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
Could keep you unharmed

Now I see you standing
With brown leaves falling all 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
'Cause 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


Lyrics submitted by kevin, edited by sheiladare, ClaireMatthews, laburke, Ghado

Diamonds And Rust Lyrics as written by Joan Baez

Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing

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Diamonds and Rust song meanings
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  • +7
    General Comment

    "You gonna sing that song about robin's eggs and diamonds?" Bob had asked me on the first day of rehearsals.

    "Which one?"

    "You know, that one about blue eyes and diamonds..."

    "Oh", I said, "you must mean 'Diamonds And Rust', the song I wrote for my husband, David. I wrote it while he was in prison."

    "For your husband?" Bob said.

    "Yeah. Who did you think it was about?" I stonewalled.

    "Oh, hey, what the fuck do I know?"

    "Never mind. Yeah, I'll sing it, if you like."

    • Joan Baez, AND A VOICE TO SING WITH, 1987
    a sin coming onon March 12, 2008   Link

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