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
Natalia
Joan Baez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who lives alone
In fear and sorrow
Where are the words
To set you free
Perhaps tomorrow
Where is the earth
Where is the sky
You long for
What hope of you
Where you are now
Natalia Gorbanevskaja
Inside the ward
Naked and cruel
Where life is stolen
From those who try
To stay alive
And not be broken
Where are the friends
Where are the men
Who among them
Can defend you
Where is the child
You'll never see
Natalia Gorbanevskaja
What else there lives
Behind the door
That never opens
Are you insane
As they say you are
Or just forsaken
Are you still there
Do you still care
Or are you lost forever
I know this song
You'll never hear
Natalia Gorbanevskaja
Natalia Gorbanevskaja
is a sensitive and touching song by Joan Baez about the life of Natalia Gorbanevskaja, a Russian poet and dissident who spent several years in a Soviet psychiatric hospital. The song is a tribute to Natalia's courage and resilience in the face of oppression and injustice, and a call to action for all those who care about human rights and freedom.
The first two stanzas of the song describe the isolation and despair that Natalia experienced as a political prisoner. She is characterized as a "weaver of words" who is trapped in a world of "fear and sorrow." The lyrics suggest that Natalia's only hope is for someone to come and set her free, to bring her back to a world where there is light and hope. The final stanza of the song asks the listener to consider what kind of life Natalia is living now, and whether she is completely lost to the world or if there is still hope for her.
The song is a powerful and emotional tribute to a brave woman who was willing to stand up for her beliefs regardless of the consequences. It serves as a poignant reminder that the struggle for human rights and freedom never ends, and that there are still people in the world who are willing to stand up and fight for what is right.
Line by Line Meaning
Weaver of words
Addressing Natalia as 'weaver of words'
Who lives alone
Acknowledging her life of loneliness
In fear and sorrow
Recognizing her fearful and sorrowful state
Where are the words
Questioning where the words are
To set you free
The words that could free Natalia
Perhaps tomorrow
Hope for tomorrow
Where is the earth
Questioning where the earth is
Where is the sky
Questioning where the sky is
Where is the light
Questioning where the light is
You long for
The light that Natalia longs for
What hope of you
Questioning where Natalia's hope lies
Where you are now
Questioning Natalia's current state
Natalia Gorbanevskaja
Addressing Natalia by name
Inside the ward
Referring to the mental hospital where Natalia was confined
Naked and cruel
Describing the harsh reality of the hospital
Where life is stolen
Lamenting the loss of life inside the hospital
From those who try
Those who try to survive
To stay alive
An attempt to stay alive
And not be broken
Trying not to be broken
Where are the friends
Questioning the absence of friends
Where are the men
Questioning the absence of defenders
Who among them
Asking who among them
Can defend you
Who can defend Natalia
Where is the child
Questioning the whereabouts of Natalia's child
You'll never see
Natalia will never see her child again
What else there lives
Questioning what else is there
Behind the door
Behind the closed door of the hospital
That never opens
The door that never opens for Natalia
Are you insane
Questioning Natalia's sanity
As they say you are
As society portrays Natalia to be
Or just forsaken
Wondering if Natalia is just abandoned
Are you still there
Asking if Natalia is still alive
Do you still care
Wondering if Natalia still cares about her situation
Or are you lost forever
Natalia may be lost forever
I know this song
The singer knows Natalia's song
You'll never hear
Natalia will never hear the song
Natalia Gorbanevskaja
Addressing Natalia by name and honoring her adversity
Lyrics © ASTERISK MUSIC
Written by: Gerald Moore, Roy Apps, Shusha
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sarcastic Sugar
Weaver of words
Who lives alone
In fear and sorrow
Where are the words
To set you free
Perhaps tomorrow
Where is the earth
Where is the sky
Where is the light
You long for
What hope of you
Where you are now
Natalia Gorbanevskaja
Inside the ward
Naked and cruel
Where life is stolen
From those who try
To stay alive
And not be broken
Where are the friends
Where are the men
Who among them
Can defend you
Where is the child
You'll never see
Natalia Gorbanevskaja
What else there lives
Behind the door
That never opens
Are you insane
As they say you are
Or just forsaken
Are you still there
Do you still care
Or are you lost forever
I know this song
You'll never hear
Natalia Gorbanevskaja
Natalia Gorbanevskaja
Sarcastic Sugar
Weaver of words
Who lives alone
In fear and sorrow
Where are the words
To set you free
Perhaps tomorrow
Where is the earth
Where is the sky
Where is the light
You long for
What hope of you
Where you are now
Natalia Gorbanevskaja
Inside the ward
Naked and cruel
Where life is stolen
From those who try
To stay alive
And not be broken
Where are the friends
Where are the men
Who among them
Can defend you
Where is the child
You'll never see
Natalia Gorbanevskaja
What else there lives
Behind the door
That never opens
Are you insane
As they say you are
Or just forsaken
Are you still there
Do you still care
Or are you lost forever
I know this song
You'll never hear
Natalia Gorbanevskaja
Natalia Gorbanevskaja
Penelope Rohrlach
I don't know but this song has remained in my heart for many years...I have never forgotten Natalia. <3
Liz Drouin
For me as well...
L. Campos
Precious gem, from a precious human being, a rare soul. Joan Baez keeps her journey, now on her eighties, with the same enormous talent ( she now is painting wonderfully ), brilliant inteligence, and unshakeable commitment to mankind. she is the personification of Organized Love, a bodhysattva. God bless and keep you, forever, Joan Baez. Amor e gratidão , from Brasil.
Pavel Golushko
Вечная память...
Mark Markov
Да ,у нас всё по прежнему (((
42awww
Beautiful song from a beautiful album..
L. Campos
Love and Gratitude to NATALYA GORBANEVSKAYA. Yes, and I as well affirm that " It is because of the people like JOAN BAEZ that you and I are still alive and walking around on the face of the earth... Eternal Love and Gratitude to you , dearest Joan Baez
Леонид Люблин
спасибо вам за беспокойство о наших дисидентах и правозащитниках
Andreas Klumpp
My heart goes to all people in Russia rising their voices against Putin before and during this terrible war against Ukraina - Navalny, Marina yesterday in the news-broadcast, the arrested demonstrating Shoah survivor in St. Petersburg and all theese unknown arrested demonstrating people all over Russia.