Joan Baez
While protesting the Vietnam War in the late 1960s, I had the great good fortune to meet Joan Baez. With her extraordinary voice, she inspired a generation of social activists. My favorite song by her is “Joe Hill“, the story of an IWW activist who was executed by a firing squad after being found guilty of murder in a controversial trial.
“The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” was written by Robbie Robinson, of The Band, in 1969, and covered by Joan Baez in 1970. She did not have the lyrics but instead learned it by ear, so she changed some of the wording, but later sang it as it was written by Robbie Robinson. The song tells the story of Virgil Caine, who was mourning the loss of his brother during the Siege of Petersburg in the closing days of the War Between the States. Doesn’t she have an amazing voice?
She certainly does. My favorites are the earlier stuff–I love her a capella versions of Amazing Grace and Pilgrim of Sorrow. So very powerful–gives me chills. Also, I like a lot of her folk stuff–The Water is Wide, Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream…amazing voice. You are so fortunate to have met her, Jeff.
Yes indeed! One of my favorites is “Forever Young”.