Great Folk Music Poetic Lyrics
Bruce Wood
I grew up with American and Canadian folk music. My parents loved folk music and every Sunday our family would have a bar-be-que and listen to folk music records all day long. What I love about folk music is the beautiful poetic lyrics by singer-songwriters that are captivating and uplifting.
Poetic verse in folk music is powerful, it has a wholesome and nostalgic quality. It is also reflective and thought provoking, it touches on the spiritual. Folk music takes one back to a time of simple traditional values, family, and community. My parents and their friends had lived through the poverty of the Great Depression and the slaughter of World War Two. They all enjoyed listening to the folk music which soothed their souls.
In the 1960s there was a revival of folk music with new groups and TV shows. I had a lot of friends who joined the Army and Marines and fought in the Vietnam War. When they returned they also enjoyed listening to folk music because after being in hell it helped reignite that part in them we call human.
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen (1934-2016), highly acclaimed Canadian folk singer-songwriter and poet. Considered one of the best songwriters of his generation whose songs are covered by many singers. Known for songs Hallelujah, Dance Me to the End of Time, So Long Marianne, Bird On a Wire, Others, Priests, Sisters of Mercy, and others. Cohen was awarded 3 Grammys, 6 Junos, Rock n Roll Hall of Fame, Order of Canada, and Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
“Suzanne”
by Leonard Cohen performed by Judy Collins
Lyrics
Suzanne takes you down to her place near the river
You can hear the boats go by
You can spend the night beside her
And you know that she’s half crazy
But that’s why you want to be there
And she feeds you tea and oranges
That come all the way from China
And just when you mean to tell her
That you have no love to give her
Then she gets you on her wavelength
And she lets the river answer
That you’ve always been her lover
And you want to travel with her
And you want to travel blind
And you know that she will trust you
For you’ve touched her perfect body with your mind
And Jesus was a sailor
When he walked upon the water
And he spent a long time watching
From his lonely wooden tower
And when he knew for certain
Only drowning men could see him
He said, “All the men will be sailors then
Until the sea shall free them”
But he himself was broken
Long before the sky would open
Forsaken, almost human
He sank beneath your wisdom like a stone
Now Suzanne takes your hand
And she leads you to the river
She is wearing rags and feathers
From Salvation Army counters
And the sun pours down like honey
On our lady of the harbor
And she shows you where to look
Among the garbage and the flowers
There are heroes in the seaweed
There are children in the morning
They are leaning out for love
And they will lean that way forever while Suzanne holds the mirror
Ian & Sylvia
Ian & Sylvia Tyson, Canadian folk and country singer-songwriters and pioneers in the folk music revival. Known for Four Strong Winds, Someday Soon, You Were On My Mind, Early Morning Rain, and others. Awarded the Order of Canada and the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
“Four Strong Winds”
By Ian & Sylvia, considered Canada’s best song of all time.
Lyrics
Four strong winds that blow lonely
Seven seas that run high
All those things that don’t change come what may
But our good times are all gone
And I’m bound for moving on
I’ll look for you if I’m ever back this way
Think I’ll go out to Alberta
Weather’s good there in the fall
I got some friends that I can go to working for
Still I wish you’d change your mind
If I asked you one more time
But we’ve been through that a hundred times or more
If I get there before the snow flies
And if things are goin’ good
You could meet me if I sent you down the fare
But by then it would be winter
There ain’t too much for you to do
And those winds sure can blow cold way out there
Joan Baez
Joan Baez and Bob Dylan
Joan Baez is a legend in the folk, rock, and country music industry. She partnered with Bob Dylan early in his career. Known for Diamonds and Rust, Farewell Angelina, There But For Fortune, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, Love Is Just a Four Letter Word, It’s All Over Now Baby Blue, and others. She was awarded a Grammy and inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame.
“Diamonds and Rust”
By Joan Baez
Lyrics
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
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 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
Simon & Garfunkel
The super popular American folk-rock music duo of Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel is considered one of the greatest groups of all time. They were awarded 14 Grammys and induction into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. Known for Scarborough Fair, Kathy’s Song, For Emily Whenever I May Find Her, The Sound of Silence, Mrs. Robinson, Boxers, America, A Hazy Shade of Winter, Homeward Bound, Bridge Over Troubled Waters, and more.
“Scarborough Fair “
Traditional folk song performed by Simon & Garfunkel
Lyrics
Are you going to Scarborough Fair?
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
Remember me to one who lives there
She once was a true love of mine
Tell her to make me a cambric shirt
(On the side of a hill in the deep forest green)
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
(Tracing a sparrow on snow-crested ground)
Without no seams nor needlework
(Blankets and bedclothes the child of the mountain)
Then she’ll be a true love of mine
(Sleeps unaware of the clarion call)
Tell her to find me an acre of land
(On the side of a hill, a sprinkling of leaves)
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
(Washes the ground with so many tears)
Between the salt water and the sea strand
(A soldier cleans and polishes a gun)
Then she’ll be a true love of mine
Tell her to reap it in a sickle of leather
(War bellows, blazing in scarlet battalions)
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme
(Generals order their soldiers to kill)
And to gather it all in a bunch of heather
(And to fight for a cause they’ve long ago forgotten)
Then she’ll be a true love of mine
Tim Hardin
Tim Hardin (1941-1980) died too young, former marine who became a highly acclaimed American folk singer-songwriter whose songs became hits with other singers. Highly respected as one of the best songwriters by the music industry, Bob Dylan called him the greatest living songwriter. He sang at the Woodstock Music Festival. Known for If I Were a Carpenter, Reason to Believe, The Lady Came From Baltimore, Misty Roses, and others.
“If I Were a Carpenter”
By Tim Hardin
Lyrics
If I were a carpenter
And you were a lady
Now would you marry me anyway?
Would you have my baby?
If I take on a tinkers trade
Would you still find me?
Oh, carryin’ the pots I made
Followin’ closer behind me
Save my love through loneliness
Save my love for sorrow
‘Cause I have given you my onliness
Give me part of your tomorrow
If I worked my hands in wood
Would you still love me?
Now, answer me baby, “Yes I would
I’ll place you high above me.”
If I were a miller
At a mill wheel grindin’
Now would you miss your color box
And your soft shoe shining?
How Can We Hang On to a Dream
What can I say, she’s walking away
From what we’ve seen
What can I do, still loving you
It’s all a dream
What can I do, she’s saying we’re through
With how it was
What will I try, I still don’t see why
She says what she does
Reason to Believe
If I listened long enough to you
I’d find a way to believe that it’s all true
Knowing that you lied straight faced while I cried
Still I look to find a reason to believe
Someone like you makes it hard to live
Without somebody else
Someone like you makes it easy to give
Never thinking of myself
If I gave you time to change my mind
I’d find a way to leave the past behind
Knowing that you lied straight faced while I cried
Still I look to find a reason to believe
Janis Ian
Janis Ian is a highly acclaimed American singer-songwriter, actress, and writer. Many singers record covers of her songs. She is known for At Seventeen, Society’s Child, Jesse, From Me to You, Will You Dance, Between the Lines, Watercolors, and others. Awarded two Grammys.
“Jesse”
By Janis Ian
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3Sg6kwpEfQ
Lyrics
Jesse come home
There’s a hole in the bed
Where we slept
Now it’s growing cold
Hey Jesse, your face
In the place where we lay
By the hearth, all apart
It hangs on my heart
And I’m leaving the light on the stairs
No I’m not scared – I wait for you
Hey Jesse, I’m lonely, come home
Jesse, the floors and the boards
Recalling your step
And I remember, too
All the pictures are fading
And shaded in grey
But I still set a place
On the table at noon
Jesse, the spread on the bed
Is like when you left
I’ve kept it up for you
And all the blues and the greens
Have been recently cleaned
And it’s seemingly new
Hey Jes, me and you
We’ll swallow the light on the stairs
We’ll do up my hair
And sleep unaware
Hey Jesse, I’m lonely, come home
Gordon Lightfoot
Gordon Lightfoot (1938-2023) was a Canadian highly acclaimed folk singer-songwriter celebrated worldwide. Considered one of Canada’s greatest songwriters. Known for Early Morning Rain, If You Could Read My Mind, Sundown, The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, Carefree Highway, Rainy Day People, and others. Awarded 16 Junos, five Grammy nominations, Order of Canada, and the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
“If You Could Read My Mind”
by Gordon Lightfoot
Lyrics
If you could read my mind love
What a tale my thoughts could tell
Just like an old time movie
About a ghost from a wishin’ well
In a castle dark or a fortress strong
With chains upon my feet
You know that ghost is me
And I will never be set free
As long as I’m a ghost, you can see
If I could read your mind love
What a tale your thoughts could tell
Just like a paperback novel
The kind the drugstore sells
When you reach the part where the heartaches
Come the hero would be me
Heroes often fail
And you won’t read that book again
Because the endings just to hard to take
I’d walk away like a movie star
Who gets burned in a three way script
Enter number two, a movie queen
To play the scene of bringing
All the good things out in me
But for now love let’s be real
I never thought I could act this way
And I’ve got to say that I just don’t get it
I don’t know where we went wrong
But the feelings gone and I just can’t get it back
If you could read my mind love
What a tale my thoughts could tell
Just like an old time movie
About a ghost from a wishing well
In a castle dark or a fortress strong
With chains upon my feet the story always ends
If you read between the lines
You’ll know that I’m just trying to understand
The feeling that you left
I never thought I could feel this way
And I’ve got to say that I just don’t get it
I don’t know where we went wrong
But the feelings gone and I just can’t get it back
Joni Mitchell
Another Canadian, Joni Mitchell is one of the best and most popular singer-songwriters of her generation. She composes and performs in both folk and jazz genres with beautiful and complex lyrics. Rolling Stone called her one of the greatest songwriters of all time. Known for Both Sides Now, River, Blue Woodstock, Help Me, Free Man In Paris, Chelsea Morning, California, and others. Awarded with 11 Grammys, 3 Junos, Rock n Roll Hall of Fame, Order of Canada, and the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
“River” by Joni Mitchell
Lyrics
It’s coming on Christmas
And they’re cutting down trees
Putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on
It don’t snow here
Stays pretty green
I’m gonna make a lot of money
And quit this crazy scene
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on
I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet how to fly
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on
I made my baby cry
You tried hard to help me
You put me at ease
You loved me so naughty
It made me weak in the knees
Oh I wish I had a river I could skate away on
I’m so hard to handle
I’m selfish and I’m sad
Now I’ve gone and lost the best baby
That I’ve ever had
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on
I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet how to fly
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on
I made my baby say goodbye
It’s coming on Christmas
And they’re cutting down trees
Putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace
I wish I had a river I could skate away on
Tim Buckley
Tim Buckley (1947-1975) also died too young. He is a cult icon American singer-songwriter of deep, dark, and complex songs in folk, jazz, and avante-garde genres. Many singers record covers of his songs. He is known for Song of the Siren, Morning Glory, Once I Was, Dolphins, Pleasant Street, and others.
Songs of a Siren
by Tim Buckley
Lyrics
Long afloat on shipless oceans
I did all my best to smile
‘Til your singing eyes and fingers
Drew me loving to your isle
And you sang
Sail to me, sail to me
Let me enfold you
Here I am, here I am
Waiting to hold you
Did I dream you dreamed about me?
Were you hare when I was fox?
Now my foolish boat is leaning
Broken lovelorn on your rocks
For you sing
‘Touch me not, touch me not
Come back tomorrow
Oh, my heart, oh, my heart
Shies from the sorrow’
I am as puzzled as the oyster
I am as troubled at the tide
Should I stand amid the breakers?
Or should I lie with death my bride?
Hear me sing
‘Swim to me, swim to me
Let me enfold you
Oh, my heart, oh, my heart
Is waiting to hold you’
James Taylor
Ever popular American singer-songwriter James Taylor writes beautiful folk and pop ballads. Heh as numerous hits, 6 Grammys, and induction into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. He is known for Sweet Baby James, Fire and Rain, Country Road, How Sweet It Is, Handy Man, Carolina On My Mind, and others.
“Fire and Rain”
by James Taylor
Just yesterday morning they let me know you were gone
Susanne the plans they made put an end to you
I walked out this morning and I wrote down this song
I just can’t remember who to send it to
I’ve seen fire and I’ve seen rain
I’ve seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I’ve seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I’d see you again
Won’t you look down upon me, Jesus
You’ve got to help me make a stand
You’ve just got to see me through another day
My body’s aching and my time is at hand
And I won’t make it any other way
Oh, I’ve seen fire and I’ve seen rain
I’ve seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I’ve seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I’d see you again
Been walking my mind to an easy time my back turned towards the sun
Lord knows when the cold wind blows it’ll turn your head around
Well, there’s hours of time on the telephone line to talk about things
To come
Sweet dreams and flying machines in pieces on the ground
Oh, I’ve seen fire and I’ve seen rain
I’ve seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I’ve seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I’d see you, baby, one more time again, now
Thought I’d see you one more time again
There’s just a few things coming my way this time around, now
Thought I’d see you, thought I’d see you fire and rain, now
Bob Dylan
Legendary super-star folk-rock-country singer-songwriter Bob Dylan. Considered one of the greatest songwriters ever. Dylan has sold over 125 million records, has 10 Grammys, an Oscar, a Golden Globe, a Nobel Prize, and induction into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. Known for many songs which include Blowin’ In the Wind, Like a Rolling Stone, All Along the Watch Tower, Lay Lady Lay, Rainy Day Women, Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright, Tomorrow Is a Long Time, Subterranean Homesick Blues, and more.
“Tomorrow Is a Long Time”
by Bob Dylan
Lyrics
If today was not a crooked highway,
If tonight, I could finally stand tall,
If tomorrow wasn’t such a long time,
And lonesome wouldn’t mean nothing to me at all.
Yes, and only if my own true love was waiting,
Yes, and if I could near her heart softly pounding,
Only of she was lying by me,
and I’d lie in my bed once again.
I can’t see my reflection in the waters,
I can’t speak the sounds that know no pain,
I can’t hear the echo of my footsteps,
I can’t remember the sound of my own name.
Yes, and only if my own true love was waiting,
Yes, if I could hear her heart softly pounding,
Only if she was lying by me,
And I’d lie in my bed once again.
There’s beauty in the silver singing river,
There’s beauty in the sunrise in the sky,
But none of these and nothing else can match the beauty,
That I remember in my true loves eyes,
Yes, and only if my own true love was waiting,
Yes, if I could hear her heart softly pounding,
Only if she was lying by me,
And I’d lie in my bed once again.
Yes, and only if my own true love was waiting,
Yes, if I could hear her heart softly pounding,
Only if she was lying by me,
And I’d lie in my bed once again.
Jim Croce
Jim Croce (1943-1973) a popular American folk-rock singer songwriter that also died too young. He had a number of hit singles. Known for Time In a Bottle, I Got a Name, Operator, I’ll Have to Say I Love You In Song, Big Bad Leroy Brown, and others.
“Time In a Bottle”
by Jim Croce
Lyrics
If I could save time in a bottle
The first thing that I’d like to do
Is to save every day ’til eternity passes away
Just to spend them with you
If I could make days last forever
If words could make wishes come true
I’d save every day like a treasure and then
Again, I would spend them with you
But there never seems to be enough time
To do the things you want to do once you find them
I’ve looked around enough to know
That you’re the one I want to go through time with
If I had a box just for wishes
And dreams that had never come true
The box would be empty, except for the memory of how
They were answered by you
But there never seems to be enough time
To do the things you want to do once you find them
I’ve looked around enough to know
That you’re the one I want to go through time with
Sandy Denny
Very popular British folk and Celtic singer-songwriter Sandy Denny (1947-1978) who died too young. Considered one of the best songwriters of her time. She sang a duet with Led Zeppelin. Many singers record covers of her songs. Known for Who Knows Where the Time Goes, No End, I’m a Dreamer, A Sailor’s Life, At the End of the Day, and others.
“Who Knows Where the Time Goes”
by Sandy Denny
Lyrics
Across the evening sky, all the birds are leaving
But how can they know it’s time for them to go?
Before the winter fire, I will still be dreaming
I have no thought of time
For who knows where the time goes?
Who knows where the time goes?
Sad, deserted shore, your fickle friends are leaving
Ah, but then you know it’s time for them to go
But I will still be here, I have no thought of leaving
I do not count the time
For who knows where the time goes?
Who knows where the time goes?
And I am not alone while my love is near me
I know it will be so until it’s time to go
So come the storms of winter
And then the birds in spring again
I have no fear of time
For who knows how my love grows?
And who knows where the time goes?
Ewan MacColl
Scottish folk singer-songwriter Ewan MacColl (1915-1989) related to folk singer Pete Seger. His song “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” was turned into a hit by Roberta Flack in 1972. He is also known for Scarborough Fair, The Joy of Living, and Dirty Old Town. Awarded a Grammy.
“The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”
By Ewan MacColl, performed by Peter Paul and Mary.
Lyrics
The first time ever I saw your face
I thought the sun rose in your eyes
And the moon and the stars were the gifts you gave
To the dark and the endless skies my love
To the dark and the endless skies
The first time ever I kissed your mouth
I felt the earth move in my hand
Like the trembling heart of a captive bird
That was there at my command my love
That was there at my command my love
And the first time ever I lay with you
I felt your heart so close to mine
And I knew our joy would fill the earth
And last ’till the end of time my love
And it would last ’till the end of time
The first time ever I saw your face
Your face, your face
