Queen of Hearts (Joan Baez song) explained

"Queen of Hearts" (Roud 3195) is a song sung by, among others, Joan Baez and Martin Carthy.

The lyrics are from a traditional song.^[1]

To the Queen of Hearts is the Ace of Sorrow,

He's here today and he's gone tomorrow.

Young men are plenty but sweethearts few;

If my love leave me, what shall I do?

Joan Baez version

It was released as the B-Side of Baez' "Farewell Angelina", a Bob Dylan song, on Fontana Records in 1965.^[2] In The Joan Baez Ballad Book it is said to be traditional, though elsewhere erroneously attributed to David Coverdale and Micky Moody.^[3]

Notes and References

1. Fredrick Woods The Oxford Book of English Traditional Verse 1983 p111 "To the Queen of Hearts is the Ace of Sorrow, He's here today and he's gone tomorrow. Young men are plenty but sweethearts few; If my love leave me, what shall I do? Had I the store in yonder mountain Where gold and silver are had for ..."
2. The Encyclopedia of Country Music Paul Kingsbury - 1998 "Such hits of hers as "Angel of the Morning," "Queen of Hearts," and "Break It to Me Gently" were among the major ..."
3. https://genius.com/David-coverdale-queen-of-hearts-lyrics David Coverdale "Queen of Hearts"