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

Pal of Mine
Joan Baez Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Pal Of Mine

In the night, while you lay sleeping
Dreaming of your amber skies
Was a poor boy broken hearted
Listening to the winds that sigh

My little darling, oh how, I love you
How I love you, none can tell
In your heart you love another
Little darling, pal of mine

Many a day, with you I've rambled
Happiest hours, with you I've spent
For I had your heart forever
But I find it's only lent

There is just three things I wish for
That's my casket, shroud and grave

When I'm dead, don't weep for me
Just like those lips that you betrayed

Overall Meaning

The lyrics in Joan Baez's song "Pal of Mine" convey a sense of heartbreak, betrayal, and acceptance. The song begins as the singer describes the moment in the night when they lay awake, thinking of the one they love, while the one they love is sound asleep. The storyteller is heartbroken and listening to the winds' sighing, which adds a layer of emotional depth to the song. The singer then addresses the one they love, saying that they love them dearly, but the love is unrequited as the one they love belongs to another. It's a touching moment that encapsulates the universal feeling of unrequited love.

The second verse of "Pal of Mine" takes on a somber tone. The singer reminisces about the happiest moments they've spent with their beloved. However, the singer finds out that their love is only lent, and their happiness is only temporary. They have come to terms with the fact that their love is not reciprocated, and they are left to face the reality of their situation. The final verse highlights the singer's final wishes, which are surprisingly very simple. The singer asks for a casket, shroud, and a grave. They don't want to burden their beloved with their death; they want them to move on and forget about them. The last line of the song, "just like those lips that you betrayed," hits hard, and it's clear the singer has accepted the unrequited love and hopes for a peaceful end.

Line by Line Meaning

In the night, while you lay sleeping
During the night, as you peacefully rest and sleep

Dreaming of your amber skies
Imagining and wishing for your idealized future

Was a poor boy broken hearted
A young man who is destitute and heartbroken

Listening to the winds that sigh
Hearing the sounds of the sorrowful wind

My little darling, oh how, I love you
Expressing deep affection to a beloved person

How I love you, none can tell
The depth of love cannot be fully expressed verbally

In your heart you love another
Your heart belongs to someone else

Little darling, pal of mine
Endearing the subject as a precious friend

Many a day, with you I've rambled
Spent time strolling and wandering together

Happiest hours, with you I've spent
The moments together were joyful

For I had your heart forever
For a lifetime, your heart belonged to me