Diamonds and Rust

One very good thing about New York Public Library is that it has an extensive music section (it took me years to find it, I don't know why, I just never thought of borrowing music from the library, until one day I saw someone taking out all these CD's and found myself thinking - I could do that... )

Anyways, I've been revisiting music from my childhood, and this morning caught myself humming and then realized I was humming Diamonds and Rust. I just played it again, goodness it's a sad album! All about the breakdown of relationships and loneliness and a sort of adult, profound sadness of failed relationships and ideas and feeling that the future no longer reflects you as the past did. Diamonds and Rust was said to be written about Bob Dylan. Hauntingly beautiful album.

DIAMONDS AND RUST
(Words and Music by Joan Baez)

Well I'll be damned
Here comes your ghost again
But that's not unusual
It's just that the moon is full
And you happened to call
And here I sit
Hand on the telephone
Hearing a voice I'd known
A couple of light years ago
Heading straight for a fall

As I remember your eyes
Were bluer than robin's eggs
My poetry was lousy you said
Where are you calling from?
A booth in the midwest
Ten years ago
I bought you some cufflinks
You brought me something
We both know what memories can bring
They bring diamonds and rust

Well you burst on the scene
Already a legend
The unwashed phenomenon
The original vagabond
You strayed into my arms
And there you stayed
Temporarily lost at sea
The Madonna was yours for free
Yes the girl on the half-shell
Would keep you unharmed

Now I see you standing
With brown leaves falling around
And snow in your hair
Now you're smiling out the window
Of that crummy hotel
Over Washington Square
Our breath comes out white clouds
Mingles and hangs in the air
Speaking strictly for me
We both could have died then and there

Now you're telling me
You're not nostalgic
Then give me another word for it
You who are so good with words
And at keeping things vague
Because I need some of that vagueness now
It's all come back too clearly
Yes I loved you dearly
And if you're offering me diamonds and rust
I've already paid