Dec 12, 2021
My version of “Diamonds and Rust”
The famous American folk singer, Joan Baez (瓊•貝茲) is 80 years young as of 2021. She was famous for her protests against the war and a life-long supporter of human rights. In 2018, she announced her final album release, “Whistle Down the Wind.”
Looking at her legendary life, I find many things about her that I would look up to. Besides her beautiful voice (which I would never dare to compare mine with because it’s nowhere close,) her healthy lifestyle, her attitude about being single, not being afraid to talk about her past love, and still recognizes Bob Dylan as someone who occupies a special place in her heart… She has a fabulous and amazing spirit!
Her best song, “Diamonds and Rust,” was about her memories with Dylan.
In 2018, when I first practiced singing “Diamonds and Rust,” I felt the emotions which, perhaps, Ms. Baez felt when she wrote the song, because, at that time, I just parted from my “Bob” not too long ago.
In the original lyrics, there were a lot of resemblances with my feelings about the man in my past, but some details in the lyrics would still distract me from singing it because they were Ms. Baez’s, not mine. Therefore, this time, I tried to insert my own words (in bold) to match scenes in my memories, only for the ease of expressing my own feelings through this song. It was not meant for any disrespect towards Ms. Baez’s work. As a matter of fact, I thank Ms. Baez for writing and composing this classic and having “Diamonds and Rust” played around the world.
獻醜了！
Listen to Sea Jay’s “Diamonds and Rust” on SoundCloud
— —
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?
At the old-spot where the sunsets
Twenty years ago I bought you a jade ring
You gave me a silver engraving
We both know what memories can bring
They bring diamonds and rust
Well you burst on the scene and selfishly in my dreams
A-familiar phenomenon
As the cold wind gusting on
You held tight my hand
In the West End we strolled
And along with the sidewalks
The West Side was ours for free
Yes the girl on the half-shell
Could keep you unharmed
Now I see you with falling leaves all around you and snow in your hair
You’re smiling next to that cafe window over Washington Square
Our breath comes out white clouds mingles and hangs in the air
Speaking strictly for me, our time could have stopped then and there (oh…)
Now you’re telling me
You’re miserable without me
Then gimme another guarantee
You make your promises easily
Oh how you made me believe
’Cause I need some of that promises now
It’s all coming back clearly
Yes I loved you dearly
But if you’re offering me diamonds and rust
I’ve already paid
