Weary Mothers (People's Union, No. 1)
Joan Baez · Other Songs - Joan Baez
We will take their babies in our arms, and do our best
When the sun is low upon the field
To love and music they will yield
And the weary mothers of the earth shall rest
And the farmer on his tractor, and beside his plow
Will stand there in confusion as we wet his brow
With the tears of all the businessmen
Who see what they have done to him
And the weary farmers of the earth shall rest
And the aching workers of the world again shall sing
These words in mighty choruses to all will bring
"We shall no longer be the poor
For no one owns us anymore"
And the workers of the world again shall sing
And when the soldiers burn their uniforms in every land
The foxholes at the borders will be left unmanned
General, when you come for the review
The troops will have forgotten you
And the men and women of the earth shall rest
Weary Mothers (People's Union, No. 1)
Joan Baez's 'Weary Mothers' stands as a poignant testament to the folk revival's commitment to social justice and working-class narratives. Recorded during the height of the 1960s protest movement, the song reflects the collective spirit of the People's Union, a group dedicated to supporting laborers and marginalized communities. Baez's gentle yet firm vocal delivery underscores the exhaustion and resilience of mothers facing economic hardship, capturing the emotional weight of the era's civil rights and labor struggles. As a staple of her discography, the track exemplifies how folk music served as both a document of history and a catalyst for activism, resonating deeply with audiences who sought to amplify the voices of the everyday people shaping the cultural landscape of the time.