A Ballad For Joan Songtext

Will you ask about that baby's name?
Or will you not do that tonight?
And is your heart in this performance?
Or is your mind on something more?
Like figuring how to stop Uncle Sam
From sending those boys to war.

I would have liked to show you,
And given time I would know you,
And in my mind, sweet saint, you stopped the fall.
And those detractors, I would scorn them,
But hell, I wasn't even born then,
You kept us ticking when we thought the world would stall.
With your pure heart, sweet saint, you saved us all.

You see him smiling from the window.
And you told me in diamonds and rust,
That the vagabond just strayed into your arms
Didn't treat you like a lover must.
And you claim he often told you, He didn't like your poetry,
Yet what you sang for Bobby,
I wish you'd sing for me.
When I see those moving pictures,
In a film of slated grey,
How it looks so dull and lifeless
But you can chase the blues away.
And, damn it, Joan, I love you,
And I wish I could have been there,
Just to see that smile in person,
Run my fingers through your hair.

I would have liked to hold you,
And given time I would have told you,
And in my mind, sweet saint, you've never been kissed.
And those suitors, I would scorn them,
But hell, I wasn't even born then,
I curse another opportunity missed.
Another box ticked on my 'Won't Achieve It' list.

Who knows what could have happened,
In some other twist of fate,
If I wasn't born so far away,
If I wasn't born so late.
And I wanted us both to be alone,
So I could show you what love can be,
And I wanted to be a victim
So you would sing a song for me.
When you're gifted with a talent,
To make sounds to match our taste,
It's such a rare treat to see,
That talent hasn't gone to waste,
But it seems you'll be remembered,
For much more than the music you made,
For your strong public stances, human rights, anti-war,
For the numerous lives that you've saved.

I would have liked to show you,
And given time I would know you,
And in my mind, sweet saint, you stopped the fall.
And those detractors, I would scorn them,
But hell, I wasn't even born then,
You kept us ticking when we thought the world would stall.
Thought we were steering straight into a brick wall.
With your pure heart, sweet saint, you saved us all.

I would have liked to hold you,
And given time I would have told you,
And in my mind, sweet saint, you've never been kissed.
And those suitors, I would scorn them,
But hell, I wasn't even born then,
I curse another opportunity missed.
Another box ticked on my 'Won't Achieve It' list.
Another box ticked on my 'Won't Achieve It' list.
Another box ticked on my 'Won't Achieve It' list.