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.
Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands
Joan Baez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And your eyes like smoke and your prayers like rhymes,
And your silver cross, and your voice like chimes,
Oh, who among them do they think could bury you?
With your pockets well protected at last,
And your streetcar visions which you place on the grass,
And your flesh like silk, and your face like glass,
Who among them do they think could carry you?
Where the sad-eyed prophet says that no man comes,
My warehouse eyes, my Arabian drums,
Should I put them by your gate,
Or, sad-eyed lady, should I wait?
With your sheets like metal and your belt like lace,
And your deck of cards missing the jack and the ace,
And your basement clothes and your hollow face,
Who among them can think he could outguess you?
With your silhouette when the sunlight dims
Into your eyes where the moonlight swims,
And your match-book songs and your gypsy hymns,
Who among them would try to impress you?
Sad-eyed lady of the lowlands,
Where the sad-eyed prophet says that no man comes,
My warehouse eyes, my Arabian drums,
Should I leave them by your gate,
Or, sad-eyed lady, should I wait?
The kings of Tyrus with their convict list
Are waiting in line for their geranium kiss,
And you wouldn't know it would happen like this,
But who among them really wants just to kiss you?
With your childhood flames on your midnight rug,
And your Spanish manners and your mother's drugs,
And your cowboy mouth and your curfew plugs,
Who among them do you think could resist you?
Sad-eyed lady of the lowlands,
Where the sad-eyed prophet says that no man comes,
My warehouse eyes, my Arabian drums,
Should I leave them by your gate,
Or, sad-eyed lady, should I wait?
Oh, the farmers and the businessmen, they all did decide
To show you the dead angels that they used to hide.
But why did they pick you to sympathize with their side?
Oh, how could they ever mistake you?
They wished you'd accepted the blame for the farm,
But with the sea at your feet and the phony false alarm,
And with the child of a hoodlum wrapped up in your arms,
How could they ever, ever persuade you?
Sad-eyed lady of the lowlands,
Where the sad-eyed prophet says that no man comes,
My warehouse eyes, my Arabian drums,
Should I leave them by your gate,
Or, sad-eyed lady, should I wait?
With your sheet-metal memory of Cannery Row,
And your magazine-husband who one day just had to go,
And your gentleness now, which you just can't help but show,
Who among them do you think would employ you?
Now you stand with your thief, you're on his parole
With your holy medallion which your fingertips fold,
And your saintlike face and your ghostlike soul,
Oh, who among them do you think could destroy you?
Sad-eyed lady of the lowlands,
Where the sad-eyed prophet says that no man comes,
My warehouse eyes, my Arabian drums,
Should I leave them by your gate,
Or, sad-eyed lady, should I wait?
The lyrics of "Sad-eyed lady of the lowlands" describe a mysterious, enigmatic woman who seems impossible to fully understand. The singer admires and is fascinated by her, but cannot seem to figure her out. She is depicted as having a beautiful voice, like chimes, and being dressed in luxurious, silky clothes. Her face is described as being like glass, and her eyes are compared to smoke. The singer wonders who could even attempt to bury or carry her, given her seemingly untouchable nature.
The song also features references to various religious and cultural symbols, adding to the sense of mystery surrounding the woman. She is described as having "mercury mouth in the missionary times," which may refer to the Roman god Mercury and the era of Christian missionaries. She also wears a silver cross, suggesting a connection to Christianity. However, she also sings gypsy hymns and has deck of cards missing the jack and the ace, implying a connection to other cultural traditions.
Throughout the song, the singer seems to be contemplating whether he should leave his possessions and emotions at the woman's feet, or wait and try to figure her out. The lyrics convey a sense of longing and admiration, but also a sense of distance and uncertainty. The song ultimately remains enigmatic, mirroring the enigma of the woman it describes.
Line by Line Meaning
With your mercury mouth in the missionary times,
You speak quickly and persuasively, especially during a time when religion is being forced on people.
And your eyes like smoke and your prayers like rhymes,
Your eyes are hazy, and your prayers flow together like poetry.
And your silver cross, and your voice like chimes,
Your religious iconography and singing voice are both beautiful and symbolic.
Oh, who among them do they think could bury you?
You are so powerful and influential that no one is capable of bringing you down.
With your pockets well protected at last,
You have finally achieved financial security and stability.
And your streetcar visions which you place on the grass,
Your vivid imaginings and dreams are as realistic to you as the grass beneath your feet.
And your flesh like silk, and your face like glass,
You are delicate and transparent, both physically and emotionally.
Who among them do they think could carry you?
You are so complex and multi-dimensional that no one person is capable of understanding and supporting you fully.
Sad-eyed lady of the lowlands,
You are a melancholy but alluring woman of the countryside.
Where the sad-eyed prophet says that no man comes,
You are so mysterious and divine that even the prophet recognizes that no mere mortal can ever truly capture your essence.
My warehouse eyes, my Arabian drums,
The singer's eyes and drums are tools used to capture the essence of the sad-eyed lady in artistic expression.
Should I put them by your gate,
The artist is considering whether or not to present the products of their artistic expression to the sad-eyed lady.
Or, sad-eyed lady, should I wait?
The singer is hesitant to reveal their artistic expression as they fear it may not do the sad-eyed lady justice.
With your sheets like metal and your belt like lace,
Your clothing is both protective and fragile, reflecting your personality.
And your deck of cards missing the jack and the ace,
You are missing important components of your life that could make you more successful and fulfilled.
And your basement clothes and your hollow face,
Your clothing is a reflection of the emptiness you feel inside.
Who among them can think he could outguess you?
You are so unpredictable that no one is capable of understanding your motives or actions.
With your silhouette when the sunlight dims
Even when you are not in full view, your shadow is a recognizable representation of yourself.
Into your eyes where the moonlight swims,
Your eyes are deep pools that reflect the moonlight and all of its mysteries.
And your match-book songs and your gypsy hymns,
Your songs and hymns are both whimsical and ethereal, reflecting the unrelenting wanderlust within you.
Who among them would try to impress you?
You are so captivating and independent that no one would dare try to be anything more than themselves around you.
Oh, the farmers and the businessmen, they all did decide
The working class and the wealthy have come together to solve a problem that involves you.
To show you the dead angels that they used to hide.
They are revealing something dark and hidden to you, something that they believed would be emotionally impactful.
But why did they pick you to sympathize with their side?
Why did they choose you to hear them out and offer empathy, when you are known for being aloof and detached?
Oh, how could they ever mistake you?
It's impossible to comprehend why they would expect you to be sensitive to their needs and concerns.
They wished you'd accepted the blame for the farm,
They believe that you are to blame for their problems, and they want you to own up to it.
But with the sea at your feet and the phony false alarm,
You have much bigger concerns, such as the vast ocean at your feet and the idea that the threat is not as severe as some would believe.
And with the child of a hoodlum wrapped up in your arms,
You have more important things to worry about, like caring for this child who has been thrust into your life.
How could they ever, ever persuade you?
It's impossible for anyone to get through to you or make you see things from their perspective.
With your sheet-metal memory of Cannery Row,
Your memories are tough and durable, like metal, and they're associated with a particular place: Cannery Row.
And your magazine-husband who one day just had to go,
Your husband, who was like a fictional character from a magazine, suddenly left you one day.
And your gentleness now, which you just can't help but show,
Despite your tough exterior, there is a softness and kindness within you that is impossible to hide.
Who among them do you think would employ you?
Your complex personality makes it difficult for anyone to find a job that suits you.
Now you stand with your thief, you're on his parole
You are aligned with someone who is an unconventional choice and is on legal probation.
With your holy medallion which your fingertips fold,
You are seeking guidance from a higher power, and you rely on a medallion as a symbol of your faith.
And your saintlike face and your ghostlike soul,
You exude a sense of holiness, yet your soul is haunting and mysterious.
Oh, who among them do you think could destroy you?
Despite your flaws and imperfections, no one has the power to ruin you or bring you down.
Should I leave them by your gate,
The singer is considering whether or not to offer you their artistic expression as a gesture of admiration and affection.
Or, sad-eyed lady, should I wait?
The singer is hesitant to reveal their artistic expression as they fear it may not meet your high standards or expectations.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bob Dylan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Johnny909
Voice like an angel, she makes Dylan's sometimes cynical poetry sound like a hymn!
@bobbyhawthorne
I was 21, just out of college. Chased a girlfriend to LA. Broke up. Rented a room in a house. No TV. Pre-iPod, but I had a radio and headphones, and one night — absurdly stoned — I stumbled upon this song. It seemed to last two days, and it totally blew me away. Still does.
@camelia516
This performance is mesmerizing. So inspired. For me, it is one of the most exquisite works ever recorded. Spiritual. Thank you for providing the full length version.
@berkshiresnow
This song leaves me in tears. It touches every emotion. What a voice and rendition
@PaulOnBooks
Glorious performance of a great song. I can listen to this over and over - float away on Joan Baez's voice.
@tb30486
I have been listening to this song for the last 40 years and trying to figure out why it means so much to me. In the end, it is not, to me, about Joan or about Sarah...it is about purity. It is about that quality of truth and connectedness that transcends the "sheet metal memories of Cannery Row" and the "magazine husband who just had to go". It is about the rare and incorruptible and incandescent essence of the women in his life who saw their true course, That, I can believe in!
@dimsylsodium
A truly masterly performance. I was not aware that there was a cover of this paticular Bob Dylan classic. But what an interpretation by Joan Baez. Simply beautiful. Many thanks for sharing. I shall have to add "Any Day Now" to my collection!
@eulessgirl1
Her voice is so beautiful.
@bigmack1952
Could you imagine listening to a 45 year old song in 1968 it would have been 1923. What a timeless beautiful song.
@andrewhickin3803
I was at school in the 60s and knew her only for her 'protest songs'. She is an enduring talent and I have only discovered her via YouTube. Fabulous interpretation of this song. Diamonds and Rust is also excellent.