Joan Baez這首歌是少數她自己創作的歌曲之一，也被喻為是她個人最偉大的作品。這首歌背後的故事，是她與Bob Dylan（鮑布狄倫）之間亦師亦友的隱密戀情。他們兩人同生於1941年，在60年代以音樂投身反戰運動，互相欣賞對方的才華而相知相惜，然而兩人在1965年即告分手。Joan在1968年結婚而於1972年離婚，Bob則另有所愛，這段落花有意流水無情的緣份終究沒有結果。1975年Joan寫了 Diamonds and Rust，據後人推測是藉以紀錄，或者紀念她與Bob之間的點滴過往。
Diamonds and Rust (Words and Music by Joan Baez)
Well I'll be damned Here comes your ghost again
But that's not unusual
It's just that the moon is full And you happened to call
And here I sit Hand on the telephone
Hearing a voice I'd known
A couple of light years ago Heading straight for a fall
As I remember your eyes Were bluer than robin's eggs My poetry was lousy you said
Where are you calling from?
A booth in the midwest
Ten years ago I bought you some cufflinks You brought me something
We both know what memories can bring They bring diamonds and rust
Well you burst on the scene Already a legend The unwashed phenomenon
The original vagabond You strayed into my arms
And there you stayed Temporarily lost at sea
The Madonna was yours for free Yes the girl on the half-shell Would keep you unharmed
Now I see you standing With brown leaves falling around
And snow in your hair Now you're smiling out the window Of that crummy hotel Over Washington Square
Our breath comes out white clouds Mingles and hangs in the air Speaking strictly for me We both could have died then and there Now you're telling me You're not nostalgic
Then give me another word for it You who are so good with words And at keeping things vague
Because I need some of that vagueness now
It's all come back too clearly
Yes I loved you dearly
And if you're offering me diamonds and rust I've already paid
