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. On July 28, 2019, following dates across Europe, Baez performed her final concert at Madrid's Teatro Real. In January 2021, Baez received a 2020 Kennedy Center Honor.
Kinder
Joan Baez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Darf man nie drauf schlagen, die zerbrechen dann.
Sind so kleine Füsse, mit so kleinen Zeh`n.
Darf man nie drauf treten, könn`sie sonst nicht geh`n.
Sind so kleine Ohren, scharf und ihr erlaubt.
Darf man nie zerbrüllen, werden davon taub.
Sind so schöne Münder, sprechen alles aus.
Darf man nie verbieten, kommt sonst nichts mehr raus.
Sind so klare Augen, die noch alles seh`n.
Darf man nie verbinden, könn`n sie nichts versteh`n.
Sind so kleine Seelen, offen und ganz frei.
Darf man niemals quälen, geh`n kaputt dabei.
Ist so`n kleines Rückgrat, sieht man fast noch nicht.
Darf man niemals beugen, weil es sonst zerbricht.
Grade klare Menschen, wär`n ein schönes Ziel.
Leute ohne Rückgrat, hab`n wir schon zuviel.
The lyrics of "Kinder" by Joan Baez speak to the fragility of children and the importance of treating them with care and respect. The first stanza describes the small hands and fingers of children, and warns against hitting them as they can easily break. The second stanza speaks to the vulnerability of children's feet, and how stepping on them can prevent them from being able to walk. The third stanza is about the ears of children, which are sensitive and can be damaged by yelling. The fourth stanza is about the mouths of children, which should never be silenced or censored as it is important for them to be able to express themselves. The fifth stanza is about the eyes of children, which are still able to see everything but can be blinded by being covered. The sixth and final stanza describes how the souls of children are pure and open, and should never be subjected to cruelty as it can cause them to break.
Overall, the song is a reminder that children are precious and should be treated with love and respect. The use of simple language and repeated imagery helps to drive home the importance of protecting children and nurturing their growth.
Line by Line Meaning
Sind so kleine Hände, winz`ge Finger dran.
These are small hands, each with tiny fingers.
Darf man nie drauf schlagen, die zerbrechen dann.
We must never strike these small hands, as they are fragile and can easily break.
Sind so kleine Füsse, mit so kleinen Zeh`n.
These are small feet, with tiny toes.
Darf man nie drauf treten, könn`sie sonst nicht geh`n.
We should never step on them, as they will be unable to walk.
Sind so kleine Ohren, scharf und ihr erlaubt.
These are small ears, sharp and capable of hearing.
Darf man nie zerbrüllen, werden davon taub.
We must never shout at them, as they will become deaf from the loud noise.
Sind so schöne Münder, sprechen alles aus.
These are beautiful mouths, capable of expressing everything.
Darf man nie verbieten, kommt sonst nichts mehr raus.
We should never forbid them from speaking, as they will have nothing to say.
Sind so klare Augen, die noch alles seh`n.
These are clear eyes, still able to see everything.
Darf man nie verbinden, könn`n sie nichts versteh`n.
We should never blindfold them, as they will be unable to understand anything.
Sind so kleine Seelen, offen und ganz frei.
These are small souls, open and completely free.
Darf man niemals quälen, geh`n kaputt dabei.
We should never torment them, as they will shatter into pieces.
Ist so`n kleines Rückgrat, sieht man fast noch nicht.
This is a small backbone, barely visible.
Darf man niemals beugen, weil es sonst zerbricht.
We must never bend it, as it will break.
Grade klare Menschen, wär`n ein schönes Ziel.
People who are straight and clear would make a beautiful goal.
Leute ohne Rückgrat, hab`n wir schon zuviel.
We already have too many people without a backbone.
Contributed by Jack H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jan Dannevang Matzen
Et emne, der går igen efter genration efter generation, om det ikke ændres . .. Skukt fortalt af Joan Baez.
Sabine Krause
Wunderschön
Frank Gunold
Nachgesungen !
Kinder, auch bekannt unter der ersten Zeile Sind so kleine Hände, ist eine Ballade von Bettina Wegner; es ist ihr bekanntestes Lied. Die US-amerikanische Folk-Sängerin Joan Baez sang es – ebenfalls in deutscher Sprache – mehrfach und trug so zur internationalen Verbreitung bei.
Marcel Strömer | FM STROEMER
omg JA!!!
Frank Gunold
Bettina Wegner - Kinder (Sind so kleine Hände) (1978) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcdkwdfz0GA