Songwriters: Joni Mitchell

I couldnt go much longer in my songwriters series w/out paying tribute to the great Joni Mitchell. I grew up with Joni's songs and thought my favorites have changed over the years, my love for her music has remained the same. She has such a tender gift for imagery and melody. There are few who have such a gift.

I was first introduced to Joni as a child and the earliest songs I remember are 'Help Me' and 'Free Man in Paris' from the great Court and Spark album. Over the years, I began to examine her earlier efforts such as Song to a Seagull and Clouds-both stunningly beautiful albums and largely overlooked by the listening public. Her more famous works, Ladies of the Canyon and Blue are also phenomenal pieces of work and contain some of the best lyricism of her career, in my opinion. Songs like 'Woodstock', 'Big Yellow Taxi' and 'Blue' have been covered by admiring recording artists for decades, the likes of which span the mediocrity of Amy Grant and the inspired voice of Sarah Mclachlan.

Many people shy away from Joni's untrained vocals but I find her's one of the loveliest and refreshing of voices. Her range is remarkable and her pitch is perfect for each song she creates. There is such an amazing story in many of her songs that only her voice can truly tell and this is one of it's major appeals. I strongly recommend that anyone who is only familiar w/ her 'radio hits' take the time to examine her extensive catalogue and hear what a fabulous artist she really is.

Here are some examples of great Joni lyrics-taken from different albums:

All I Want-from the album Blue
_______________________

I am on a lonely road and I am traveling
Traveling, traveling, traveling
Looking for something, what can it be?
Oh I hate you some, I hate you some
I love you some
Oh I love you when I forget about me
I want to be strong I want to laugh along
I want to belong to the living
Alive, alive, I want to get up and jive
I want to wreck my stockings in some juke box dive
Do you want - do you want - do you want
To dance with me baby?
Do you want to take a chance
On maybe finding some sweet romance with me baby?
Well, come on

All I really really want our love to do
Is to bring out the best in me and in you too
All I really really want our love to do
Is to bring out the best in me and in you
I want to talk to you, I want to shampoo you
I want to renew you again and again
Applause, applause - life is our cause
When I think of your kisses
My mind see-saws
Do you see - do you see - do you see
How you hurt me baby?
So I hurt you too
Then we both get so blue

I am on a lonely road and I am traveling
Looking for the key to set me free
Oh the jealousy, the greed is the unraveling
Its the unraveling
And it undoes all the joy that could be
I want to have fun, I want to shine like the sun
I want to be the one that you want to see
I want to knit you a sweater
Want to write you a love letter
I want to make you feel better
I want to make you feel free
Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm,Want to make you feel free
I want to make you feel free
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A Case Of You- from the album Blue (and also one of my favorite love songs evah!)

Just before our love got lost you said,
'I am as constant as the northern star'
and I said, 'Constantly in the darkness?
Where's that at? If you want me I'll be in the bar.'

On the back of a cartoon coaster
in the blue tv screen light
I drew a map of Canada, oh Canada,
with your face sketched on it twice.

Oh you're in my blood like holy wine
you taste so bitter and so sweet
oh, I could drink a case of you darling,
and still I'd be on my feet
I would still be on my feet.

Oh I am a lonely painter,
I live in a box of paints
I'm frightened by the devil
and I'm drawn to those ones who ain't afraid.
I remember that time you told me, you said
'Love is touching souls'
well, surely you touch mine
cuz part of you pours out of me
on these lines from time to time

Oh, you are in my blood like holy wine
You taste so bitter, bitter and so sweet
oh, I could drink a case of you darling,
and still be on my feet
I would still be on my feet

I met a woman
she had a mouth like yours
she knew your life,
she knew your devils and your deeds
and she said, 'Color, go to him, stay with him if you can
but be prepared to bleed'

Oh, but you are in my blood
you're my holy wine
you're so bitter, bitter and so sweet
oh, I could drink a case of you darling
and still I'd be on my feet
I would still be on my feet.
________________________

Rainy Night House- from the album Ladies of the Canyon

It was a rainy night
We took a taxi to your mothers home
She went to florida and left you
With your fathers gun, alone
Upon her small white bed
I fell into a dream
You sat up all the night and watched me
To see, who in the world I might be

I am from the sunday school
I sing soprano in the upstairs choir
You are a holy man
On the f.m. radio
I sat up all the night and watched thee
To see, who in the world you might be.

You called me beautiful
You called your mother-she was very tanned
So you packed your tent and you went
To live out in the arizona sand
You are a refugee
From a wealthy family
You gave up all the golden factories
To see, who in the world you might be
______________________________

These are just a few of her wonderful wonderful songs. There are so many that it's sometimes unbelievable that one person had such a depth of imagination.