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
My Home's Across The Blue Ridge Mountains
Joan Baez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, I'm a gonna leave here Monday morning
Oh, I'm a gonna leave here Monday morning
Oh, I never expect to see you anymore
My home's across this Blue Ridge Mountains
My home's across the Blue Ridge Mountains
My home's across the Blue Ridge Mountains
How can I keep from crying?
How can I keep from crying?
How can I keep from crying?
While I never expect to see you anymore
Rockin' feet my baby candy
Rockin' feet my baby candy
Rockin' feet my baby candy
Oh, I never expect to see you anymore
My home's across this Blue Ridge Mountains
My home's across the Blue Ridge Mountains
My home's across the Blue Ridge Mountains
Oh, I never expect to see you anymore
How can I keep from crying?
How can I keep from crying?
How can I keep from crying?
When I never expect to see you anymore
My home's across this Blue Ridge Mountains
My home's across the Blue Ridge Mountains
My home's across the Blue Ridge Mountains
Oh, I never expect to see you anymore
The lyrics of Joan Baez's song "My Home's Across the Blue Ridge Mountains" depict the sorrow and pain of leaving loved ones behind and searching for a new home. The repetition in the song's verses reflects the singer's determination to leave and start anew, despite the sadness of leaving. The phrase "I never expect to see you anymore" is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the finality of the situation and the uncertainty of the future.
The chorus "My home's across this Blue Ridge Mountains" speaks to the visual and symbolic separation between the singer and their home. The Blue Ridge Mountains are a significant landmark in the American South, running from Georgia to Pennsylvania, and have come to represent a sense of place and identity. The singer's longing for their home and the emotions they are experiencing are palpable, further emphasized by the question "How can I keep from crying?"
The final verse features the intriguing phrase "Rockin' feet my baby candy," which could be interpreted as an attempt to comfort oneself or a loved one. While the meaning of the phrase is vague, the overall message of the song is one of moving forward, leaving the past behind and embracing the unknown.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a gonna leave here Monday morning
I will be departing from this location early next week
My home's across this Blue Ridge Mountains
My place of residence is beyond the Blue Ridge Mountains
How can I keep from crying?
What can I do to prevent myself from shedding tears?
Rockin' feet my baby candy
My darling moves her feet to music
Oh, I never expect to see you anymore
It is unlikely that I will ever lay my eyes on you again
Contributed by Olivia O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Greg Bader
A great song from my youth. The background shots add so much to it! Thanks for going through all the trouble to produce it and upload it here.
Edmond Lull
Love the beat and Joan''s unique voice. I play it over and over again.
Pierre Proudhon
It's been more than 4 years since I moved to the States, this beautiful song brings back everything I used to know. My home is across the deep, deep blue Pacific.
Greg Bader
Great song and wonderful background shots! Thanks for posting.
Colin K
that is good!!!!! My fav song
Jean Paul Kiner
Super titre,au niveau "instrumental"
Jean Paul Kiner
Et "THE VOICE" !!!
Steve Jones
thats a good redo of an ole drifter tune. thanks again
Ben Dummitt
I wonder, if she'd kept some of that...
carlo rattini
ok !