Music Friday: Joan Baez Recounts a Call From Bob Dylan in 1975’s ‘Diamonds & Rust’

Welcome to Music Friday when we feature classic songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, folk music legend Joan Baez recounts an unexpected phone call from former lover Bob Dylan in her hauntingly beautiful 1975 ballad, “Diamonds & Rust.”

Baez and Dylan had been in a relationship 10 years earlier, and Dylan’s call sparks a cascade of memories — both uplifting and heartbreaking — that are symbolically reflected in the title of the song and the following lyrics…

She sings, “Ten years ago / I bought you some cufflinks / You brought me something / We both know what memories can bring / They bring diamonds and rust.”

Baez goes on to tell the story of the “unwashed phenomenon” and “original vagabond” who strayed into her arms. She sweetly recalls how his eyes were bluer than robin’s eggs. She also explains how he seemed “temporarily lost at sea” and how she did her best to keep him unharmed. Sadly, the relationship wasn’t reciprocal and the couple parted ways.

When Dylan placed the surprise call to Baez in 1974, she sensed his life was “heading straight for a fall.” Music historians believe this was a time when Dylan’s marriage was on the rocks and he was looking to rekindle his relationship with Baez.

But, as we see in the last line of the song, Dylan’s outreach is strongly rebuked. With nothing left to give him, she sings, “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.”

Often regarded as one of her best compositions, “Diamonds and Rust” topped out at #5 on the Billboard U.S. Adult Contemporary chart and #14 on the Canadian Adult Contemporary chart. It was also the title song of Baez’s gold-selling album, which was released in 1975.

When introducing “Diamonds & Rust” at live performances, Baez describes Dylan as “by far, the most talented and crazy person I’ve ever worked with.”

Joan Chandos Baez, who was born in Staten Island, N.Y., in 1941, is best remembered for her folk music performances of the 1960s, which included 14 songs at the Woodstock Festival in 1969. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017. After 60 years of performing, Baez announced her retirement in 2019.

Please check out the audio track of Baez performing “Diamonds & Rust.” The lyrics are below if you’d like to sing along…

“Diamonds & Rust”
Written and performed 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

Credit: Image by Rowland Scherman [Public domain].

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