Simple Twist of Fate
Joan Baez Lyrics
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She looked at him he felt a spark tingle to his bones
It was when he felt alone and wished that he'd gone straight
And watched out for a simple twist of fate
They walked down by the old canal a little confused I remember well
And then they stopped in a strange hotel with the neon burning bright
He felt the heat of the night hit him like a freight train
Saxophone some place nearby played she was walking on by at the arcade
As a light burst through a bead of shade
But as he was waking she dropped a coin into a cup of a blind man
That became and both got a bout of a simple twist of fate
He woke up and the room was bear, he didn't see he anywhere
He told himself he didn't care, he pushed the window open wide
He felt an emptiness inside too
He could just not relate but by a simple twist of fate
He hears the ticking of the clocks small waves whisper to the rocks
He hunts her down by the waterfront docks
Where the sailors all come in perhaps he'll see her once again
How long must he wait once more for a simple twist of fate
People tell me it's a crime to feel to much at any one time
All it cost me was a dime but the bells refuse to ring
He was born in the spring but I was born to late to blame
It on a simple twist of fate
Joan Baez's song "Simple Twist of Fate" tells the story of a chance encounter between two people who experience profound feelings for each other. The song's verses describe their meeting in a park, walking by a canal, and staying in a strange hotel. The chorus emphasizes the importance of small events and decisions leading to a "simple twist of fate," which can change a person's life in unexpected ways. The final verse finds the singer searching for their lover, haunted by memories and the ticking of the clock.
The lyrics use vivid imagery and sensory details to capture a mood of longing and regret. The saxophone playing nearby, the neon lights of the hotel, and the small waves whispering to the rocks all contribute to a sense of atmosphere and emotion. Through the song's storytelling structure, the listener gains insight into the universal experiences of love, missed connections, and the power of chance.
Line by Line Meaning
They sat together in the park as the evening sky grew dark
Two people experiencing a romantic moment while sitting outside as the day ends
She looked at him he felt a spark tingle to his bones
The woman's gaze and presence caused a pleasurable, physical sensation in the man's body
It was when he felt alone and wished that he'd gone straight
Recalling a past regretful choice where he seeks companionship to overcome his feelings of loneliness
And watched out for a simple twist of fate
The man envisions how his circumstances could have been different if a minor, unexpected event had not occurred
They walked down by the old canal a little confused I remember well
Memories of walking by the canal with some confusion as to the situation
And then they stopped in a strange hotel with the neon burning bright
Stopping at an unknown, brightly lit hotel with neon lights shining
He felt the heat of the night hit him like a freight train
Feeling engulfed by the intensity of the night as if a train crashed into him
And moving with a simple twist of fate
That intensity being caused by the minor life event that led them to this hotel
Saxophone some place nearby played she was walking on by at the arcade
A saxophone plays as the woman walks by an arcade
As a light burst through a bead of shade
A beam of light shines through a spot of shadow
But as he was waking she dropped a coin into a cup of a blind man
The man awakes to see the woman dropping a coin into the cup of a blind man
That became and both got a bout of a simple twist of fate
The act of charity bringing the two of them closer together due to the same, unexpected event
He woke up and the room was bear, he didn't see he anywhere
Waking up to an empty, vacant room with no sight of the woman
He told himself he didn't care, he pushed the window open wide
The man pushing himself to not care by opening a window
He felt an emptiness inside too
A deep sense of emptiness resonating within him
He could just not relate but by a simple twist of fate
The man failing to connect with himself and others due to a minor event influencing his mindset
He hears the ticking of the clocks small waves whisper to the rocks
Hearing the ticking of clocks and waves brushing against rocks
He hunts her down by the waterfront docks
Searching for the woman by the docks by the water
Where the sailors all come in perhaps he'll see her once again
Hoping to reunite with the woman where the sailors dock their boats
How long must he wait once more for a simple twist of fate
The man eagerly anticipating another coincidence in hopes of seeing her again
People tell me it's a crime to feel to much at any one time
Hearing opinions that it's wrong to feel intense emotions
All it cost me was a dime but the bells refuse to ring
Despite only costing a dime, life's bells do not seem to ring in his favor
He was born in the spring but I was born to late to blame
Both individuals were born in a different era, and he cannot blame his current fate on his birth date.
It on a simple twist of fate
Reiterating that small and unexpected events can have a significant impact on life's trajectory.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bob Dylan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
CounterPoint
What a crisp, refreshing song performed by a wonderful artist. Thanks for the upload.
I love how she starts singing like Dylan at 2:18!
David Procter
It was written by Dylan.
STOCKLAND78
Hey .she loved bob..I love her voice
Gary Goebel
A hard rocking treatment of a Dylan tune by the best female vocalist on the planet, with a tip of the hat to the song's originator! What is not to like, music genius and to my knowledge there is nothing quite like it!! I was in the audience at the Hollywood Bowl for the two of them in 1963 or 65, cannot remember which. A couple of rows back from the front, and Glitterati all around, I will never forget it. This song of course was from later after I got back from SEA. I do have the album, and play an mp3 version of this tune once in awhile.
Mata Pöze
This song was the first one I heard from Baez with so much eletric guitars! I love her mocking of Dylan. I read something about what if Dylan would sing Diamonds and Rust, it would be wonderful!!
Carol Reid
Yes
Wonderful
Sandy Galbraith
For a pure voice there aren't many any better!!
Joe Arlt
Sometimes you just prefer the version you heard first. They're both great, but Joan's is the one I keep coming back to
Len Maniace
This is such a solitary regretful song, it's strange to hear it as a rocker, but Joan pulls it off with a voice as clear as crystal with musicians and an arrangement that are strangely so right... And when Joan does her impression of Bob, she lets us in that's meant to be fun.
Nelson Lugo
Fact: Baez was recording this album when Dylan released Blood On The Tracks. She saw herself as the female protagonist in this song. She improved on his lyrics, did what's probably the best impression of him ever, and "replied" to him here. It's the only rock 'n' roll track she ever recorded. Cool.