Joni Mitchell

1. Joni Mitchell By Garett Gee and Alexa Gualazzi

2. Background info • Joni Mitchell was born on November 7, 1943 • She was raised in Saskatoon, taking up painting and music very early • When she was little her left hand was weakened because of polio, this left her chords sounding more like jazz than folk or rock • Her name was originally Roberta Joan Anderson • She attended the Alberta College of Art • She was noticed first for her writing and art • She begun as a folk singer through the sixties and early seventies • moved to Toronto and married folk singer Chuck Mitchell keeping his name after the divorce • Mitchell was signed to Reprise Records in 1967 • She had a daughter, who she put up for adoption. • She met the girl in 1996, and they now have a good relationship. • Her name is Klaurin Gibb she’s a model in Canada • Joni Mitchell inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997

3. Both sides now Bows 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 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. 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.

4. Circle game springs and 16 summers gone now Cartwheels turn to car wheels through the town And they tell him take your time it won't be long now 'Til you drag your feet to slow the circles down And the seasons they go round and round And the painted ponies go up and down We're captive on the carousel of time We can't return we can only look Behind from where we came And go round and round and round in the circle game So the years spin by and now the boy is 20 Though his dreams have lost some grandeur coming true They'll be new dreams maybe better dreams and plenty Before the last revolving year is through And the seasons they go round and round And the painted ponies go up and down We're captive on the carousel of time We can't return we can only look Behind from where we came And go round and round and round in the circle game And go round and round and round in the circle game Yesterday a child came out to wander Caught a dragonfly inside a jar Fearful when the sky was full of thunder And tearful at the falling of a star And the seasons they go round and round And the painted ponies go up and down We're captive on the carousel of time We can't return we can only look Behind from where we came And go round and round and round in the circle game Then the child moved ten times 'round the seasons Skated over ten clear frozen streams Words like when you're older must appease him And promises of someday make his dreams And the seasons they go round and round And the painted ponies go up and down We're captive on the carousel of time We can't return we can only look Behind from where we came And go round and round and round in the circle game

5. Big yellow taxi They paved paradise And put up a parking lot With a pink hotel, a boutique And a swinging hot SPOT Don't it always seem to go That you don't know what you've got ‘Til it's gone They paved paradise And put up a parking lot They took all the trees And put them in a tree museum Then they charged the people A dollar and a half just to see 'em Don't it always seem to go, That you don't know what you've got ‘Til it's gone They paved paradise And put up a parking lot Hey farmer, farmer Put away that DDT now Give me spots on my apples But LEAVE me the birds and the bees Please! Don't it always seem to go That you don't know what you've got ‘Til its gone They paved paradise And put up a parking lot Late last night I heard the screen door slam And a big yellow taxi Come and took away my old man Don't it always seem to go That you don't know what you've got ‘Til it's gone They paved paradise And put up a parking lot I said Don't it always seem to go That you don't know what you've got ‘Til it's gone They paved paradise And put up a parking lot They paved paradise And put up a parking lot They paved paradise And put up a parking lot

6. Sunny She pulls the shade; It's just another sunny Sunday She dodges the light like Blanche DuBois Bright colors fade away on such a sunny Sunday; She waits for the night to fall Then she points a pistol through the door And she aims at the streetlight While the freeway hisses Dogs bark as the gun falls to the floor The streetlight's still burning; She always misses But the day she hits That's the day she'll leave That one little victory, that's all she needs! She pulls the shade; It's just another sunny Monday She waits for the night to fall

7. Help me Help me I think I'm falling in love again When I get that crazy feeling I know I'm in trouble again I'm in trouble 'cause you're a rambler and a gambler and a sweet-talking ladies man And you love your lovin' But not like you love your freedom Help me I think I'm falling in love too fast It's got me hoping for the future and worrying about the past 'cause I've seen some hot hot blazes come down to smoke and ash We love our lovin' But not like we love our freedom Didn't it feel good we were sitting there talking or lying there not talking Didn't it feel good You dance with the lady with the hole in her stocking didn't it feel good didn't it feel good Help me I think I'm falling in love with you Are you going to let me go there by myself That's such a lonely thing to do Both of us flirting around Flirting and flirting Hurting too We love our lovin' But not like we love our freedom

8. Free man in Paris The way I see it He said you just can't win it Everybody's in it for their own gain You can't please them all There's always somebody callin you down I do my best and I do good business There's alot of people askin for my time They're trying to get ahead They're trying to be a good friend of mine I was a free man in Paris I felt unfettered and alive There was nobody callin me up for favors And no one's future to decide You know I'd go back there tomorrow But for the work I've taken on Stokin the star maker machinery behind the popular song I deal in dreamers and telephone screamers Lately I wonder what I do it for If I had my way, I'd just walk through those doors And wander down the Champs-Élysées Goin' café to cabaret Thinkin how I'd feel when I find that very good friend of mine I was a free man in Paris I felt unfettered and alive Nobody was callin me up for favors No one's future to decide You know I'd go back there tomorrow But for the work I've taken on Stokin the star maker machinery behind the popular song

9. You turn me on im a radio If you're driving into town With a dark cloud above you Dial in the number Who's bound to love you Oh honey you turn me on I'm a radio I'm a country station I'm a little bit corny I'm a wide open flower Waiting for you I'm a broadcasting tower Waving for you And I'm sending you out This signal here I hope you can pick it up Loud and clear I know you don't like weak women You get bored so quick And you don't like strong women 'Cause they're hip to your tricks It's been dirty for dirty Down the line But you know I come when you whistle And you're loving and kind If you've got too many doubts If there's no good reception for me Then tune me out, 'cause honey Who needs the static I t hurts the head And you wind up cracking And the day goes dismal From "Breakfast Barney" To the sign-off prayer What a sorry face you get to wear I'm going to tell you again now If you're still listening there I f you're driving into town With a dark cloud above you Dial in the number Who's bound to love you If you're lying on the beach With the transistor going Kick off the sandflies honey The love's still flowing If your head says forget it But your heart's still smoking Call me at the station The lines are open

10. I think i understand Daylight falls upon the path, the forest falls behind Today I am not prey to dark uncertainty The shadow trembles in its wrath, I've robbed its blackness blind And tasted sunlight as my fear came clear to me I think I understand Fear is like a wilderland Stepping stones or sinking sand Now the way leads to the hills, above the steeple's chime Below me sleepy rooftops round the harbor It's there I'll take my thirsty fill of friendship over wine Forgetting fear but never disregarding her Oh, I think I understand Fear is like a wilderland Stepping stones and sinking sand Sometimes voices in the night will call me back again Back along the pathway of a troubled mind When forests rise to block the light that keeps a traveler sane I'll challenge them with flashes from a brighter time Oh, I think I understand Fear is like a wilderland Stepping stones or sinking sand