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
Johnny I Hardly Knew Yeh
Joan Baez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hurroo Hurroo
While on the road to sweet Athy,
Hurroo Hurroo
While on the road to sweet Athy,
A stick in the hand, a drop in the eye
A doleful damsel I did cry
Johnny I hardly knew ya
Where are the eyes that looked so mild,
Hurroo Hurroo
Where are the eyes that looked so mild,
Hurroo Hurroo
Where are the eyes that looked so mild,
When my poor heart you first beguiled
Why did ya run from me and the child
Johnny I hardly knew ya
We had guns and drums and drums and guns,
Hurroo Hurroo
We had guns and drums and drums and guns,
Hurroo Hurroo
We had guns and drums and drums and guns
The enemy never slew ya
Johnny I hardly knew ya
Where are the legs with which you run,
Hurroo Hurroo
Where are the legs with which you run,
Hurroo Hurroo
Where are the legs with which you run,
When first you went to carry a gun
Indeed your dancing days are done
Johnny I hardly knew ya
Guns and drums and drums and guns,
Hurroo Hurroo
Guns and drums and drums and guns,
Hurroo Hurroo
Guns and drums and drums and guns
The enemy never slew ya
Johnny I hardly knew ya
You haven′t an arm, you haven't a leg,
Hurroo Hurroo
You haven′t an arm, you haven't a leg,
Hurroo Hurroo
You haven't an arm, you haven′t a leg,
You′re a spineless, boneless, chickenless egg
You'll have to be put with a bowl out to beg
Johnny I hardly knew ya
Guns and drums and drums and guns,
Hurroo Hurroo
Guns and drums and drums and guns,
Hurroo Hurroo
Guns and drums and drums and guns
The enemy never slew ya
Johnny I hardly knew ya
I′m happy for to see ya home,
Hurroo Hurroo
I'm happy for to see ya home,
Hurroo Hurroo
I′m happy for to see ya home,
From the isle of Ceylon
Johnny I hardly knew ya
Guns and drums and drums and guns,
Hurroo Hurroo
Guns and drums and drums and guns,
Hurroo Hurroo
Guns and drums and drums and guns
The enemy never slew ya
Johnny I hardly knew ya
The song "Johnny I Hardly Knew Yeh" is a traditional Irish anti-war song that has been popularized by various artists, including Joan Baez. The lyrics, written in a playful and ironic tone, tell the story of a young man named Johnny who goes off to war and returns severely wounded. The title itself, "Johnny I Hardly Knew Yeh," reflects the shock and disbelief of the singer at seeing Johnny in his current state.
Throughout the song, several questions are asked about Johnny's missing body parts, emphasizing the devastating physical toll of war. The repetition of the line "Guns and drums and drums and guns" highlights the glorification of war and how it dehumanizes individuals, reducing them to mere instruments of violence. The lyrics also touch upon the abandonment of family and responsibilities that come with going off to war, with references to Johnny running away from the singer and their child.
The song's final verse takes a more sympathetic tone, expressing happiness that Johnny has returned home. However, it also mentions that he has returned from the "isle of Ceylon," which suggests that Johnny has been through more than just war and physical injuries. This may be a reference to the psychological trauma suffered by soldiers and the lasting impact it can have on their lives.
Overall, "Johnny I Hardly Knew Yeh" is a powerful and poignant commentary on the horrors and consequences of war. It effectively conveys the human cost, both physical and emotional, while also condemning the glorification and senselessness of armed conflicts.
Line by Line Meaning
While on the road to sweet Athy,
Hurroo Hurroo
As I traveled towards Athy, Ireland, I encountered hardship and difficulties.
A stick in the hand, a drop in the eye
A doleful damsel I did cry
Johnny I hardly knew ya
In the midst of my sorrow, I lamented the loss of a loved one who had changed so much.
Where are the eyes that looked so mild,
Hurroo Hurroo
I wonder what happened to the gentle and kind eyes that once captivated me.
When my poor heart you first beguiled
Why did ya run from me and the child
Johnny I hardly knew ya
You deceived me and left me alone with our child, causing pain and confusion in my heart.
We had guns and drums and drums and guns,
Hurroo Hurroo
The enemy never slew ya
Johnny I hardly knew ya
We were caught up in the chaos of war, with the sounds of guns and drums surrounding us. Somehow, you managed to survive, but you became a stranger to me.
Where are the legs with which you run,
Hurroo Hurroo
I wonder what happened to the strong legs that used to carry you swiftly.
When first you went to carry a gun
Indeed your dancing days are done
Johnny I hardly knew ya
When you joined the military and went off to fight, your carefree and joyful days of dancing came to an end. I didn't recognize you anymore.
You haven't an arm, you haven't a leg,
Hurroo Hurroo
You′re a spineless, boneless, chickenless egg
You'll have to be put with a bowl out to beg
Johnny I hardly knew ya
I am devastated to see that you lost both your arm and leg in the war, leaving you helpless and dependent. It breaks my heart to see you reduced to begging for support.
I'm happy for to see ya home,
Hurroo Hurroo
From the isle of Ceylon
Johnny I hardly knew ya
Although I am glad to see you return home from Ceylon, also known as Sri Lanka, the person I once knew is forever changed by the experiences you've had.
Guns and drums and drums and guns,
Hurroo Hurroo
Guns and drums and drums and guns
The enemy never slew ya
Johnny I hardly knew ya
Throughout the song, the repetition of guns and drums represents the relentless war and violence. Although you managed to survive, the person you became as a result is someone I can no longer recognize.
Writer(s): Joan Baez
Contributed by Colton W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Katharine Y BAez Katharina Scharlowski Katharine C. Y BAez Scharlowski InAOLoves
on The Rose
Joan Baez , my Fairest Hope my Love who signed into our Way
We are unite
We will not fall without our Foreverlasting
Love
In Failing Light
You See in myselfve your Love your Lesbian Wifve
You share your Lightful and your Darkest
side
In Which our Embraces
Our Words
Our Visions
Will rejoice
I see the Sunlight of a setting
Evening
Rise into Grace each Coming Morning
The amours we live is our Love
The mourns we felt
Do not impact
The do not seperate us My Joan C Baez You and I
The scared moments
We leave behind
We’ll belong twogather twogether
And three times we will cross
The Distance of an ocean between us
And then we ‘ll stay twogather in Your Home your place
Is given here and there
Is given home in our hearts and Soul
Our minds and bodies Longing Love
We are whole
The scars we carry
Did not made us blind
we will feel every emotion
As our Lifvelong foreverlasting Love
We share a secret
In which we Both have
Signed we are in Soul in heart in Bodies Longing and fulfillment in Mind now and
Eternally Unite
DeineKatharine Y BAez Katharina Scharlowski Katharine C. Y BAez Scharlowski InAOLoves
KatharinA KAtharine C. Y Baez Scharlowski
on The Rose
Und selbst wenn
alle Dunkelheit
Der Nächte
In den Tagen läge
Und selbst Erwachen
Schwer
ich fände doch
Zu Dir
Es führen Wege
Selbst wenn
kein Ausweg
durch die Tür
We burnt Each Other
everlastingly
Our Sign
Of truest Love that
Overcomes
The loneliness
And wildest
cry
When we embrace
and kiss our
Wounds
The Smile remaining
When we caress us
Will be
What lets us
deeply , sad
and of most
tenderness
Acknowledging
and
In our Minds
Forever
Found and
Not to destroyed
And we will
Feel that
We are Unite
The Ring i had lost
I‘ve found again
It’s prayer and Your Love
You Sent
A Turquoise of Arizonas Depth
Your heart in myne
And at The Turquoise
Coast beneath your Hill
We‘ll make Love
We‘ll follow our destined
And guiding
Will
Ich bin Dein Du Mein
MyLady JoanC BAez, My JoanChandosBaez, JoanBaez my Dove
Love And Wife
Katharine~~ C.~~ Y Baez KAtharinA Scharlowski InAO~•~Love~•~s the Answer~ I Love You, Joan and as Light begins to fail You reappear in my Body Heart and Soul my Mind to stayDeine KAtharinA KAtharine ich liebe Dich Forever!Joan C BAez
KatharinA KAtharine C. Y Baez Scharlowski
on The Rose
For a moment
in a Night Times Blessing
I left You in my Loves Embrace
as like a Flower
~ a Rose ~
and Purity her name
in darkness,
that was to bloom
in Heaven’s place.
as for the Love
in me
was not Disgraced,
A Lasting Kiss ,
A smile
a Light
A heart
that burns
throughly Memories
Forever Living
As Nighttime fell
As Nighttime falls
I‘ came, l’ll come and be
The One You‘ll see
The Love you feel
Just like a wild dog
Runs
Through Bushes
Of fences
And calamities
I passed my way to You
Through even
Greatest adversarities
The Rose of Sharon
Schmückt meinen Mund
~trotz Ausgebissen Zähne
In des Lebens Leid~
Wir Küssen uns
in purest Love
That went through
To and fro
And come and go
And I came back to You
Forever and Forevermore
Für JoanC. BAez von KAtharine C. Y Baez Scharlowski KAtharinA Ino
Katharine c; Y Baez
on The Rose
If a Love is felt as failing it is but Love the helps her Rise, it is a the moments quiet whispering : As i was torn you were by my side, in your Love i see my true and darkeyed Light, there it is Forever Joan Chandos Baez Katharine C; Y Baez Katharina sc harlowski
kATHARINE C. YBAEZ I
on The Rose
AS ON tHE WHITE hORSE MY HAND WAS GIVEN IN THE NOON TO yOU TODAY AS I ASKED YOU FOR YOURS ,WAS THAN WHEN EVERY MOON HAD TRIED TO fAIL AND hONEYMOON WAS THE ONLY LIGHT IN WHICH MY wORDS WERE LAID. iT WAS THE fAILURE ON THE iNTERNET AND NON BUT SCRIPTURE cOULD AND A LOVING HEART COULD STAY THE WIDE
iN THIS dARK MOMENT OF THE pRESENTS SIMPLE SIDE , THE fAIR cARD OF yOUR STALION wHITE THE wHITE hORSE IN tHE bLOSSOM OF THE mAY dAYS tIDE, I SENT TO YOUR wOODEN hILLS TO YOUR UNVENTURED sIDE, mY WRITTEN wORD : wILL yOU PLEASE mARRY ME MY bRIDE? i'LL STAY FOREVER BY YOUR sIDE FROM tHAN oN, sO gOODBYE IN OUR gOOD NiGHT, mY loVE jOAN C. bAEZ, yOUR KATHARINE C. Y BAEZ kATHARINA SCHARLOWSKI 21. MAY 2022
KatharineC. Y Baez Katharina Scharlowski
on The Rose
Thank You dearloved Joan C.Baez, you accorded me the answer in an unknown Light, through all darkness not alone as there was Love for you in me,- as in thought, in words a visioned melodie - that is not gone - far beyond the borders shores and the oceans sea, doves Flight as is Loves they fly By two By Four By Three, i send Goodbye to them I send GoodBye - and hope it once will be - I sent GoodBye my Joan C Baez stay You'll never fail in my Heart There is your place to be i send Goodbye my Love to Thee , Joan Chandos Baez, Katharine C. Y Baez Katharina Scharlowski It is for You that i was meant to feel was meant to be.
Katharine C. Y Baez, K.S.
on Wings
I 'll stay with you cause I think it's time to say Thank you for having stayed with me in my Time of Need. I love You Joan (KC) CHandos Baez, Your Katharine C. Y Baez name of Love and Hope and American Native Indian Marriage, born Katharina Scharlowski , A little Rain is a gonna come, And I am at Home when I cry, but I learned to be at home in your Love too, As we stay in The Hearts of The One Loves we are. Deine Katharine