Richard & Mimi Fariña was an American folk duo comprising husband and wife … Read Full Bio ↴Richard & Mimi Fariña was an American folk duo comprising husband and wife Richard Fariña and Mimi Fariña (née Mimi Baez, the younger sister of Joan Baez). The duo debuted at the Big Sur Folk Festival in 1964 and signed a contract with Vanguard Records. They recorded their first album, Celebrations for a Grey Day (released under the name Mimi & Richard Fariña), in 1965, with the help of Bruce Langhorne, who had previously played for Dylan. During the brief life of Richard Fariña (who died on 30 April 1966), the duo released only one other album, Reflections in a Crystal Wind, also in 1965. A third album, Memories, was issued in 1968, after his death.

Mimi Fariña married novelist, musician and composer Richard Fariña in 1963 at the age of 17, and the two collaborated on a number of influential folk albums, most notably Celebrations for a Grey Day (1965) and Reflections in a Crystal Wind (1966). After Richard Fariña’s death (on Mimi’s 21st birthday) in a 1966 motorcycle accident, Mimi Fariña remarried and continued to perform, sometimes recording and touring with either her sister Joan, or folksinger Tom Jans. Mimi Fariña died of a rare form of cancer of the endocrine system in July 2001 at age 56.

Catch the Wind
Richard & Mimi Fariña Lyrics

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In the chilly hours and minutes
Of uncertainty
I want to be
In the warm hold of your loving mind.

To feel you all around me
And to take your hand
Along the sand,

Ah, but I may as well try and catch the wind.

When sundown pales the sky
I want to hide a while
Behind your smile,
And everywhere I'd look, your eyes I'd find.

For me to love you now
Would be the sweetest thing,
'T would make me sing,
Ah, but I may as well try and catch the wind.

Diddy di dee dee diddy diddy,
Diddy diddy diddy dee dee dee.

When rain has hung the leaves with tears
I want you near to kill my fears,
To help me to leave all my blues behind.

For standin' in your heart
Is where I want to be
And long to be,
Ah, but I may as well try and catch the wind.

Ah, but I may as well try and catch the wind.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Catch The Wind" by Richard & Mimi Fariña express the longing for love and comfort in times of uncertainty. The opening lines, "In the chilly hours and minutes / Of uncertainty / I want to be / In the warm hold of your loving mind," illustrate the desire to seek solace and security in the embrace of a loved one. The coldness and uncertainty of the world contrast with the warmth and safety found in the partner's mind.

The lyrics continue with the longing to have the presence of the loved one, to feel their presence all around and to hold their hand along the sand. However, the line "Ah, but I may as well try and catch the wind" suggests a realization that achieving this desired connection may be as difficult as trying to catch something intangible and elusive like the wind. It implies a sense of resignation or the acknowledgement that the sought-after love and companionship may not be easily obtained.

The song further describes the desire to find refuge behind the smile of the person the singer loves. Their eyes become a symbol of comfort and reassurance, wherever the singer looks, they hope to find their partner's eyes. The following lines suggest that loving the person at that moment would bring immense joy, even making the singer want to sing. However, there is a recognition that trying to attain their love might be as futile as catching the wind.

As the song progresses, the lyrics reflect a desire for closeness during rainy and sad times, to have the loved one near to alleviate fears and help leave behind the burdens of sadness. The line "For standing in your heart / Is where I want to be" expresses a deep longing to be deeply connected to the heart of the person being addressed. Despite this longing, the repeated line "Ah, but I may as well try and catch the wind" at the end of each verse emphasizes the realization that fulfilling this desire might be just as impossible.

In summary, "Catch The Wind" speaks of a yearning for love, emotional support, and companionship in times of uncertainty and sadness. The lyrics convey the longing to be wrapped in the warmth of someone's mind and seek comfort behind their smile. However, the repeated refrain reminds us of the futility of capturing something as intangible as the wind, suggesting that finding the desired emotional connection may be just as elusive.

Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Donovan Leitch

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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