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
Never Dreamed You
Joan Baez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I thought you would go then come back home
I thought the cold would leave by summer
But my quiet nights will be spent alone
You said there would be warm love in springtime
That was when you started to be cold
I never dreamed you'd leave in summer
You said then you'd be alive in autumn
Then you said you'd be the one to see the way
No, no no no no I never dreamed you'd leave in summer
But now I find my love has gone away
Why didn't you stay?
The lyrics of Joan Baez's song "Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer" present a nostalgic and mournful tone. The lyrics evoke that sense of loss and abandonment that one feels when a loved one unexpectedly leaves, in this case, in the summer. The singer's initial expectation was that her lover would come back home after leaving, but as the summer comes to an end, she realizes that her nights will be spent all alone.
The song articulates the confusion that comes with emotions; the feelings of abandonment are coupled with memories of promises that were made earlier. The confusion deepens, as the lyrics reveal that her lover had previously promised warm love during springtime, but that did not materialize, causing the singer's disillusionment. As the seasons change, so do the broken promises, the promise of being alive and seeing the way in autumn never came to fruition. The singer's shock and disbelief at the unexpected departure are repeated in the refrain, "no, no, no, no, no, I never dreamed you'd leave in summer."
Overall, the lyrics of Joan Baez's song "Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer" paint a picture of a forlorn woman grappling with abandonment and broken promises. It reflects on how quickly things can fall apart and how people can disappoint one another in specific ways.
Line by Line Meaning
I never dreamed you'd leave in summer
I never expected you to leave during the summer season
I thought you would go then come back home
I assumed your leaving was only temporary and you would return home
I thought the cold would leave by summer
I anticipated that the coldness and distance between us would disappear during summer
But my quiet nights will be spent alone
I will be spending my lonely nights by myself
You said there would be warm love in springtime
You promised warm and affectionate love during spring
That was when you started to be cold
However, you started to become aloof and distant instead
But now I find myself all alone
But now, I am left alone without your love and companionship
You said then you'd be alive in autumn
You promised that you would be lively and present during autumn
Then you said you'd be the one to see the way
Additionally, you claimed to guide us through our journey together
No, no no no no I never dreamed you'd leave in summer
I never even imagined that you would leave during summer
But now I find my love has gone away
But now, it has dawned on me that you have left me and taken your love with you
Why didn't you stay?
I cannot help but wonder why you did not choose to stay and fight for our love
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Stevie Wonder, Syreeta Wright
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Wayne Daves
The thing so phenomenal about this song, the lyrics, this best performance of a career for Joan Baez, is the culmination of the moving and perfect encompassing last line of the song, the note held, the pain and longing that defines human existence. It is the height of so much in one line.. Just stunning and superb. Cements Stevie Wonder as a Great American Songwriter.
raymond newby
My dad loved joan singing this. Such an emotional song. When i bought the album ,my dad unofficially claimed it as his own and now it brings a tear when I hear it.
Boon Doggle
I actually really like this. She really did Stevie Wonder justice.
Deborrah Oliveri
a voice no one can come close to a legend Ms Joan Baez. a huge influence to many of us. timeless.
ojet013
I've been disheartened finding out newer generations done even know her name. I'm 33 now and was introduced to her in middle school, lucky to see her live twice ❤
Patrick Campbell
Poetic lyrics, a great melody and the incomparable JB to interpret it....
ojet013
One of the greatest albums of all time
Alex
I love this version.
Francesc Sanjuan Llaveria
Es la meva canco preferida, interpretada magnificament per la meva cantant preferida.
Joan Baez: Ets la millor.
46foryounger
Poor Joan didn’t know about cuffing season 😆