Sail Away Ladies
Joan Baez Lyrics

"Sail Away Ladies" is a traditional American folk song that has been covered by many artists like Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, and Pete Seeger. The song's lyrics suggest a message of resilience and hope in the face of adversity. It encourages women, metaphorically and literally, to set sail and move forward, rather than dwelling on their troubles or sorrows. The lyrics also suggest a sense of nostalgia and longing for a place to call home, particularly in Tennessee.

The song's chorus, "Can't she rock 'em, can't she rock 'em, can't she rock 'em, daddy-o," is a traditional call-and-response phrase that was commonly found in African and African-American work songs. It is believed to have originated from slave songs, where the "daddy-o" was likely the slave driver who was being sarcastically addressed in the song.

The verses of the song talk about the singer's desire to have a home in Tennessee, where they can stay and rock in their chair, and where they can pass down their old home to their son when they finish building their new one. The song's theme of wanting a place to call home and a sense of stability could have resonated with many people during the time it was written.

Overall, "Sail Away Ladies" is a song that encourages people to keep moving forward, to keep striving for a place to call home, and to find joy in the simple pleasures of life, like rocking in a chair on a porch.