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Joan Baez - When First Unto This Country A Stranger I Came [HD]

1,800 views · Published 5 January 2018 · 2:25 · Indexed 31 October 2026

Channel: Gary Larson · 2018 · People & Blogs

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Joan Baez sings the traditional song 'When First Unto This Country A Stranger I Came'. This song is a live recording used as a bonus track on the 2002 reissue of her 1963 Vanguard album 'Joan Baez In Concert, Part 2'.

[CD/Lyrics/16-Images]

When First Unto This Country A Stranger I Came

Singer - Joan Baez

When first unto this country
 A stranger I came
 I courted a fair young maid
 And Nancy was her name

 I courted her for love
 But love I couldn't obtain
 Do you think I've any reason
 Or right to complain 

 I rode to see my Nancy
 I rode both day and night
 I courted dearest Nancy
 My own heart's true delight

 I rode to see my Nancy
 I rode both day and night
 Till I spied a fine stallion
 Both dun looking and white

 The sheriff's men they followed
 And overtaken me
 They took me away
 To the penitentiary

 They took me to the jailhouse
 And then they shoved me in
 They shaved off my head
 And they cleared off my chin

 They beat me and they banged me
 They fed me on dry beans
 Till I wished to my own true heart
 I'd never been a thief

 With hands in my pockets
 And the cap set on so bold
 And a robe of many colors
 Like Jacob's of old

 When first unto this country
 A stranger I came
 I courted a fair young maid
 And Nancy was her name

Songwriter: Traditional

[Lyrics from songlyrics.com]

Wikipedia states:

In his Allmusic review, music critic Richie Unterberger wrote of the album "Her repertoire was evolving from purely traditional folk to encompass significant work by contemporary folksinger/songwriters... Baez's growth was not so radical as to alienate any of her folk followers, and the album still featured several traditional folk songs of the sort that had launched her career... The introduction of less-hidebound excursions, though, did much to lighten her approach and keep her from falling into too much of a maiden-of-constant-sorrow rut."

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