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.
Take Me Back to the Sweet Sunny South
Joan Baez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Take me back to the place where I first saw the light
To my sweet sunny south, take me home
Where the mocking birds sing me to sleep every night
Oh why was I tempted to roam
The path to our cottage they say has grown green
And the place is quite lonely around
I know that the smiles and the forms that I've seen
Chorus
Take me back to the place where the orange trees grow
To my plot in the evergreen shade
Where the flowers from the river green margin did grow
And spread their sweet scene through the glade
Chorus
The lyrics of "Take Me Back to the Sweet Sunny South" express the longing of the singer to return to their childhood home in the southern United States. The singer reminisces about the comforting sounds of the mockingbirds singing them to sleep at night and the lush landscape of orange trees and flowers. However, upon returning, they find that time has passed and loved ones have passed away, leaving the cottage and surroundings lonely and overgrown.
The chorus, repeated throughout the song, emphasizes the singer's desire to return home, but also acknowledges the temptation to leave in the first place. The lyrics suggest a feeling of regret for leaving the "sweet sunny south" and a longing to go back to a time and place where things were simpler and happier.
Overall, the song conveys a sense of nostalgia and the desire to return to a place where one feels a strong sense of belonging and comfort. It serves as a reminder of the importance of cherishing one's roots and the memories and people associated with them.
Line by Line Meaning
Take me back to the place where I first saw the light
I yearn for a return to the place where I first experienced joy and understanding.
To my sweet sunny south, take me home
I seek refuge in the familiar warmth and welcoming of my homeland.
Where the mocking birds sing me to sleep every night
I long for the peaceful serenade of nature and the comfort of a good rest.
Oh why was I tempted to roam
I regret my decision to travel and leave behind my home and loved ones.
The path to our cottage they say has grown green
I have heard rumors that the route to my humble abode has become overgrown with lush foliage.
And the place is quite lonely around
It seems that the area surrounding my dwelling is now desolate and isolated.
I know that the smiles and the forms that I've seen
I am aware that the faces and shapes I once knew have passed away.
Now lie in the dark mossy ground
Those familiar faces and shapes now rest eternally in a cold and damp grave.
Take me back to the place where the orange trees grow
I desire a return to the land where the fragrant oranges grow.
To my plot in the evergreen shade
I wish to be surrounded by the calming, timeless greenery of nature.
Where the flowers from the river green margin did grow
I recall the bright and beautiful flowers sprouting from the shoreline of the vibrant river.
And spread their sweet scene through the glade
Their sweet aroma would fill the entire clearing and provide a delicate, uplifting atmosphere.
Take me back to the place where I first saw the light
I yearn for a return to the place where I first experienced joy and understanding.
To my sweet sunny south, take me home
I seek refuge in the familiar warmth and welcoming of my homeland.
Where the mocking birds sing me to sleep every night
I long for the peaceful serenade of nature and the comfort of a good rest.
Oh why was I tempted to roam
I regret my decision to travel and leave behind my home and loved ones.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@peterkutschan1466
Endlich wiedergefunden. Wohl eines der ersten Lieder von Joan das ich als junger mann gehört habe! Herrlich!
@albaregina552
Adoro Joan Baez. Está mulher é fantástica. A voz linda.❤
@chriswhite8383
i willl travel to see more of the south all of it ive not been to on my next vacation i love this song a trurly well written song.
@TheMisfit291
This song expresses what is so good about the South. Few non Southerners ever try to take the time to know us or what the Southland itself means to us. It's beautiful fields, it's clear running streams, the people. As always like Faulkner I love the South not because of the good but in spite of the bad.
@ScotsjohnSE
What a delightful surprise to hear the great Jeffrey Shurtleff's voice also, they were just fantastic together! Many thanks to you for uploading! JSE.
@elisabethhaller6944
Ja sehr schön, aber auch Joan ist toll.❤
@merylnembhard7494
I love this song
@Dave-ru3tt
Beautiful duet - classic - a real pleasure to listen to.
@cindythacker2138
LOVE THIS OLD SONG!
@chantalhaton4996
j'adore !! j'adore!! magnifique ! merveilleuse Joan