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
Jackaroe
Joan Baez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In London he did dwell
He had a lovely daughter
The truth to you I'll tell
Oh, truth to you I'll tell
She had sweethearts a-plenty
And men of high degree
Her true love e're would be
Oh, her true love e're could be
Now Jackie's gone a-sailing
With trouble on his mind
To leave his native country
And his darling girl behind
Oh, his darling girl behind
She went into a tailor shop
And dressed in men's array
And stepped on board a vessel
To convey herself away
Oh, convey herself away
Well before you step on board, sir
Your name I'd like to know
She smiled all in her countenance
They call me Jackaroe
Oh, they call me Jackaroe
Your waist is light and slender
Your fingers are neat and small
And your cheeks too red and rosy
To face the cannonball
Oh, to face the cannon-ball
Well, I know my waist is slender
My fingers are neat and small
But it would not make me tremble
To see ten thousand fall
Oh, to see ten thousand fall
The war soon being over
She hunted all around
And among the dead and dying
Her darling boy she found
Oh, her darling boy she found
She picked him up all in her arms
And carried him to the town
And sent for a physician who
Quickly healed his wounds
Oh, who quickly healed his wounds
This couple they got married
So well did they agree
This couple they got married
So why not you and me?
Oh, so why not you and me?
The lyrics to Joan Baez's song "Jackaroe" tell a story of a wealthy merchant's daughter who falls in love with a sailor named Jack, despite her having plenty of other suitors of high status. Jack has to leave for a sailing journey, leaving his beloved girl behind with a heavy heart. The girl decides to disguise herself as a man and board a vessel to search for Jack, calling herself Jackaroe. She is questioned before boarding, but her wit and charm save her from any suspicions. She eventually finds Jack injured among the casualties of war and takes him to a physician to heal his wounds. The two lovers marry and live happily ever after.
The song is a narrative ballad, which was a common form of storytelling in traditional folk music. The lyrics are based on an old English ballad, "The Unfortunate Rake," which has several variations and tells a similar story. The song was famously recorded by Clarence Ashley in 1929, which inspired Joan Baez's version. The song is a beautiful depiction of true love and devotion, as well as the struggles and challenges it can face.
Line by Line Meaning
There was a wealthy merchant
Once upon a time, in London lived a rich merchant.
In London he did dwell
He lived in London, the famous city of England.
He had a lovely daughter
He was blessed with a beautiful daughter.
The truth to you I'll tell
I will tell you the truth about the story of Jackaroe.
She had sweethearts a-plenty
The woman had many lovers.
And men of high degree
She had suitors of prestigious status.
There was none but Jack the sailor
But out of all of them, her heart belonged to only Jack the sailor.
Her true love e're would be
He was her true love forever.
Now Jackie's gone a-sailing
Jackie has left for a voyage.
With trouble on his mind
He left with worries and concerns troubling his mind.
To leave his native country
He chose to leave his home country.
And his darling girl behind
And had to leave the woman he loved behind.
She went into a tailor shop
The woman disguised herself as a male and entered a tailor's shop.
And dressed in men's array
She wore male clothing and accessories.
And stepped on board a vessel
She boarded a ship.
To convey herself away
To escape and leave the place without being noticed.
Well before you step on board, sir
However, the captain stopped her and asked for her name before letting her board.
Your name I'd like to know
May I ask for your name?
She smiled all in her countenance
She happily replied with a cheerful face.
They call me Jackaroe
They know me as Jackaroe.
Your waist is light and slender
The captain noticed that her waist was slim.
Your fingers are neat and small
He also observed that her fingers were petite and tidy.
And your cheeks too red and rosy
He noted that her cheeks were pink and healthy.
To face the cannonball
But he advised her against facing the danger of a cannonball.
Well, I know my waist is slender
She replied bravely, knowing she was frail.
But it would not make me tremble
But, she was strong enough to face any danger.
To see ten thousand fall
She had the courage to witness thousands of casualties.
The war soon being over
Eventually, the war came to an end.
She hunted all around
She searched everywhere.
And among the dead and dying
And found the wounded or lifeless bodies of soldiers.
Her darling boy she found
She finally found her beloved Jack among the dead or dying soldiers.
She picked him up all in her arms
She took him in her arms.
And carried him to the town
And brought him back to the nearest town.
And sent for a physician who
She contacted a doctor who.
Quickly healed his wounds
Helped heal Jack's injuries rapidly.
This couple they got married
Jack and the woman eventually got married.
So well did they agree
They lived their lives so perfectly and passionately.
So why not you and me?
So why not you and me, too?
Lyrics © Roof Music Schallplatten- und Verlags GmbH, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: DP, JEROME J. GARCIA, JOAN C. BAEZ, MICHAEL S. HART
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
briansky10
Joan Baez has such a magic for taking a traditional folksong and making it entirely her own. It's like adopting a child and loving it as if you had given birth to it. She's such a genius.
Tide & Wave
briansky10 Nice metaphor
Jacob 'Moleli
What a gift? Almighty God above to sing a play like this.
DW Poo
You could hear a pin drop when she was playing. And that was a huge concert Hall if you listen to the applause
趙原德
Very nice song, pleasant and memorable
YourEarthBoundMisfit
My mom used to sing this to me when I was really little. She got me into singing too through Joan Baez. Love this song and Donna Donna but Daddy loved Diamonds and Rust.
196Stefan2
So traurig, so schön!
David Rakes
Ja!!!
David Anthony Stone
what a voice She could have been a trained as an opera singer in those 3 octaves that she has.
Mark Smith
That is smokin' guitar work.