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 .