both sides now...

Bows and flows of angel hair and ice cream castles in the air
and feather canyons everywhere, I've looked at cloud that way.
But now they only block the sun, they rain and snow on everyone.
So many things I would have done but clouds got in my way.

I've looked at clouds from both sides now,
from up and down, and still somehow
it's cloud illusions I recall.
I really don't know clouds at all.

Moons and Junes and ferris wheels, the dizzy dancing way you feel
When every fairy tale comes real; I've looked at love that way.
But now it's just another show. You leave 'em laughing when you go
and if you care, don't let them know, don't give yourself away.

I've looked at love from both sides now,
from give and take, and still somehow
it's love's illusions I recall.
I really don't know love at all.

Tears and fears and feeling proud to say "I love you" right out loud,
dreams and schemes and circus crowds, I've looked at life that way.
But now old friends are acting strange, they shake their heads, they say
I've changed.
But Something's lost but something's gained in living every day.

I've looked at life from both sides now,
from win and lose, and still somehow
it's life's illusions I recall.
I really don't know life at all.

I've looked at life from both sides now,
from up and down, and still somehow
it's life's illusions I recall.
I really don't know life at all.

Both Sides Now
Joni Mitchell




i have loved this song for as long as i can remember. i cry everytime i hear it, even if i hear it 4 times in a row, the tears will still fall on the 5th time. i can't even explain it, i just think it is beautiful, it touches me to my core.

it was my favorite part of the opening ceremonies, i was dozing on the couch during the opening ceremonies, and when joni mitchell's voice started ringing, i woke straight up. and i cried.

just listen to it... and it may not do anything for you, but that is the beauty of music. what touches me, may touch no one else. and what touches you, may give me the heebies. but that is what music is. it is highly personal, very emotional, written from somebody's heart, to touch your heart.


if this song doesn't do it for you, what song does? what song makes you cry everytime? what song touches you to your core? really, i want to know.

Comments

  1. When my Alister [now 7] was a newborn, I remember being up feeding him in the middle of the night... and PBS was showing a biography of one of those hippy musicians from the 1960's. I didn't pay much attention until I heard her open her mouth and sing 'Carey'. I was smitten. It was a 2 hour - or more - special and I was being held on the couch by a very significant force - I seriously could not have moved if I would have tried. I was utterly spellbound by what I heard and saw. It was, of course, Joni Mitchell. I had heard her before, but I had never HEARD her before. It was incredible. I went out and bought that DVD, but also a few of her CD's, and I was changed. Seriously and foundationally changed. My songwriting has never been the same.

    When I flew to Copenhagen in 04, I took Travelogues with me - her very artsy release that included a few remakes of her classics, including 'Both Sides Now' - the version that was done in the opening ceremonies. There have been times when I couldn't listen to anything BUT Joni. Her melodies have given voice to things hidden in my heart. I'm so glad you love her in the same way... and I'm not remotely surprised. :)

    Her 'Little Green' is my favorite... the story of the daughter she gave up for adoption when she was 17. It's stunning. And as an adopted child and an adoptive mom, when I hear it, I cry. Every time.

    Love to you...
    Stephie

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Melinda,

    I found your blog through Donna's Blog. I used to work with Emma at the bank a couple of years ago before she left for Moody. I really love your blog. I think we have a lot in common and are in the same place in life. I'm not as good at updating my blog as you are...yet another thing I wish to get better at. This song has always made me cry too. I think the first time I heard it was on the Love Actually soundtrack. Any way, I plan to keep reading your blog.
    Amy

    ReplyDelete
  3. Axelle the french reader05:01

    Hello Melinda, my name is Axelle, I'm french, living in Toulon (south of France, between Marseille and Nice) and I have discovered your blog thanks to Donna's blog. I just wanted to congratulate you and your husband for the new baby coming.
    I'm 37 years old, I've got 2 children and nothing has gave me as much joy as children. And worry too ;-))
    And my favorite song is an italian song called "Pa", which means "Daddy", and the singer talks to his father telling him all he doesn't dare to say, in reality, and we feel a difficult context beetwen both of them.
    Each time I hear this song, I cry.
    Have a good day.

    ReplyDelete
  4. steph, how is it we have never met? we seem made for each other...

    amy, thanks for stopping by... emma and donna are both the dearest. i was so blessed with great in-laws, wasn't i?

    axelle, all the way from france? i always love reading your comments over on donna's blog... and am just thrilled you stopped by here. i lived in france for 3 months in 2004, in st louis in the alsace. i loved my time there so much, and thought i had died and gone to heaven when we made it to paris for the weekend. i hope to bring matthew there someday...

    ReplyDelete
  5. Axelle the french reader10:08

    Dear Melinda, I'm very happy to know that you've been in France sometimes ago. So you speak French ?? Great !!
    If you want, we could try sometimes to make some discussions in french. I won't post every day but, as for Donna's blog, I will read you every day.
    If you agree, I will make some french sentences sometimes, just to make you remember ;-))... And you'll have to try to answer in french, of course !! ;-) !!
    I have tried sometimes to write some words in french on Donna's blog, but I didn't know if someone would understand me, and I've been scared to seem rude, speaking in my language.
    Why are you "thrilled" ? Don't you want me to comment ? Don't be scared to be honnest, I will stop, if you want it.
    Have a good day, Melinda...
    Passe une bonne journée !! ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous12:33

    Beautiful song. It's also from one of my favorite movies---You've Got Mail. When she's missing her Mom at Christmas? It's a very touching song. I have so many favorites that make me cry or touch me in someway...and I agree they can affect each person differently. See my Tuesday Tunes! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  7. axelle, sadly i do not speak much french. just enough to get me around a grocery store. but i would love to see you write in french, even if i have to look up what it means! and "thrilled" can also mean very excited and happy. i am not scared, but glad to see you around here.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous15:08

    Keep posting stuff like this i really like it

    ReplyDelete

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