Joan Baez

Oh, Brother

Joan Baez


You've got eyes like Jesus 
But you speak with a viper's tongue 
We were just sitting around on earth 
Where the hell did you come from? 
With your lady dressed in deerskin 
And an amazing way about her 
When are you going to realize 
That you just can't live without her? 

Take it easy 
Take it light 
But take it 

Your lady gets her power 
From the goddess and the stars 
You get yours from the trees and the brooks 
And a little from life on Mars 
And I've known you for a good long while 
And would you kindly tell me, mister 
How in the name of the Father and the Son 
Did I come to be your sister? 

Take it easy 
Take it light 
But take it 

You've done dirt to lifelong friends 
With little or no excuses 
Who endowed you with the crown 
To hand out these abuses? 
Your lady knows about these things 
But they don't put her under 
Me, I know about them, too 
And I react like thunder 

Take it easy 
Take it light 
But take it 

I know you are surrounded 
By parasites and sychophants 
When I come to see you 
I dose up on coagulants 
Because when you hurl that bowie knife 
It's going to be when my back is turned 
Doing some little deed for you 
And baby, will I get burned 

Take it easy 
Take it light 
But take it 

So little brother when you come 
To knock on my door 
I don't want to bring you down 
But I just went through the floor 
My love for you extends through life 
And I don't want to waste it 
But honey, what you've been dishing out 
You'd never want to taste it 
And if I had the nerve 
To either risk it or to break it 
I'd put our friendship on the line 
And show you how to take it 

Take it easy 
Take it light 
But take it