Altar Boy And The Thief
Joan Baez · Other Songs - Joan Baez
Seeking some turf on which nothing encumbers
The buying and selling of casual looks
Stuff that gets printed in x-rated books
Your mother might have tried to understand
When you were hardly your daddy's little man
And you gave up saluting the chief
To find yourself some relief
Finely plucked eyebrows and skin of satin
Smiling seductive and endlessly Latin
Olympic body on dancing feet
Perfume thickening the air like heat
A transient star of gay bar fame
You quit your job and changed your name
And you're nearly beyond belief
As you hunt down a little relief
The seven foot black with the emerald ring
Broke up a fight without saying a thing
As the cops cruised by wanting one more chance
To send Jimmy Baldwin back over to France
And a trucker with kids and a wife
Prefers to spend half of his life
In early Bohemian motif
Playing pool and getting relief
My favorite couple was looking so fine
Dancing in rhythm and laughing in rhyme
In the light of the jukebox all yellow and blue
Holding each other as young lovers do
To me they will always remain
Unshamed, untamed, and unblamed
The altar boy and the thief
Grabbing themselves some relief
The altar boy and the thief
Catching a little relief
Altar Boy And The Thief
Joan Baez's "Altar Boy And The Thief" stands as a poignant example of her folk storytelling prowess, blending traditional narrative structures with her signature acoustic delivery. Recorded during a period where Baez was deeply engaged with social justice and spiritual themes, the track reflects her ability to weave complex moral dilemmas into accessible melodies. The song's focus on the tension between innocence and corruption mirrors broader concerns prevalent in the late 1960s folk revival, a movement Baez helped define. Her vocal style, characterized by a clear, emotive tone, ensures the narrative remains the central focus, inviting listeners to contemplate the human condition without relying on dramatic musical arrangements. This recording exemplifies her commitment to using music as a vehicle for meaningful discourse, contributing to a legacy that continues to influence singer-songwriters across genres.