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
Lonesome Road
Joan Baez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Look up and down that lonesome road,
Hang down your head and cry, my Lord!
Hang down your head and cry
They say all good friends must part sometimes
Why not you and I (my Lord)
Why not you and I
I wish to the Lord that I've never been born,
Or died when I was a baby, my Lord!
Or died when I was a baby
I would've not been here eating this cold cold bread
And supping this salty gravy, my Lord!
And supping this salty gravy
I wish to the Lord that I've never seen your face,
Heard your lying tongue, my Lord!
Heard your lying tongue
So look up and down that lonesome road,
All our friends have gone, my Lord!
And you and I must go
[Chorus]
The lyrics of Joan Baez's song Lonesome Road revolve around themes of heartbreak, loss, and regret in a relationship. The repeated chorus of "Hang down your head and cry" signifies the sorrow and pain the singer is feeling. The first verse introduces the idea that friendships can end and questions why the singer and her former lover could not continue their relationship. The second verse features the singer expressing her desire to have never been born or have passed away as a baby, indicating her deep dissatisfaction and unhappiness with her life. She wishes that she wouldn't have to eat "cold cold bread" and "salty gravy", suggesting that her life is hard and unfulfilling. In the third verse, she wishes she had never met or heard the lying words of her former lover. The bridge of the song features the realization that they are the only ones left on this lonesome road, and they have to continue their journey alone.
Line by Line Meaning
Look up and down that lonesome road,
Take a good look at the path you've chosen to go down in life, it may be a lonely one.
Hang down your head and cry, my Lord!
Feel the sadness and despair in your heart, and cry out to God for comfort and strength.
Hang down your head and cry
Repeat of previous line
They say all good friends must part sometimes
People say that it's natural for friends to drift apart from each other, eventually.
Why not you and I (my Lord)
Why shouldn't we, as friends, part ways too?
Why not you and I
Repeat of previous line
I wish to the Lord that I've never been born,
I regret my existence and question the purpose of my life.
Or died when I was a baby, my Lord!
It would have been better if I never lived long enough to experience the pain and hardship of life.
Or died when I was a baby
Repeat of previous line
I would've not been here eating this cold cold bread
I wouldn't have had to suffer through this difficult and unpleasant life.
And supping this salty gravy, my Lord!
I wouldn't have to endure this tasteless and unsatisfying existence.
And supping this salty gravy
Repeat of previous line
I wish to the Lord that I've never seen your face,
I regret ever meeting you and being a part of your life.
Heard your lying tongue, my Lord!
I wish I never had to hear the deceit and falsehoods that come out of your mouth.
Heard your lying tongue
Repeat of previous line
So look up and down that lonesome road,
Take a good look at the path you've chosen to go down in life, it may be a lonely one.
All our friends have gone, my Lord!
We've lost touch with all the people who were once important to us.
And you and I must go
We must part ways too, because we are no longer good friends.
Hang down your head and cry, my Lord!
Feel the sadness and despair in your heart, and cry out to God for comfort and strength.
Hang down your head and cry
Repeat of previous line
Lyrics © CARLIN AMERICA INC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: TRADITIONAL, MABLE HILLERY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Anne Cohen
Great! I found this variant by Joan Baez!!