Wednesday Words

Both Sides, Now

by Joni Mitchell (1969)

Rows and flows of angel hair

And ice cream castles in the air

And feather canyons everywhere

I've looked at clouds 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

As ev'ry 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

Well 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

I seem to be devoting this week to Joni Mitchell. This is an extrordinary song, written back in 1969 (I was just a baby) by a 21-year-old girl. "The first song that got fussed over was 'Both Sides Now,' which I thought was a failure," she said. "Because it was such a big meditation, you know. I've looked at these things from both sides now. I do clouds from up in the air looking down and down on the ground looking up and all the things that they do. You know, and love and live. And I was 21 when I wrote that. And I got mostly ridiculed from people, from 'What do you know about life? You're 21,' you know?" Mitchell continued: "Well, actually at 21 I had experienced quite a lot of life. I'd had a rough childhood. I looked so innocent. But I'd had life and death struggles and things." Some people are pretty grown up at 21. that's when I was just about to start my infertility battle.

Have a look at these 2 videos, spanning 30 years (1970 & 2000). Pretty amazing, eh?