I have a hard time enjoying this version of the song, as Joan displays a lack of knowledge of the subject matter. She clearly sings, "'til STONEWALL's calvary came, and tour up the tracks again." This, of course, makes no sense. "Stonewall" Jackson was a very important Confederate general. The lyric printed above is correct; it was the Union leader "Stoneman" who led a calvary division to destroy Confederate railway lines. She also screws up the final verse by singing "I swear by the BLOOD below my feet..." when it should be mud. Virgil is standing at his brother's grave, so "blood" doesn't even make sense. The song, when sung correctly, is one of my favorite, so maybe that's why I find myself wincing so much at this version.
I otherwise like Joan Baez, and was thrilled to see her as a surprise guest once at an Indigo Girls concert. She did a version of "House of the Rising Sun", another favorite of mine.
Actually, on the version I have, she says " 'til so much cavalry came." I do see that she sang "Stonewall's" on the Muppets clip I just saw on Youtube, though. On wikipedia it says:
Actually, on the version I have, she says " 'til so much cavalry came." I do see that she sang "Stonewall's" on the Muppets clip I just saw on Youtube, though. On wikipedia it says:
"Baez later told Rolling Stone's Kurt Loder that she initially learned the song by listening to the recording on the Band's album, and had never seen the printed lyrics at the time she recorded it, and thus sang the lyrics as she'd (mis)heard them. In more recent years in her concerts, Baez has performed the song as originally written by Robertson.[4]"...
"Baez later told Rolling Stone's Kurt Loder that she initially learned the song by listening to the recording on the Band's album, and had never seen the printed lyrics at the time she recorded it, and thus sang the lyrics as she'd (mis)heard them. In more recent years in her concerts, Baez has performed the song as originally written by Robertson.[4]"
i understand being annoyed that she got the historical figure wrong, but "i swear by the blood below my feet" makes just as much sense to me as "mud" - it's just swearing by lost loved ones (spilt blood) instead of by the land.
i understand being annoyed that she got the historical figure wrong, but "i swear by the blood below my feet" makes just as much sense to me as "mud" - it's just swearing by lost loved ones (spilt blood) instead of by the land.
I have a hard time enjoying this version of the song, as Joan displays a lack of knowledge of the subject matter. She clearly sings, "'til STONEWALL's calvary came, and tour up the tracks again." This, of course, makes no sense. "Stonewall" Jackson was a very important Confederate general. The lyric printed above is correct; it was the Union leader "Stoneman" who led a calvary division to destroy Confederate railway lines. She also screws up the final verse by singing "I swear by the BLOOD below my feet..." when it should be mud. Virgil is standing at his brother's grave, so "blood" doesn't even make sense. The song, when sung correctly, is one of my favorite, so maybe that's why I find myself wincing so much at this version.
I otherwise like Joan Baez, and was thrilled to see her as a surprise guest once at an Indigo Girls concert. She did a version of "House of the Rising Sun", another favorite of mine.
Actually, on the version I have, she says " 'til so much cavalry came." I do see that she sang "Stonewall's" on the Muppets clip I just saw on Youtube, though. On wikipedia it says:
Actually, on the version I have, she says " 'til so much cavalry came." I do see that she sang "Stonewall's" on the Muppets clip I just saw on Youtube, though. On wikipedia it says:
"Baez later told Rolling Stone's Kurt Loder that she initially learned the song by listening to the recording on the Band's album, and had never seen the printed lyrics at the time she recorded it, and thus sang the lyrics as she'd (mis)heard them. In more recent years in her concerts, Baez has performed the song as originally written by Robertson.[4]"...
"Baez later told Rolling Stone's Kurt Loder that she initially learned the song by listening to the recording on the Band's album, and had never seen the printed lyrics at the time she recorded it, and thus sang the lyrics as she'd (mis)heard them. In more recent years in her concerts, Baez has performed the song as originally written by Robertson.[4]"
It's STONEMAN"S cavalry! George Stoneman was a Union Cavalry commander!
It's STONEMAN"S cavalry! George Stoneman was a Union Cavalry commander!
i understand being annoyed that she got the historical figure wrong, but "i swear by the blood below my feet" makes just as much sense to me as "mud" - it's just swearing by lost loved ones (spilt blood) instead of by the land.
i understand being annoyed that she got the historical figure wrong, but "i swear by the blood below my feet" makes just as much sense to me as "mud" - it's just swearing by lost loved ones (spilt blood) instead of by the land.