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
John Riley
Joan Baez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Strange young man, passerby
He said, "Fair maid, will you marry me?"
This then, sir, was her reply:
Oh, no, kind sir, I cannot marry thee
For I've a love who sails all on the sea.
He's been gone for seven years
What if he's in some battle slain
Or drowned (sic) in the deep salt sea
What if he's found another love
And he and his love both married be?
Well, if he's in some battle slain
I will go and mourn all on his grave
And if he's drowned in the deep salt sea
I'll be true to his memory
And if he's found another love
And he and his love both married be
I'll wish them health and happiness
Where they dwell across the sea
He picked her up all in his arms
Kisses gave her, One, two, three
Said, Here am I, my own true love
I am your long-lost John Riley!
This song tells the tale of a fair young maid who is approached by a strange young man while she is in her garden. He asks her to marry him, but she responds that she cannot as she already has a love who has been gone for seven years and she will remain faithful to him until his return. The young man questions what will happen if her love is dead or has found another love and is already married, to which the maid replies that she will mourn his grave if he is dead and remain true to his memory. But if he has found another love, she will wish them health and happiness.
The story appears to reach its conclusion when the strange young man picks up the maid and kisses her, announcing that he is in fact her long-lost love, John Riley. The song captures the unwavering loyalty of the maid to her love and the strength of her commitment to remain faithful, despite the potential hardships that this may bring. Additionally, the song highlights the power of love to endure and transcend time and distance.
Line by Line Meaning
Fair young maid all in a garden
A young and innocent girl was peacefully enjoying herself in a garden
Strange young man, passerby
A stranger happened to pass by the garden where the young girl was
He said, "Fair maid, will you marry me?"
The stranger asked the young girl to marry him
This then, sir, was her reply:
The girl responded to the stranger's proposal
Oh, no, kind sir, I cannot marry thee
The girl politely declined the stranger's proposal
For I've a love who sails all on the sea.
The girl already has a lover who is a sailor on the sea
He's been gone for seven years
The girl's lover has been away for as long as seven years
Still no man shall marry me
The girl has made a pledge to remain loyal to her lover, even if he doesn't return
What if he's in some battle slain
The girl is pondering the possibility of her lover being killed in battle
Or drowned (sic) in the deep salt sea
The girl is also considering the possibility of her lover drowning at sea
What if he's found another love
The girl is worried about the possibility of her lover falling in love with someone else
And he and his love both married be?
The girl is concerned that her lover may have already gotten married to someone else
Well, if he's in some battle slain
The girl has decided that if her lover dies in a war
I will go and mourn all on his grave
She will go to his grave and mourn his death
And if he's drowned in the deep salt sea
If her lover dies by drowning at sea
I'll be true to his memory
The girl will remain faithful to the memory of her lover
And if he's found another love
If her lover falls in love with another
And he and his love both married be
And they get married to each other
I'll wish them health and happiness
The girl will hope that they have good health and happiness
Where they dwell across the sea
Regardless of where they live
He picked her up all in his arms
The stranger picked the girl up in his arms
Kisses gave her, One, two, three
He kissed her three times
Said, Here am I, my own true love
Then, the stranger revealed himself to be the girl's long-lost lover, John Riley
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, ACUM Ltd.
Written by: Traditional
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Golam Raufu 𓁹
Fair young maid all in a garden
Stange young man, passerby
He said, "Fair maid, will you marry me?"
This then, sir, was her reply:
Oh, no, kind sir, I cannot marry thee
For I've a love who sails all on the sea.
He's been gone for seven years
Still no man shall marry me
What if he's in some battle slain
Or drownded (sic) in the deep salt sea
What if he's found another love
And he and his love both married be?
Well, if he's in some battle slain
I will go and mourn all on his grave
And if he's drowned in the deep salt sea
I'll be true to his memory
And if he's found another love
And he and his love both married be
I'll wish them health and happiness
Where they dwell across the sea
He picked her up all in his arms
Kisses gave her: One, two, three
Said, Here am I, my own true love
I am your long-lost John Riley!
Ibrido di risonanza
Fair young maid all in a garden
Stange young man, passerby
He said, "Fair maid, will you marry me?"
This then, sir, was her reply:
Oh, no, kind sir, I cannot marry thee
For I've a love who sails all on the sea.
He's been gone for seven years
Still no man shall marry me
What if he's in some battle slain
Or if he's drowned in the deep salt sea
What if he's found another love
And he and his love both married be?
Well, if he's in some battle slain
I will die when the moon doth wane
And if he's drowned in the deep salt sea
I'll be true to his memory
And if he's found another love
And he and his love both married be
I'll wish them health and happiness
Where they dwell across the sea
He picked her up all in his arms
Kisses gave her: One, two, three
Said, weep no more, my own true love
I am your long-lost John Riley!
BluebirdFrank
My dear dad passed away last month aged 95 and he loved Joan Baez, especially the early beautiful songs like this.
I grew up listening to them and love them too - he will have this played at his funeral in a couple in a few days time and I will unashamedly cry like a baby - such lovely memories and just another example of the beautiful legacies we receive from our parents - Thank you dad 💜
Sa Lala
My son’s favorite bedtime song. I’ve been singing it almost every night for 8 years. ❤️
Robert Lytle
She is one of the best folk singers. I have most of her albums and they are in perfect condition. In 1960 when I was just starting high school I collected 33's of all the folk singers while other kids were collecting rock and roll.
inDECLINE
I listened to this album many times as a child --this song, especially, always made me cry. Listening to it now, I find new tears flowing down my cheeks. Her voice is so pure and her choice of songs make her a true legend.
Parsleyrose
One of my top ten love songs, this song is so wonderful
Kate Roshon
My sister used to sing me to sleep every night (when she was home visiting as I am the ooops of the family) with this song!! It will always have a soft place in my heart! (And the fact that the town we used to live in had a Paster named John Riley!! LOL)
mysticmage111
Wonderful song, one of my all time favorites from Joan. :)
Toni Mckee
Beautiful voice as always Joan is great folk singer XO
Carlos Eduardo Martínez M.
En los años 60 escucho por primera vez a Joan Baez. Mi encantamiento fue instantáneo. Cada vez que visitaba a Carlos ponía el disco. Ya sentía una sensación mágica con algunas melodias folkloricas del mundo anglo americano y simultáneamente con las raíces latinas de México especialmente.
Cuando partí al exilio como refugiado político lo hice a México. Ningún otro país me interesaba. Conocí a Joan paseando por el Paseo de la Reforma cerca de Chapultepec.
Claudette Preisinger
Never heard this by her before. Someone recommended it, and I'm glad...This is absolutely beautiful!