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
Isaac & Abraham
Joan Baez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Trouble in the mind of a man
A voice came whispering softly to him
Go offer, offer up the lamb
Abraham took his only son
High up on a hill
His test of faith had finally come
Cold steel, cold steel in the father's hand
Tears falling from the sky
The angels, the angels did not understand
Why the righteous, the righteous boy should die
Abraham most mysteriously
Laid down that deadly knife
Said, "My darlin' son, I wish I was the one
Who spared you, spared your precious life"
Oh Isaac, the light of all your days
Will shine upon this mountain high
And never, never fade away
And never fade away
The Joan Baez song “Isaac and Abraham” is an interpretation of the biblical story of Abraham and his son, Isaac. The lyrics describe a father's test of faith, where he is called upon by God to offer his own son as a sacrifice. The song begins with the notion of hard times in Canaan land, where a voice came to Abraham, whispering softly to him, instructing him to offer up the lamb. Abraham proceeds to take his only son Isaac, to a high hill where his faith is tested. The wind begins to chill as Abraham holds the cold steel in his hand, tears falling from the sky while the angels fail to understand why the righteous boy should die.
Abraham most mysteriously lays down the deadly knife and says to his son, “I wish I was the one who saved you, spared your precious life”. Meanwhile, the light of all Isaac’s days will shine upon the mountain high, never to fade away. The haunting song is a powerful and evocative interpretation of the biblical story. It explores themes of sacrifice, faith, and redemption, while at the same time asking questions about the motivations of God and the relationship between father and son.
Line by Line Meaning
Hard times, hard times in Canaan land
Difficult days are prevalent throughout the land of Canaan
Trouble in the mind of a man
A man is troubled in his thoughts
A voice came whispering softly to him
He hears a soft whispering voice
Go offer, offer up the lamb
He is instructed to sacrifice a lamb
Abraham took his only son
Abraham takes his only son
High up on a hill
They climb up a hill
His test of faith had finally come
This is the moment of his test of faith
As the wind, the wind begin to chill
The air becomes colder as the wind blows
Cold steel, cold steel in the father's hand
The father holds cold, sharp steel in his hand
Tears falling from the sky
Tears fall from the sky
The angels, the angels did not understand
Even the angels do not understand why this is happening
Why the righteous, the righteous boy should die
Why should this innocent boy die?
Abraham most mysteriously
Abraham does something inexplicable
Laid down that deadly knife
He puts down the dangerous knife
Said, "My darlin' son, I wish I was the one
He tells his son he wishes he could have saved him
Who spared you, spared your precious life"
He would have saved his precious life
Oh Isaac, the light of all your days
Isaac is the source of brightness in all of his days
Will shine upon this mountain high
His spirit will shine on this high mountain
And never, never fade away
It will never disappear
And never fade away
It will never disappear
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, GABRIEL EARL MUSIC
Written by: JOAN BAEZ, KENNY GREENBERG, WALLY WILSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
L. Campos
Bible, Joan Baez , and the brasilian BERIMBAU. What a strange misture. But what a beautiful and original and touching one. Well done, Joan Baez, as really, really always.Love and Gratitude.
leisulin
CELEBRATING in song one of the most despicable episodes in the "holy" bible. Good work Joan.
leisulin
@Evan Greenfield There are far too many people in this world who look to the BIBLE (of which the Old Testament is a part, like it or not) (or the Quran, et al.) for the foundation of their personal morality. It's WAY past the time for romanticizing Biblical "stories" like this one. Don't tell me there aren't people out there who allow themselves to be guided by that crap!
Evan Greenfield
@leisulin the old testament isn’t to be taken literally. it’s just a story big dog don’t be so offended by it ✌🏼
Rosa Iglarsh
You're nuts.