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.
Rejoice in the Sun
Joan Baez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where my people have toiled since time begun
I may sail on many a sea
Her shores will always be home to me
Oh island in the sun
Built to me by my father's hand
All my days I will sing in praise
Of your forest waters your shining sand
I lift my heavy load to the sky
Sun comes down with a burning glow
Mingles my sweat with the earth low
Oh island in the sun
Built to me by my father's hand
All my days I will sing in praise
Of your forest waters your shining sand
I see woman on bended knee
Cutting cane for her family
I see man at the water-side
Casting nets at the surfing tide
Oh island in the sun
Built to me by my father's hand
All my days I will sing in praise
Of your forest waters your shining sand
I hope the day will never come
That I can't awake to the sound of drum
Never let me miss carnaval
With calypso songs philosophical
Oh island in the sun
Built to me by my father's hand
All my days I will sing in praise
Of your forest waters your shining sand
The lyrics of Joan Baez's song "Rejoice in the Sun" depict a deep sense of connection and reverence towards the singer's homeland, symbolized as an "island in the sun." The island is portrayed as a place where the singer's ancestors have toiled for generations, creating a strong sense of rootedness and belonging. The imagery of sailing on many seas but always returning to the shores of their home conveys a sense of loyalty and love for their homeland.
The singer expresses gratitude and admiration for the natural beauty of the island - its forest, waters, and shining sand - all of which are seen as gifts bestowed by the singer's father's hand. This imagery reflects a deep sense of respect for their heritage and the land that has sustained them throughout their lives.
The lyrics also depict scenes of daily life on the island, with references to people working hard to provide for their families. The woman cutting cane and the man casting nets symbolize the resilience and resourcefulness of the island's inhabitants, highlighting the strong sense of community and shared responsibility that binds them together.
The final lines of the song express a desire for the island to always remain a place of joy and celebration for the singer. The mention of awakening to the sound of drums and never missing carnival with its calypso songs reflects a longing for the vibrant cultural traditions that define the island and bring its people together in moments of joy and unity. Overall, the song celebrates the enduring connection between the singer and their homeland, a bond rooted in love, gratitude, and a deep sense of belonging.
Line by Line Meaning
This is my island in the sun
I am proud of my homeland, where my people have lived and worked for generations
Where my people have toiled since time begun
My ancestors have labored here for centuries
I may sail on many a sea
I may travel far and wide
Her shores will always be home to me
But this island will always be where I belong
Oh island in the sun
Oh cherished homeland
Built to me by my father's hand
Passed down through generations, a legacy from my ancestors
All my days I will sing in praise
I will always celebrate and honor
Of your forest waters your shining sand
The beauty of the natural surroundings
As morning breaks the heaven on high
At the break of dawn
I lift my heavy load to the sky
I offer up my burdens
Sun comes down with a burning glow
Under the intense heat of the sun
Mingles my sweat with the earth low
My sweat mixes with the soil
I see woman on bended knee
I witness women working hard to provide for their families
Cutting cane for her family
Engaged in difficult labor
I see man at the water-side
I observe men fishing by the water
Casting nets at the surfing tide
Throwing nets to catch fish
I hope the day will never come
I wish for a future where
That I can't awake to the sound of drum
I never lose the joy of waking up to music
Never let me miss carnaval
I never want to miss the celebration of life
With calypso songs philosophical
And the meaningful songs of our culture
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Irving Burgie, Harry Belafonte
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@HumanPhilosopherPatriot
@@arohk1579
Generalizing an entire group of people or species is rather an ignorant thing to do.
Theres still good, selfless people out there. Theres videos all over the internet showing humans helping and saving animal and other human life. I see people spreading love and positivity.
You just gotta look at the right direction. All this is out there. Don't be like the media. Always looking at the negative things and always pessimistic.
Look on the bright side.
@henrywillis2381
This song reduces me to tears every time I hear it. What ever happened to the younger generation of the early 70's. The world was supposed to become a better place.......now look how messed up it is.
@vincentdeguard4726
greed, then more greed; look at sport, film, music 'stars', CEOs and suchlike ...granted some give to charity but there is a growing imbalance between poor and wealthy. the idea that the resources of Earth & humanity should be evenly spread means that those at the top would have to give almost everything they have so that everyone in the world could live a 'decent' life. it never going to happen...and thus in the process many of us in the 'middle' will suffer also
@staurtsharman2299
The youngereneration of the 1970s grew up, like me, like us all. We had the answers then. We should have found a way to have stayed young at that magical time forever... But it was impossible
@vincentweyerts-bu3jp
All we can do is to attempt to save our own souls.
@redhed6971
The powers that be did not want us to have those answers and took them away, and instead put money and greed in front of made us worship false Gods and hate filled teachings. One future day we shall re-awaken the Aquarius, and those that oppose the perfect balance of peace and harmony of our mother earth and the multiverse will eventually fade and turn to dust.
@samjones5392
£££££££££££££££££
@robertsherrick4081
In the context of this movie I think this is the most beautiful song ever written.
@Frankieboy2008
R.I.P. Peter Schickele.
@haraldtillmann2894
There is, in my opinion, JUST ONE movie soundtrack song that might, concerning the strong if not overhelming emotions multiplied by it, nearly equal the two Schickele/Baez songs : Bronislaw Kaper's "Mutiny on the Bounty love song", seducing every tropical island's native life lover to "beam" himself spiritually onto the Tahiti of the year 1788, when, according to witnesses of that time, it seems to have been a real paradise ...
@snowdaybornagainbrony6832
I saw just about every sci-fi film across every decade in my preteen years. Almost nothing shook me to the core like this did. 30 years later, the song is still haunting me, like the ghost of an offworld botanist from beyond the grave.