Joan Baez Gets Candid About Leaving Bob Dylan in New Documentary
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The new documentary Joan Baez I Am a Noise, arriving in theaters nationwide on Oct. 13, examines the life and work of Joan Baez, a folk legend and renowned activist who emerged as a powerful voice for change during the 1960s counterculture movement.
Born in Staten Island, New York, to a Mexican father and Scottish mother, Baez has released over 30 albums of music, a collection of her own songs, and poignant covers, and she famously sang “We Shall Overcome” at the 1963 March on Washington. Baez also performed at Woodstock, was arrested a number of times for protesting the Vietnam War, has been at the forefront of the fight for LGBTQ+ rights, is a vocal proponent of prison reform, and campaigned against the Iraq War.
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Directed by Miri Navasky, Karen O’Connor, and Maeve O’Boyle, Joan Baez I Am a Noise is an intimate exploration of Baez, comprised of interviews, artwork, home videos, diary entries, and even tapes of her in therapy, capturing one of the most important voices in the American musical canon.
Baez is also known for her association with Bob Dylan. The two met in 1961, with Baez recording some of his songs and having him join her onstage during performances, giving an early boost to his burgeoning music career. A romantic relationship ensued until the two split following his legendary 1965 tour of the U.K., which proved too chaotic for Baez. The unraveling of their union is captured a bit in D.A. Pennebaker’s 1967 documentary Don’t Look Back.
“We didn’t know that [Baez] played such a huge role in launching Bob Dylan out into the music world,” the filmmaking trio tells Rolling Stone. “But we also didn’t know the complicated role that politics played in their relationship. Joan wanted Dylan to show up at marches and be more political, but it just wasn’t his interest. While it was devastating for her at the time, now she’s simply grateful. ‘He spent that time writing the beautiful songs we used,’ Baez told us. And she was sorry that she demanded so much of him. ‘It simply wasn’t who he was or who he wanted to be.’”
In the following clip from Joan Baez I Am a Noise, which you can view exclusively at Rolling Stone, Baez opens up about why she left Dylan following his U.K. tour:
Following the demise of their relationship, the two wrote a number of songs about each other. Baez composed “To Bobby” (her nickname for Dylan), “Diamonds & Rust,” and “Winds of the Old Days.” Dylan has been cagey about which songs of his are about Baez, though Baez had said she believes that “Like a Rolling Stone” and “Visions of Johanna” were inspired by her.
“Joan told us that she has only gratitude now for the time she and Bob Dylan had together,” the filmmakers say. “She told us this story: One day she was painting his portrait, and she put on his music and cried for a long time. Then all of the resentment, and whatever was lingering, just completely evaporated: ‘I’m happy that I was there when I was there. I’m happy that I was able to sing his songs. And I’m happy that I’ll be associated with him for the rest of my life.’”
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