Diamonds & Rust: The Love Story of Joan Baez and Bob Dylan
By Natalie McCarty
Joan Baez and Bob Dylan; Image Sourced Through Pinterest
“Mama, You Been On My Mind.”
I’m obsessed with musicians’ romances—their poetry, the raw emotion, the way they feel both distant and familiar. I know a thing or two about writing songs with someone you used to love—believe me, that’s a chapter I’ve lived more than once.
Normally, it’s the epic love stories of Stevie Nicks or the chaotic drama of Sid and Nancy that captivate me. Mazzy Star’s tangled relationships, The Sundays’ beautiful love story—they all leave their mark. But recently, I’ve been wrapped up in the romance of Joan Baez and Bob Dylan. I always knew their love was iconic, but I had no idea how deep, how textured, how truly intricate it all was.
As I’ve delved into their story, I can't help but find echoes of my own relationships—how love and art get tangled, how careers and lives become intertwined. In my own way, I’ve built relationships that were defined by the projects we created together, the public personas I helped shape, the stories we told.
But no matter how much I relate, nothing really compares to Joan and Bob.
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Their relationship is one of the most captivating in the history of folk music, set against the revolutionary backdrop of the 1960s. Their love affair was as turbulent and profound as the times they lived in—a mixture of admiration, collaboration, and heartache. They weren’t just making music; they were reshaping the cultural landscape. You can feel it so palpably in their music. And yet, for all they shared, they didn’t end up together.
How tragic it is, not to end up with the person who helped shape who you are. And yet, how beautiful it is to live a life of your own, beyond that shared chapter.
But let’s not forget that time they did have—Joan and Bob, your love mattered to all of us.
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The Meeting: A Spark of Genius and Attraction
Baez and Dylan first met in 1961 when Dylan was a 20-year-old newcomer to the Greenwich Village folk scene, while Baez was already a well-established star. Baez had been known for her beautiful soprano voice and powerful renditions of traditional folk songs, as well as her commitment to social justice causes.
At first, Baez didn’t think much of Dylan. His gravelly voice and raw style were far from the polished folk sound that she embodied, but she quickly grew to admire his songwriting genius.
By 1963, Dylan’s fame had begun to grow, thanks in part to Baez’s influence. She invited him onstage during her concerts, exposing him to her much larger audience. Their musical chemistry was undeniable, and it wasn’t long before their professional collaboration turned into a romantic one.
Ain’t that always how it goes…
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The Romance: A Love Built on Music
The romance between Baez and Dylan developed quickly as they spent more time together, both on and off the stage. Their love story was not just about attraction; it was built on mutual respect for each other’s artistry. Baez was captivated by Dylan's songwriting, his ability to craft songs that spoke directly to the turbulence of the times, while Dylan admired Baez’s conviction and her angelic voice, which lent power to the protest songs they often performed together.
There was no Bob without Joan, and no Joan without Bob.
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One of the highlights of their collaboration came during the 1963 March on Washington, where both performed at the historic event where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. Their shared passion for civil rights and anti-war activism solidified their connection, and they became symbols of the protest movement. Their duets, including songs like "With God on Our Side," showcased a perfect blend of Dylan’s gritty lyricism and Baez’s ethereal voice. A true power couple.
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Tension and Distance: Fame’s Toll on Their Love
However, their relationship was far from idyllic. As Dylan's fame skyrocketed, the dynamics between them shifted. Baez remained deeply committed to her activism and the political folk scene, while Dylan began to move away from protest songs and started exploring more personal, introspective themes in his music. This divergence in their paths created tension between them, as Baez found herself continuing to advocate for political change while Dylan became more focused on his artistic evolution.
Baez was often portrayed as the more mature and emotionally invested partner, while Dylan seemed distant and ambivalent at times. She openly supported and promoted him, yet when the time came for her to join him on his tours, he failed to reciprocate. Their love became a mix of passion, artistic collaboration, and emotional frustration.
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Baez later recounted how she had been in love with Dylan but struggled with his emotional unavailability. Dylan’s enigmatic nature made him both fascinating and frustrating, and his reluctance to commit to their relationship left Baez heartbroken. She would later describe their relationship as one of the most painful and confusing experiences of her life, encapsulated by the sense that Dylan was someone she could never fully understand or hold onto.
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The Breakup: A Bittersweet End
By 1965, Baez and Dylan’s romantic relationship had begun to unravel. As Dylan transitioned into a more rock-oriented sound, leaving behind the acoustic folk that had initially connected them, the distance between them grew. Dylan’s growing fame and increasing desire for autonomy left Baez feeling sidelined. Their romance officially ended during Dylan’s 1965 tour of the UK, where Baez had hoped to join him onstage but found herself left out.
The breakup was painful for Baez, who had not only loved Dylan but had also played a significant role in his rise to fame. Despite the heartache, the two continued to collaborate sporadically over the years, and their personal history remained entwined with their music. Baez’s song “Diamonds & Rust,” written years after their breakup, is widely believed to be about Dylan. In it, she reflects on their love affair with a mix of nostalgia, pain, and acceptance, capturing the bittersweet nature of their relationship. You know, the classic musician “we broke up, but I still love you” thing.
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The Legacy: Love, Music, and the 1960s
Though their romance was short-lived, the impact of Baez and Dylan's relationship on music and culture is undeniable. Together, they were the voices of a generation, using their songs to inspire social change and give voice to the frustrations and hopes of the 1960s. Their collaborations remain some of the most powerful performances of the folk movement, symbolizing the intersection of love, art, and activism.
Even after their breakup, both artists continued to have immense respect for each other’s talents. Baez and Dylan performed together during the Rolling Thunder Revue tour in 1975, years after their romance had ended, showing that while their romantic relationship may have faded, their creative connection endured.
Their relationship serves as a reminder of how complex love can be, especially when it’s entangled with fame, art, and politics. Joan Baez and Bob Dylan's love story may have been fleeting, but it remains an indelible part of music history, shaping not only their personal lives but also the trajectory of American folk music and the protest movements of the 1960s.
Their love was poetic, like the songs they sang—full of longing, beauty, and a sense of what might have been.
