Joan Baez is eighty years old now. There was a pureness and integrity about her voice when she was young. Here she is in 1965 singing a Bob Dylan song for the BBC:-
It Ain't Me Babewritten by Bob Dylan (1964)
Go away from my window
Leave at your own chosen speed
I'm not the one you want, babe
I'm not the one you need
You say you're looking for someone
Never weak, but always strong
To protect you and defend you
Whether you are right or wrong
Someone to open each and every door
But it ain't me, babe
No, no, no, it ain't me, babe
It ain't me you're looking for, babe
Go away from my window
Leave at your own chosen speed
I'm not the one you want, babe
I'm not the one you need
You say you're looking for someone
Never weak, but always strong
To protect you and defend you
Whether you are right or wrong
Someone to open each and every door
But it ain't me, babe
No, no, no, it ain't me, babe
It ain't me you're looking for, babe
Go lightly from the ledge, babe
Go lightly on the ground
I'm not the one you want, babe
I will only let you down
You say you're looking for someone
Who will promise never to part
Someone who'll close his eyes for you
Someone who'll close his heart
Someone who will die for you and more
But it ain't me, babe
No, no, no, it ain't me, babe
It ain't me you're looking for, babe
Go lightly on the ground
I'm not the one you want, babe
I will only let you down
You say you're looking for someone
Who will promise never to part
Someone who'll close his eyes for you
Someone who'll close his heart
Someone who will die for you and more
But it ain't me, babe
No, no, no, it ain't me, babe
It ain't me you're looking for, babe
Go, melt back into the night, babe
Everything inside me is stone
There's nothing in here moving
And anyway, I'm not alone
You say you're looking for someone
To pick you up each time you fall
To gather flowers constantly
And to come each time you call
A lover for your life and nothing more
But it ain't me, babe
No, no, no, it ain't me, babe
It ain't me you're looking for, babe
Everything inside me is stone
There's nothing in here moving
And anyway, I'm not alone
You say you're looking for someone
To pick you up each time you fall
To gather flowers constantly
And to come each time you call
A lover for your life and nothing more
But it ain't me, babe
No, no, no, it ain't me, babe
It ain't me you're looking for, babe
I always liked Joan Baez. I'll find something of hers to listen to on you tube tonight.
ReplyDeleteIm glad I rekindled your interest in her Red.
DeleteShe was a favourite of mine, along with Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen in the late 60s early 70s.
ReplyDeleteIt is said that for a while Joan and Bob were lovers.
DeleteIt's true. I believe her song "Diamonds and Rust" is about their time together.
DeleteHere voice is unmistakeable and familiar since earliest childhood, like that of a relative whose visits are rare but always much anticipated and welcome.
ReplyDeleteLovely way of putting it Meike.
DeleteWhat an amazing voice. I like Sandi Thom from that folk rock era.
ReplyDeleteI listened to Sandi Thorn via YouTube. Good voice but not as pure and believable as Joan Baez in my humble opinion.
DeleteHer voice is like the sweetest honey.
ReplyDeleteManuka honey I think.
DeleteLOVE her. I've seen her in concert three or four times!
ReplyDeleteYou are lucky. I only saw her the once - back in 1970.
DeleteI too have always enjoyed listening to her voice!
ReplyDeleteShe was always so good at re-interpreting songs by Bob Dylan.
DeleteYou know, I'd forgotten her voice - but wow. Great song too.
ReplyDeleteAnd is it me, and am I just old, but was that generation of singer songwriters so much better than the ones we have today...? It probably is just me - for talent is not specific to an era - but I can't get too excited about Ed Sheeran and James Blunt and most the rest who headline today.
P.S. I wrote about my shed for you after all!