Joan Baez : Sad-Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands

From her 1968 album, "Any Day Now: Songs of Bob Dylan", Joan Baez sings the song Dylan wrote (apparently) for Sara Lownds, the woman he began seeing after his love relationship with Baez ended. "Sad-Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands" was the closing song on Dylan's 1966 album, "Blonde On Blonde". Joan Baez recorded her Dylan tribute in a Nashville studio cutting country-inflected renditions of 16 Dylan songs. She was backed by Pete Drake, David Briggs, Norbert Putnam, Jerry Reed, Stephen Stills, and others. "Any Day Now" remains one of Baez's essential recordings.

[@bobbyhawthorne]

I was 21, just out of college. Chased a girlfriend to LA. Broke up. Rented a room in a house. No TV. Pre-iPod, but I had a radio and headphones, and one night - absurdly stoned - I stumbled upon this song. It seemed to last two days, and it totally blew me away. Still does.

[@christianneswearson299]

"My warehouse eyes, my Arabian drums; should I leave them by your gate, or sad-eyed lady should I wait?" If someone wrote a song like that for me, I'd tell him to wait...

[@bigmack1952]

Could you imagine listening to a 45 year old song in 1968 it would have been 1923. What a timeless beautiful song.

[@profcleave1]

If I had a dime for every time I played that song in high school, I could buy a car... And I still like it.

[@JohnnyMaudlin777]

Voice like an angel, she makes Dylan's sometimes cynical poetry sound like a hymn!

[@eulessgirl1]

Her voice is so beautiful.

[@berkshiresnow]

This song leaves me in tears. It touches every emotion. What a voice and rendition

[@KennyBoy51725]

I saw Joan Baez live at Fresno State University in 1968...a major highlight of my life...I was in the Navy at the time stationed at Lemoore Naval Air Station...

[@8733hans]

From my most played album in 1968. A song that will forevever stay in my heart and mind

[@tb30486]

I have been listening to this song for the last 40 years and trying to figure out why it means so much to me. In the end, it is not, to me, about Joan or about Sarah...it is about purity. It is about that quality of truth and connectedness that transcends the "sheet metal memories of Cannery Row" and the "magazine husband who just had to go". It is about the rare and incorruptible and incandescent essence of the women in his life who saw their true course, That, I can believe in!

[@EdArmstrong1]

Dylan may have wrote the song for Sara but the song is about Joan in my opinion. Still, what an amazing talent that they both enjoyed during the wonder years. We really had hopes for peace and tolerance; it will happen one day I suppose.

[@andrewhickin3803]

I was at school in the 60s and knew her only for her 'protest songs'. She is an enduring talent and I have only discovered her via KZbin. Fabulous interpretation of this song. Diamonds and Rust is also excellent.

[@folkmusicgirl]

I often used to think of Joan Baez as "The Sad-Eyed Lady." I used to love the pictures of her most where she had that type "look" with brows furrowed & sad eyes. You listen to Joan sing this song & you just cannot believe this incredible voice - I was always in awe of her voice even when I first heard her sing on a pop radio station. I was a young, young girl & all of a sudden there was this voice on the radio and all of the intensity & beauty of this singing voice. It was Joan Baez.

[@PaulOnBooks]

Glorious performance of a great song. I can listen to this over and over - float away on Joan Baez's voice.

[@1949frrichard]

Driving down a country road in Woodside, CA, in the early '90's and noticed a silver haired beauty walking down a roadside path - it was Joan Baez. I drove on debating what to do. I turned around and drove back to where she walked alone. We had a brief chat. I said all the nervous silly things we say when we have a chance meeting with an iconic figure. She was pleasant and patient, and too soon I got back in my car and drove on in a daze - blessed.

[@dimsylsodium]

A truly masterly performance. I was not aware that there was a cover of this paticular Bob Dylan classic. But what an interpretation by Joan Baez. Simply beautiful. Many thanks for sharing. I shall have to add "Any Day Now" to my collection!

[@SHELLEY8211964]

What a beautiful song .. can not believe that I have never heard it.

[@camelia516]

This performance is mesmerizing. So inspired. For me, it is one of the most exquisite works ever recorded. Spiritual. Thank you for providing the full length version.

[@wthight123]

I've always thought of this recording as a musical meditation.

[@ritamcnamara-moose5398]

Mine too I think we all experience great art differently I thought it was about me

[@sundance334567]

Cosmic feeling and performance.

[@francis5000000]

I dunno Dylan but I'm still in love with her!

[@achja-en-nee]

A beautiful song, sent to me by a beautiful human being :-)

[@MrFolky77]

Very interesting to see all the commentaries! I used to be enthralled by this kind of discussion back when I wrote my thesis on "American Folk Music and the contribution of Joan Baez to it",10 years ago. Except no one around at the University really knew anything about Joan, much less so about Folk Music. About Dylan, I didn't know much, so I read a lot... What I can say about this is: always thought it was about Joan (pretty obvious) though it's never clear 'cuz nothing's ever (to be continued)

[@ResBurman]

Good one Duke. Ah.... that voice! Still after 44 years she raises the hairs on the back of my neck! Beautiful voice and song and video! Thanks for sharing. Best Regards ~ Res.

[@woodypitt3096]

One thing for certain---It is an incredible love song.

[@pietalpha2]

wonderful song and singing

[@buitoni123456789]

so beautiful !!!!!!!!!!

[@elysiandawn3]

So sweet and so melancholic simultaneously. Evocative of such deep and moving emotions, beyond the known. From another realm entirely.

[@DancingRainbowws1]

great words and imagery..no one can match the quality of her voice~

[@andyhairbear]

Wow...just found this and man makes me feel so ...emotional...just love it looking out through the rain in Southern England... only this week my mind has been drifting back to times with a sad eyed lady I loved twenty years ago...phew!

[@ollieoxen27]

I lived two blocks from the Chelsea Hotel in 1977. Twenty third street between eighth and ninth avenues.

[@JoannofHtown]

always hits the target...

[@paganmaestro]

I'm just adding two things to that. One, listeners are free to experience or imagine a song's references or meanings in their own way. Two, Dylan saying he wrote the song 'for' Sara doesn't necessarily mean that each line or verse is 'about' Sara exclusively. I know that in my own writing and songwriting I may have a particular person as inspiration, but this doesn't prevent me from using details that belong to another time, place or person. That's all. It's all good. Thanks for the comment.

[@nikkiejanee1972]

how do singers remember all these lyrics? i mean wow

[@eulessgirl1]

Amen to what Johnny said. Her lovely voice transports me to another dimension.

[@thetruthwillsetufree]

'Your silhouette, when the sunlight dims, into your eyes, where the moonlight swims.' the most beautiful words ever set to music.

[@taddyd1]

This song is about the Saint like JOAN BAEZ, period. There are at least 934 clues leading to the Lady of Spanish manners with voice like chimes, Gypsy hymns and Ghost like songs. Anyone can see the moonlight swimming in her eyes- practically every picture or film clip. How could they ever mistake Her???

[@paganmaestro]

We don't really know to whom specific lines and images refer. Dylan has said that he wrote the song 'for' Sara, but I don't recall him saying it is 'about Sara'. It may well be, and it may be about Joan Baez in parts as well. That's the beauty of songs, that once they are released into the air we are free to respond to them, and respond we do, on many levels, each of us with our own 'moving pictures' running in our heads, our own feelings and memories coming to life. What a great song.

[@trfesok]

Gorgeous -- hypnotic -- thanks for posting!

[@PlampinUK]

Best version of this song I have heard - so thank you for posting - and a lovely video too. Thank you :)

[@alankohn5577]

Thank you for this glorious film...many photos previously unseen by I...a melancholic's lullaby...profound and tender...Dylan is "so good with words, and keeping things vague".\, which adds to his magic and his luster...s/he found the other in their present lifetime..non-attachment is so difficult to practice

[@folkmusicgirl]

I think the song was about Joan. Joan Baez at that time lived in Carmel Valley, California, which I once heard many years ago referred to as the "lowlands." Joan had a home there in part of the 60's. It is just south of Carmel & inland off of Hwy. 1, a beautiful area in Northern, California. Dylan visited her there. I have been in that area many times over the years, Carmel, Carmel Valley, Big Sur & Monterey. Carmel Valley is a very special place to me. Many rustic places and so peaceful.

[@gunnargunnarmandeln]

Exellent version...

[@erinsheldon]

@EdArmstrong1 Yes. For example, he mentions david harris a few times "with the child of a hoodlum wrapped up in your arms", "husband who one day just had to go", "Now you stand with your thief, you're on his parole"

[@CaptainJimKirk]

Just too beautiful.

[@TheJamesalden]

Thanks so much for posting such a wonderful song. Nice downloading, too/ I like the fact that the there's no immediate cutoff right after the song. Much appreciated. Thank you!

[@geraldmorain3166]

this song is about true love no matter the trials that are set upon that ,true love ,and that may involve more than one ,This I know as an Identical twin, rare maybe but forgivable ,love has only evil as an enemy,its true form overcomes all.

[@evaharryson]

I could be wrong, but I believe Dylan may have written this song for Joan- and if he didn't, maybe he should have- whatever happened between Dylan and Baez- I get a feeling he later denied- Love is rarely simple

[@fernandaflores6989]

esta cancion me recuerda tanto a mi abuelo!!! le gustaba mucho! y esta muy linda!

[@smurf100000]

sooo beautiful!!!!!

[@schiavolini]

magnificent video, grazie

[@dylanfan2784]

Gorgeous Song and Video.

[@IsisMusic]

good point. i agree

[@KarenChantry]

Can't wait to see her at Ravinia next month, June 2013.

[@takornbhuvasuvana4688]

absolutely.

[@taddyd1]

@jaredf921 but .... the moonlight swims in JOAN's eyes, She has a the Spanish manners, the voice like chimes, the matchbook songs and gypsy hymns, the Silver Cross (in all the posters and on the March on Selma etc, who could buy Joan? (bob, yes of course- but not JOAN) WHO HAS THE SADDEST EYES EVER?

[@nikkiejanee1972]

i love this video so much;) thanks for making it

[@timothy81]

thanks... love Joan, and i hadn't seen this on youtube!

[@Luilak]

@EdArmstrong1 In the song 'Sara' (last song on 'Desire', 1976), Dylan himself wrote in the lyrics: 'Stayin' up for days in the Chelsea Hotel/ Writing "Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands" for you'. Dylan has never been so explicit about the meaning of his songs before --or after!

[@winterlude]

The song is mainly about Sara. Lowlands is a reference to her surname, Lownds. She had a 'magazine husband'... and then in 'Sara' he says the song is about her. But of course in the songs there are images that come from other women as well, such as Joan, other women he dated, saw or even dreamt of. It is such a universal song, it describes every woman, it's not about a woman, but about women.

[@roadshowbuspt]

JOAN BAEZ SEMPRE UMA DAS MINHAS PREFERIDAS

[@LilyNoelleArt]

I think I've read it's about Joan, as well. Many of his songs were rumored to be so.

[@Bej707]

Belles chansons me rappelant les années 70

[@petervankan1]

@nikkiejanee1972 From experience: because you'll be emotionally involved in the song, you'll be eager to 'tell the story'. That makes it easy. It gets harder te learn new songs as you get older though, and you may need to remember a keyword in the first line of each verse. Old songs, even ones yiou haven't sung for decades, come back without effort once you sing the first line.

[@gilbertosouza2264]

belissima canção.

[@austinalba]

cool.

[@karimlove02]

meme socrate tomberer amoureux de vous tellement que vous etes simple et heroique on vous aiment tous joan bnaez soyer en sur et certain et surtous moi depuit que j etai petit toi et bob dylan

[@rukeyser]

That line made Joan chuckle. Baez: Mexican ("and your spanish manners"] English, Scottish (Scottish Lowlands). Sara: Jewish parents late '62 D&S meet. April '63- Dylan & Baez meet. Aug '63- star B takes D on her tour. late 64 D&S romantic. April/May 1965: star D invites B to England tour, to return favor. Doesn't, breaks her heart: 2 yr affair ends. Nov 1965- D marries S 1966- Sad-Eyed Lady 1975- "Sara" written to appeal estrangement w Sara 1977- Bitter divorce

[@EricScottBloom]

She changes some chords, but it works...it was love, anyway~E

[@DysnomiaFilms]

Ghost like SOUL. And it's obviously Sara. He's even said as much.

[@paganmaestro]

When you make and post a lot of videos, as I do, you get a lot of spam comments. It's easier to eliminate them through the approval filter than to search through almost 500 videos for them. The only ones I don't approve are ones which either have nothing to do with the music or are in some way demeaning to humanity.

[@freewheelinmarilyn]

[@jaredf921]

@folkmusicgirl no it's for Sara

[@davidkesslerauthor]

The fact that the song is about the "Sad-eyed lady of the Lowlands" (Lownds) would surely suggest (prima facie) that it is ABOUT Sara.

[@rockloctopus]

LOW(la)NDS sorry, a dylan nerd here.