I have talked about death as inevitable, as transformation and as opportunity.
I have talked about my life, life, my family life.
I have talked and talked and talked; to quote Joni Mitchell: squawk, squawk, squawk. [Talk to Me]
In fact, inspired by my friend #zpzn, the most stubborn quality quoter I know, let’s stick to Mitchell today, Bowie style, cutting and pasting to say something real.
Blue songs are like tattoos: Ink on a pin Underneath the skin An empty space to fill in. [Blue]
You know it never has been easy. Whether you do or you do not resign. Whether you travel the breadth of extremities. Or stick to some straighter line. I see something of myself in everyone.[Hejira]
They took all the trees And put them in a tree museum And they charged all the people A dollar and a half to see 'em. You don't know what you've got 'Till it's gone. Give me spots on my apples, But leave me the birds and the bees, Please. [Big Yellow Taxi]
I found this empty seat In this crowded waiting room. (Everybody waiting) [Just Like This Train]
In this vigorous anonymity A blank face at the window stares and stares and stares and stares
And the power of reason And the flowers of deep feeling Seem to serve me Only to deceive me.[Song For Sharon]
We just come from such different sets of circumstance. I'm up all night in the studios And you're up early on your ranch [Coyote]
Trina takes her paints and her threads And she weaves a pattern all her own. Annie bakes her cakes and her breads And she gathers flowers for her home. [Ladies Of The Canyon]
He looked as only a priest can, And his eyes said me and his eyes said you And my eyes said, let us try. He asked for truth and he asked for time And he asked for only now. Will we pass the test Or just as one loves more and more Will one love less and less? [The Priest]
I remember that time you told me, you said "Love is touching souls". [A Case Of You]
We laughed how our perfection Would always be denied "Heart and humor and humility" He said "Will lighten up your heavy load". I left him for the refuge of the roads. [Refuge Of The Roads]
He told me all romantics meet the same fate someday, Cynical and drunk and boring someone in some dark café. Richard, you haven't really changed, I said. It's just that now you're romanticizing some pain that's in your head. [The Last Time I Saw Richard]
All I really really want our love to do Is to bring out the best in me and in you I wanna talk to you, I wanna shampoo you, I wanna renew you again and again. [All I Want]
I dreamed I saw the bombers Riding shotgun in the sky And they were turning into butterflies. We are stardust, We are golden And we've got to get ourselves Back to the garden. [Woodstock]
In some God's name! Shine on the pioneers Those seekers of mental health Craving simplicity. They traveled inward Past themselves...May all their little lights shine. [Shine]
If you can keep your head While all about you People are losing theirs and blaming you [If]
[Back to my own voice:]
. . . Then who knows what kind of love may shine yet.
Joni’s version of Annie Ross’s (and Grey’s) “Twisted” (The original below)
Comprehensive websites:
http://jonimitchell.com/
overview of her work click here with relevant audio clips/interviews.
Or here