried them all
The singer recounts how their family had tried to find a suitable Sunday School to attend, but had gone through numerous ones, possibly due to religious differences or other factors.

I never stole from the silver plate, my sisters had more gall
The singer brags that they never stole from the church's offering plate, unlike their siblings who were more daring and might have taken the chance to do so.

One preacher said sing out loud and clear, it's the only life you've got
The singer recalls a particular preacher who encouraged them to sing out loud and appreciate life fully, underscoring the importance of this singular opportunity.

And the next one said be good on earth, you've another life at the feet of God
Another preacher, however, urged the artist to be good while living life on earth, as it would determine their place in the afterlife in the presence of God.

My father turned down many a job just to give us something real
The artist's father declined numerous job offers, prioritizing authenticity over financial gain, to provide for his family's needs.

It's hard to be a scientist in the States when you've got ideals
The singer is reflecting on the difficulty of holding onto idealism while pursuing a career in the sciences in America, which often comes at the cost of compromising one's values for material gain.

And mama kept the budget book, she kept the garden, too
The singer notes how their mother was responsible for budgeting and gardening for the household, providing a sense of stability and nurturing care.

Bought fish from the man on Thursday, fed all of us and strangers, too
The artist's family bought fish from a local fisherman every Thursday, using it to feed not only themselves but also strangers who needed help.

But time will pass and so, alas, will most of what we know
The artist reflects on the passage of time and how most of what they have learned or come to know will eventually fade away, mature, or die out.

Though tonight my memory's eye is clear as the story's being told
The artist recalls a particular moment from the past, and how that memory is vivid and bright in their mind as if it had happened just now.

And I'll play ball with the underdog and sit with the child who's wrong
The singer resolves to stand on the side of the oppressed and humiliated, and to treat them kindly and respectfully despite social conventions or prejudices.

Be still when the earth is silent and sing when my strength is gone
The artist advises the listener to embrace stillness in the world's silence, and to sing out loud even as their strength is failing them.

Now father's going to India sometime in the fall
The singer reflects on the fact that their father is going to India soon, presumably for work or other reasons.

They tried to stay together but you just can't do it all
The singer acknowledges that despite their family's best efforts, they are not always able to stay together or be present for each other due to various reasons and circumstances.

I'll think about him if he goes, there's a little grey in his hair
The singer is concerned about their father's aging process, and will think of how he is doing while he is away in India.

Though not much because he's Mexican, they don't age, they just prepare
The artist makes a humorous quip regarding the stereotype that Mexican people do not show their age, but rather are always preparing for something new and exciting.

He'll see me in the mudlarks' face, hear me in the beggar's call
The artist believes that their father will still feel their presence in India, symbolized by how they will appear in their surroundings, such as the faces of the people living there.

And mama will stay home, I guess, and worry if she did wrong
The singer anticipates that their mother will stay at home while their father is in India, and worry about whether she should have done more or differently to ensure their family's wellbeing.

And I'll say a prayer for both of them and sing them both my song
The singer concludes by pledging to pray for both their parents while they are apart, and to dedicate a song to them as a tribute to their love and care.