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Joan Baez on Trump, Protests, Lana Del Rey and A Complete Unknown

Joan Baez reflects on protest and political fear, recalls the story behind Lana Del Rey’s “Dance Till We Die” lyric, and shares her mixed response to A Complete Unknown.
Opened Runtime4 min Written byDocumentaryTube Team
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In a June 2025 interview, Joan Baez said she felt unusually afraid of the current political climate but still urged people to take manageable action. She also recalled her friendship with Lana Del Rey and explained what she liked—and what she questioned—about the film A Complete Unknown. Her comments were published after the film’s release, but the interview was conducted before the ongoing Los Angeles protests mentioned in its editor’s note.

In an interview with Rolling Stone senior writer David Browne, republished by Portside on June 11, 2025, Baez reflected on returning to public performance and protest, her connection to Del Rey, and her response to the Bob Dylan film A Complete Unknown. The interview is a record of Baez’s personal views and recollections, not an independent fact check of the political moment or the film’s historical details. Read the interview at Portside.

What did Joan Baez say about Trump and protest?

Baez said she was surprised by Donald Trump’s return to the White House, but viewed the political changes as part of a longer process rather than something caused by Trump alone. She described events as moving quickly and said, “I’ve never experienced this kind of fear.” That was her assessment of the risks around protest in the current moment, not a claim about every demonstrator’s experience.

She contrasted activism now with earlier periods of protest, saying she perceived greater risks. For Baez, courage did not mean feeling unafraid: “It’s because you’re willing to do stuff, even if you’re scared.”

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Her advice: choose an action you can manage

Baez did not tell people to sit out. Instead, she recommended starting with a concrete step—showing up with a friend or taking part in an action that felt manageable—rather than waiting for a huge demonstration or expecting one act to change the world. As she put it: “I really am an advocate of just keep doing it and don’t expect it to change the world. Just show your face now. Stand up. Show up.” She also described a personal dilemma about encouraging civil disobedience when, because of her age and need for regular medication, she could not promise to accompany people to jail.

Music as part of protest

Baez said movements need music. Among the songs discussed, she called “One in a Million,” her protest song with Janis Ian, closest to a new anthem. She also named “I Carry the Flame,” written by Josh Ritter after she asked him for a song, and praised young political songwriter Jesse Welles. Her point was as much about morale as about any one track: “Action is the antidote to despair.”

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Greatest Hits
  • Große Erfolge [Vinyl]
  • Produktart: ABIS_MUSIC

How did Joan Baez come to know Lana Del Rey?

Baez said she liked Del Rey’s music and described them as friends. Del Rey invited her to sing at the Greek Theatre. Baez joked that the younger audience might not know who she was; Del Rey replied that they should. Baez saw the invitation as a risk for a younger performer, and recalled that she came to like Del Rey quite a bit.

The story behind “Dance Till We Die”

Del Rey’s lyric “I’m coverin’ Joni and dancin’ with Joan” refers, Baez said, to a visit that included dinner and a trip to a Senegalese club in San Francisco, where Baez had danced for years. Del Rey did not dance, Baez recalled; Del Rey’s sister danced, while Baez took to the floor. Baez also remembered receiving a necklace from Del Rey inscribed “Joanie.”

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Farewell, Angelina[180g LP]
  • Farewell, Angelina is the sixth studio album by folk icon, Joan Baez

What did Baez think of A Complete Unknown?

Baez initially did not know whether the film would be accurate, but came to believe its filmmakers were serious about the project. She contacted the actors, and Monica Barbaro and Edward Norton had long conversations with her. After watching the film with a group of women, she called it “a fun movie,” praising its music and its evocation of the Village. She said Timothée Chalamet did a good job as Dylan, though he seemed too “squeaky clean” to her.

What she praised—and what she disputed

Baez praised Barbaro’s work on her portrayal, including her speaking voice and nervous hand movement. She also corrected details from her own life as shown or implied in the film: she said she never lived in the Village except for a short time with Dylan, and that the hotel was the Earle, not the Chelsea. She considered some of the details being fact-checked minor.

On the film’s depiction of the relationship triangle involving Baez, Dylan and Suze Rotolo, Baez said she was uncertain about the timeline and felt Rotolo was not done justice. These comments reflect Baez’s recollections and judgments; they do not settle the historical disputes or provide a comprehensive fact check.

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Where to find the film on home video

For viewers who want to revisit the film, Criterion Pictures lists a home-video release date of April 1, 2025, and identifies A Complete Unknown as a 2024 production directed by James Mangold with a 141-minute runtime. Criterion Pictures film information provides those details. A separate 20th Century Studios Japan product page lists a 4K UHD plus Blu-ray set released June 25, 2025; that edition information is specific to Japan and should not be assumed to describe every market.

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Farewell, Angelina[180g LP]
Farewell, Angelina[180g LP]
Farewell, Angelina is the sixth studio album by folk icon, Joan Baez
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