From her 1968 album, "Any Day Now: Songs of Bob Dylan", Joan Baez sings "Love Is Just A Four-Letter Word," a song Dylan has never officially released.
Joan Baez recorded her Dylan tribute in a Nashville studio cutting country-inflected renditions of 16 Dylan songs.
She was backed by Pete Drake, David Briggs, Norbert Norbert Putnam, Jerry Reed, Stephen Stills, and others.
"Any Day Now" remains one of Baez's essential recordings.
Lyrics
Seems like only yesterday, I left my mind behind. Down in the gypsy cafe, with a friend of a friend of mine. She sat with baby heavy on her knee. Yet spoke of life most free from slavery. With eyes that showed no trace of misery. A phrase in connection first with she occurred, that love is just a four letter word.
Outside a rambling store-front window, cats meowed to the break of day. Me, I kept my mouth shut, to you I had no words to say. My experience was limited and underfed. You were talking while I hid, to the one who was the father of your kid. You probably didn't think I did, but I heard you say, that love is just a four letter word.
I said goodbye unnoticed, pushed forth into my own games. Drifting in and out of lifetimes, unmentionable by name. Searching for my double, looking for. Complete evaporation to the core. Though I tried and failed at finding any door. I must have thought that there was nothing more absurd than, that love is just a four letter word.
Though I never knew just what you meant, when you were speaking to your man. I can only think in terms of me and now I understand. After waking enough times to think I see. The holy kiss that's supposed to last eternity. Blow up in smoke, its destiny, falls on strangers, travels free. Yes, I know now, traps are only set by me. And I do not really need to be assured, that love is just a four letter word.
Strange it is to be beside you, many years and tables turned. You'd probably not believe me, if I told you all I've learned. And it is very, very weird indeed to hear words like forever plead. Those ships run through my mind, I cannot cheat. It's like looking in the teacher's face complete. I can say nothing to you but repeat what I heard, that love is just a four letter word.
