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. On July 28, 2019, following dates across Europe, Baez performed her final concert at Madrid's Teatro Real. In January 2021, Baez received a 2020 Kennedy Center Honor.
Pretty Boy Floyd
Joan Baez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A story I will tell
Of Pretty Boy Floyd an outlaw
Oklahoma knew him well.
It was in the town of Shawnee
It was Saturday afternoon
His wife beside him in his wagon
As into town they rode.
In a manner rather rude
Using vulgar words of language
And his wife she overheard.
Pretty Boy grabbed a log chain
And the deputy grabbed a gun
And in the fight that followed
He laid that deputy down.
He took to the trees and timbers
And he lived a life of shame
Every crime in Oklahoma was added to his name
Yes, he took to the trees and timbers
On that Canadian River's shore
And Pretty Boy found a welcome
At a many a farmer's door.
There's a many a starving farmer
The same old story told
How this outlaw paid their mortgage
And saved their little home.
Others tell you 'bout a stranger
That come to beg a meal
And underneath his napkin
Left a thousand dollar bill.
It was in Oklahoma City
It was on a Christmas Day
There come a whole car load of groceries
With a letter that did say:
You say that I'm an outlaw
You say that I'm a thief
Here's a Christmas dinner
For the families on relief.
Now as through this world I ramble
I see lots of funny men
Some will rob you with a Six gun
And some with a fountain pen.
But as through your life you travel
As through your life you roam
You won't never see an outlaw
Drive a family from their home.
Joan Baez's song "Pretty Boy Floyd" is a folk song that tells the story of an outlaw, Charles Arthur Floyd, famously known as "Pretty Boy Floyd," who was known for his criminal activities in Oklahoma during the Great Depression era. The lyrics start with the singer inviting children to hear a story about an infamous outlaw who was well-known in Oklahoma. As the song progresses, we learn that Pretty Boy was with his wife in his wagon when a deputy sheriff, who was rude to him, approached him. There was an altercation, and Pretty Boy fought back, ultimately shooting and killing the deputy. The rest of the song describes how Pretty Boy lived on the run, committing crimes for survival, but also describes how he helped out struggling farmers and even sent Christmas groceries to families on relief.
The song is a commentary on the socio-economic conditions of Oklahoma during the Great Depression era, where people were struggling to make ends meet, and outlaws like Floyd were seen as saviors by the poor farmers he helped out. The lyrics suggest that Pretty Boy was forced to turn to a life of crime due to the hardships of his time, and that he maintained some sort of moral integrity by doing things like saving homes and providing aid to the poor. The final lines of the song contrast Pretty Boy with other "funny men" who rob people with Six guns or fountain pens, suggesting that Pretty Boy was a product of his environment, unlike other criminals who do so for less honorable reasons.
Line by Line Meaning
If you'll gather 'round me children
Let me tell you a story.
A story I will tell
I'm going to recount some events that happened.
Of Pretty Boy Floyd an outlaw
This is a story about a notorious criminal named Pretty Boy Floyd.
Oklahoma knew him well.
Floyd was well-known in the state of Oklahoma.
It was in the town of Shawnee
The story takes place in the town of Shawnee, Oklahoma.
It was Saturday afternoon
The day was Saturday, in the afternoon.
His wife beside him in his wagon
Floyd's wife was in the wagon with him.
As into town they rode.
They were riding into town.
There a deputy sheriff approached him
A deputy sheriff came up to Floyd and his wife while they were in town.
In a manner rather rude
The deputy was being impolite.
Using vulgar words of language
The deputy was using profanity.
And his wife she overheard.
Floyd's wife heard what the deputy was saying.
Pretty Boy grabbed a log chain
Floyd picked up a log chain.
And the deputy grabbed a gun
The deputy pulled out his gun.
And in the fight that followed
A fight broke out.
He laid that deputy down.
Floyd knocked the deputy down.
He took to the trees and timbers
Floyd fled into the woods.
And he lived a life of shame
Floyd became an outlaw and lived a life of dishonor.
Every crime in Oklahoma was added to his name
Floyd became a notorious criminal in Oklahoma, with many crimes attributed to him.
Yes, he took to the trees and timbers
Floyd fled into the woods again.
On that Canadian River's shore
He went to the shore of the Canadian River.
And Pretty Boy found a welcome
Floyd was welcomed by many farmers.
At a many a farmer's door.
He went to the doors of many farmers.
There's a many a starving farmer
Many farmers were struggling to make ends meet.
The same old story told
This was a common occurrence.
How this outlaw paid their mortgage
Floyd paid off debts for some farmers.
And saved their little home.
He helped some farmers keep their homes.
Others tell you 'bout a stranger
Some people tell stories about strangers.
That come to beg a meal
These strangers come to ask for food.
And underneath his napkin
They would often leave something unexpected.
Left a thousand dollar bill.
Such as a large sum of money.
It was in Oklahoma City
The scene shifts to Oklahoma City.
It was on a Christmas Day
The event took place on Christmas Day.
There come a whole car load of groceries
Someone showed up with a car full of food.
With a letter that did say:
They had a letter with them that they wanted to share.
You say that I'm an outlaw
Floyd is addressing the claims against him.
You say that I'm a thief
He is also addressing accusations of theft.
Here's a Christmas dinner
Despite this, he sent a Christmas dinner to needy families.
For the families on relief.
These families were on financial assistance and needed help.
Now as through this world I ramble
Floyd reflects on his life.
I see lots of funny men
He encounters many types of people.
Some will rob you with a Six gun
Some rob with weapons.
And some with a fountain pen.
Others take advantage of the law to steal from people.
But as through your life you travel
Traveling through life can be difficult.
As through your life you roam
Moving around can be challenging too.
You won't never see an outlaw
Floyd argues that not all outlaws are harmful.
Drive a family from their home.
He believes that criminals should not harm innocent families and force them out of their homes.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: WOODY GUTHRIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Critter
wow, had this album back in the day. joan's music is timeless. thanks for posting!
Torben Hansen Pedersen
joan baez the best of
MyMoppet52
You are more than welcome. I love her music and yes, she is timeless. I appreciate you listening and taking the time to leave a comment. My best to you, Moppet
Jack Johnson
Like honey flowing over a waterfall! No voice like Joan's on earth.
kalurider
She still has the pipes!
MyMoppet52
Yes. She has aged well musically. thanks for stopping by, Moppet
firebase delta
Joan -- love her all these years -- a LADY
MyMoppet52
Yes - Me too. She has aged well, also. Sometimes that doesn't happen. She's a treasure. Thanks for stopping by and listening, Moppet
Peetzer Express
My dad used to play that record when I was a kid, and I distinctly remember this song. I hated it at the time but now that I'm older I understand the subject and appreciate it, also her voice is unique. Thanks for uploading it.
Hortense Weinblatt
February 3, 2022 I heard this song once, on the radio, probably 60 years ago this year. I was a child of 7, and I remember enjoying the sound of her guitar and her voice - and the poignancy of the verses about the dinner for the families on relief, and of those who rob with a fountain-pen.
As I hear it again, these minutes, for the first time in 60 years, my jaw is on the floor at the ringing, soaring beauty of her singing.