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
It Ain
Joan Baez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Leave at your own chosen speed
I'm not the one you want, babe
I'm not the one you need
You say you're lookin' for someone
Never weak but always strong
To protect you and to defend you
Someone to open each and every door
But it ain't me, babe
No, no, no, it sure ain't me, babe
It ain't me you're lookin' for, babe
Move lightly from the ledge, babe
Move lightly on the ground
I'm not the one you want, babe
I will only let you down
You say you're lookin' for someone
Who will promise never to part
Someone to close his eyes for you
Someone to close his heart
Someone who will die for you and maybe more
But it still ain't me, babe
No, no, no, no, it sure ain't me, babe
It ain't me you're lookin' for, babe
Go melt back into the night, babe
Everything inside here is made of stone
Well, there's nothing in here that's moving
And anyway I'm not alone
You say you're looking for someone
Pick you up every time you fall
Someone to gather flowers constantly
And come at the time you call
A lover for your life an' what more
But it still ain't me, babe
No, no, no, it sure ain't me, babe
It ain't me you're lookin' for, babe
This song is about rejection and unrequited love. The singer is telling their suitor to leave, as they are not the person they are searching for. The verses describe the characteristics the suitor claims to be seeking in a partner - someone strong and protective, someone who will never leave or betray them, someone who will do anything for them. However, the singer asserts that despite these desires, they are not the right person for them. The chorus repeats the refrain "it ain't me, babe," hammering home the point that the singer cannot fulfill these expectations.
The verse "go melt back into the night, babe, everything inside here is made of stone" suggests that the singer may have been hurt in the past, and is now guarded against emotional attachments. The final verse, "someone to gather flowers constantly and come at the time you call, a lover for your life and what more," highlights the absurdity of the suitor's expectations - it becomes clear that they are searching for an idealized, unrealistic version of a partner that no one can fully embody.
Overall, "It Ain't Me Babe" is a bittersweet song about the paradox of unrequited love. On the one hand, the singer empathizes with the suitor's desire for love and connection, but on the other, they cannot fulfill those needs. Ultimately, the song suggests that sometimes, despite the intensity of our feelings, the person we desire may not be the right fit for us.
Line by Line Meaning
Go away from my window
Please leave my presence
Leave at your own chosen speed
Depart at your own preferred pace
I'm not the one you want, babe
I'm not suitable for your liking
I'm not the one you need
I'm not the one you require
You say you're lookin' for someone
You claim to seek an individual
Never weak but always strong
Somebody who's consistently resilient
To protect you and to defend you
To safeguard and shield you
Whether you are right or wrong
Irrespective of your correctness or fallibility
Someone to open each and every door
A person to unlock every entrance
But it ain't me, babe
I'm not the one you're looking for
No, no, no, it sure ain't me, babe
Absolutely not me, sweetheart
It ain't me you're lookin' for, babe
I'm not the one you're seeking
Move lightly from the ledge, babe
Be cautious stepping off the precipice
Move lightly on the ground
Tread gently on the earth
I'm not the one you want, babe
I'm not the individual you desire
I will only let you down
I will inevitably disappoint you
Who will promise never to part
Who pledges to never depart
Someone to close his eyes for you
A person who will shut their eyes for you
Someone to close his heart
An individual who will shut their heart
Someone who will die for you and maybe more
A person who would perish for you, and perhaps beyond
But it still ain't me, babe
Yet again, I'm not the one
No, no, no, no, it sure ain't me, babe
Absolutely not me, sweetheart
It ain't me you're lookin' for, babe
I'm not the one you're seeking
Go melt back into the night, babe
Vanish into the darkness, darling
Everything inside here is made of stone
Everything in here is made of rock
Well, there's nothing in here that's moving
There is nothing in here that is in motion
And anyway I'm not alone
And in any case, I'm not solitary
Pick you up every time you fall
Lift you up when you stumble
Someone to gather flowers constantly
A person who consistently collects flowers
And come at the time you call
And arrives when you summon them
A lover for your life an' what more
A love of your life and beyond that
But it still ain't me, babe
I'm not the one you're seeking
No, no, no, no, it sure ain't me, babe
Absolutely not me, sweetheart
It ain't me you're lookin' for, babe
I'm not the one you're seeking
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, AUDIAM, INC
Written by: Bob Dylan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@cyroshiro
Go 'way from my window
Leave at your own chosen speed
I'm not the one you want, babe
I'm not the one you need
You say you're lookin' for someone
Who's never weak but always strong
To protect you an' defend you
Whether you are right or wrong
Someone to open each and every door
But it ain't me, babe
No, no, no, it ain't me babe
It ain't me you're lookin' for, babe
Go lightly from the ledge, babe
Go lightly on the ground
I'm not the one you want, babe
I will only let you down
You say you're lookin' for someone
Who will promise never to part
Someone to close his eyes for you
Someone to close his heart
Someone who will die for you an' more
But it ain't me, babe
No, no, no, it ain't me babe
It ain't me you're lookin' for, babe
Go melt back in the night
Everything inside is made of stone
There's nothing in here moving
An' anyway I'm not alone
You say you're looking for someone
Who'll pick you up each time you fall
To gather flowers constantly
An' to come each time you call
A lover for your life an' nothing more
But it ain't me, babe
No, no, no, it ain't me, babe
It ain't me you're lookin' for, babe
Compositores: Bob Dylan
Letra de It Ain't Me Babe © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
@FenWolf68
Sing along, fellow lovers of this song:
"Go 'way from my window
Leave at your own chosen speed
I'm not the one you want, babe
I'm not the one you need
You say you're lookin' for someone
Who's never weak but always strong
To protect you an' defend you
Whether you are right or wrong
Someone to open each and every door
But it ain't me, babe
No, no, no, it ain't me, babe
It ain't me you're lookin' for, babe.
Go lightly from the ledge, babe
Go lightly on the ground
I'm not the one you want, babe
I will only let you down
You say you're lookin' for someone
Who will promise never to part
Someone to close his eyes for you
Someone to close his heart
Someone who will die for you an' more
But it ain't me, babe
No, no, no, it ain't me babe
It ain't me you're lookin' for, babe.
Go melt back in the night
Everything inside is made of stone
There's nothing in here moving
An' anyway I'm not alone
You say you're looking for someone
Who'll pick you up each time you fall
To gather flowers constantly
An' to come each time you call
A lover for your life an' nothing more
But it ain't me, babe
No, no, no, it ain't me, babe
It ain't me you're lookin' for, babe."
@markrichards6863
She has a gorgeous voice, but she is also a top rate guitar player. She plucks instead of strumming the strings. She really optimizes the potential of her instrument. Some folks were just born to make music. I've always thought she is exceptional. It drove my mom crazy that I was such a big fan of JB, but the funniest thing happened one day. I came home from school, and my mom who is a pretty good singer, was wailing to "Diamonds And Rust" with JB on the stereo. Mom was outed as a huge fan.
@abbeymarie_07
Her voice and Bob Dylan's song writing together is another level of beautiful. It is something my generation nowadays could never compare to. Joan is a beautiful person with a beautiful voice.
@johniorio7951
true dat.....but that kid rock/ cheryl crow song a few years back was pretty good
@TheMaccagirl56
What a song and what a voice. At least we have it on Youtube so people can remember what music used to sound like.
@longgrayline8055
You would never know she did not write this song. She sings it from the depths of her soul. Lennon had that ability.
@yourstruly7086
Lennon was shit
@truthbtoldude
listening to her all night, like i did 50 years ago. pure heart, pure voice, pure joy, pure sorrow, the realist of the real. we were that way when young, some of us still are. and, joan, well - angels don't retire.
@superamos31davies53
What a beautiful comment and i`ll remember your last words forever .So poignant
@anderssas1598
Me 2 listened in the sixties! No, they do NOT retire! They go to heaven!!!!!
@jhewes.5923
My Dad is 70 now and still loves her and Dylan, the two of them make me feel his youth