Love Song To A Stranger
Joan Baez · Complete A&m Recordings [2003]
His warm arms all around me?
How long since I've gazed into dark eyes that melted my soul down
To a place where it longs to be?
All of your history has little to do with your face
You're mainly a mystery with violins filling in space
You stood in the nude by the mirror and picked out a rose
From the bouquet in our hotel
And lay down beside me again and I watched the rose
On the pillow where it fell
I sank and I slept in a twilight with only one care
To know that when day broke and I woke that you'd still be there
The hours for once they passed slowly, unendingly by
Like a sweet breeze on a field
Your gentleness came down upon me and I guess I thanked you
When you caused me to yield
We spoke not a sentence and took not a footstep beyond
Our two days together which seemingly soon would be gone
Don't tell me of love everlasting and other sad dreams
I don't want to hear
Just tell me of passionate strangers who rescue each other
From a lifetime of cares
Because if love means forever, expecting nothing returned
Then I hope I'll be given another whole lifetime to learn
Because you gave to me oh so many things it makes me wonder
How they could belong to me
And I gave you only my dark eyes that melted your soul down
To a place where it longs to be
Love Song To A Stranger
Joan Baez's 'Love Song To A Stranger' captures the intimate vulnerability characteristic of her folk repertoire. Recorded during her tenure with A&M Records, the track reflects the singer's enduring ability to convey deep emotion through understated delivery. As a staple of her extensive discography, the song aligns with her broader body of work that prioritizes lyrical clarity and melodic simplicity. Baez's performance on this recording highlights her mastery of the English folk tradition, offering a poignant exploration of connection and distance. The piece remains a significant song in her catalog, showcasing the timeless quality of her artistry and her capacity to transform personal sentiment into universal resonance for listeners across generations.