A Young Gypsy

Album: Where Are You Now, My Son? (1973)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Baez wrote this song about her son Gabriel; the giveaway is the last line, "For the gypsy is two years old."

    Joan Baez was born in New York in 1941, and met fellow antiwar activist David Harris after her October 1967 arrest for civil disobedience; they were both interned in the Santa Rita county jail, California. For a while the two lived together in his draft resistance commune; they married shortly, but Harris was arrested again while she was pregnant with their son, and her only child. Gabriel Harris was born in December 1969. Baez and Harris divorced amicably in 1973, and they shared custody. Although obviously intensely personal, this is a fairly light acoustic number in comparison with most of her political songs. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Danny Clinch: The Art of Rock Photography

Danny Clinch: The Art of Rock PhotographySong Writing

One of rock's top photographers talks about artistry in photography, raising funds for a documentary, and enjoying a County Fair with Tom Waits.

Chris Frantz - "Genius of Love"

Chris Frantz - "Genius of Love"They're Playing My Song

Chris and his wife Tina were the rhythm section for Talking Heads when they formed The Tom Tom Club. "Genius of Love" was their blockbuster, but David Byrne only mentioned it once.

Supertramp founder Roger Hodgson

Supertramp founder Roger HodgsonSongwriter Interviews

Roger tells the stories behind some of his biggest hits, including "Give a Little Bit," "Take the Long Way Home" and "The Logical Song."

Vanessa Carlton

Vanessa CarltonSongwriter Interviews

The "A Thousand Miles" singer on what she thinks of her song being used in White Chicks and how she captured a song from a dream.

Bob Daisley

Bob DaisleySongwriter Interviews

Bob was the bass player and lyricist for the first two Ozzy Osbourne albums. Here's how he wrote songs like "Crazy Train" and "Mr. Crowley" with Ozzy and Randy Rhoads.

Joan Armatrading

Joan ArmatradingSongwriter Interviews

The revered singer-songwriter talks inspiration and explains why she put a mahout in "Drop the Pilot."