Joan Baez, born on January 9th, 1941, is an American folk singer and a song… Read Full Bio ↴Joan Baez, born on January 9th, 1941, is an American folk singer and a songwriter who is of mixed Mexican and Scottish descent. Baez rose to prominence in the early '60s with her stunning renditions of traditional balladry.

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

Money for Floods
Joan Baez Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

My name is Eliza
I live by the river
My daughter Louise
Will be three in July
If July ever comes
It's beginning to feel like
The water will never
Surrender the field

Everyone knows
The river will swell
But they always find money
They always find money
They always find money for floods

The president came
In a green helicopter
He and the governor walked all around
My sister broke down
And he gave her a hug
He told her he'd do everything that he could

Everyone knows
The river will swell
But they always find money
They always find money
They always find money for floods

When I was sixteen
I went out with a boy
I'd tell you his name
If I thought it would help
He told me he loved me
And tossed me a girl
The bigger my belly
The faster he ran

Everyone knows
The river will swell
But they always find money
They always find money
They always find money for floods

My name is Eliza
I live by the river
My daughter Louise
Will be three in July
If July ever comes
It's beginning to feel like

The water will never
Surrender the field

Overall Meaning

In Joan Baez's song "Money for Floods," the lyrics revolve around the theme of natural disasters and government aid in times of crisis. The singer of the song, Eliza, lives by the river with her daughter Louise. The river swells during floods, which seems to happen often, and Eliza is beginning to feel as if the water will never leave. The lyrics allude to the fact that the government always seems to find money when there is a flood, but it is unclear if the aid given is enough to make a significant difference.

The second verse of the song adds another dimension to the lyrics as the president and governor arrive to survey the damage. Eliza's sister breaks down and is comforted by the president. The lyrics suggest that while the government may provide aid during natural disasters, it is the human connection and empathy that we share that can truly make a difference during times of crisis.

The final verse of the song takes a darker turn as Eliza speaks about her past relationship with a boy who left her pregnant. The lyrics reveal that he did not provide support, and instead ran away. This verse ties together the overarching theme of the song as it suggests that while government aid may come during crises, it may not always be enough and it is often the people in our lives who we can rely on during difficult times.

Line by Line Meaning

My name is Eliza
I am a resident living by the river

I live by the river
I reside in a place that is prone to floods

My daughter Louise / Will be three in July
My daughter Louise is going to turn three very soon

If July ever comes
Due to the continuous flooding, it feels like July may never come

It's beginning to feel like / The water will never / Surrender the field
The floodwaters seem to never recede and are continuously causing destruction

Everyone knows / The river will swell
It is common knowledge that the river will overflow during certain times of the year

But they always find money / They always find money / They always find money for floods
Despite the constant flooding, the government always finds funding to provide aid

The president came / In a green helicopter
The country's leader visited the flooded area for inspection

He and the governor walked all around
The president and governor toured the area to assess the extent of the damage

My sister broke down / And he gave her a hug
The president provided comfort to my sister who was overwhelmed by the disaster

He told her he'd do everything that he could
The president promised to help however he can in the aftermath of the flood

When I was sixteen / I went out with a boy
When I was a teenager, I dated someone

I'd tell you his name / If I thought it would help
I would tell you his name, but it wouldn't really make a difference

He told me he loved me / And tossed me a girl
He said he loved me and got me pregnant

The bigger my belly / The faster he ran
He left me when my pregnancy became more noticeable

Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: SHINDELL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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