Good morning and Happy Saturday,
MUSIC
After having suffered a brain aneurism seven years ago, Joni Mitchell returned this week to the Newport Folk Festival, for the first time since 1969. This was a surprise to those in attendance and was her first performance of a full set in decades. Here is Both Sides Now:
I love the TV appearances of 1960s icons. Here is “young” Joni Mitchell singing Both Sides Now, introduced by Mama Cass, many years ago on some forgotten TV show…The years fly by and musicians seem to bear the weight of the years as much or more than the rest of us:
Thank you, Allison Gingold, for encouraging circulation of these performances!
POETRY
And if that wasn’t enough to provide goosebumps, here is the poetry of that song:
Rows and flows of angel hair
And ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere
I looked at clouds that way
But now they only block the sun
They rain and they 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 that you feel
As every fairy tale comes real
I've looked at love that way
But now it's just another show
And 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 that I recall
I really don't know love
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
Oh, but now old friends they're acting strange
And they shake their heads and they tell me that 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 (repeat)
Have a great weekend,
Glenn
I'm not sure, but she might make an appearance (or mention) in the long and excellent CSN&Y documentary CSNY: Fifty by Four. As I recall, it is over 3 hours. On Tubi, and $2 on Prime. I love this doc, and it ties into the Laurel Canyon scene. It is highly laudatory of Stills' pretty much single-handed effort at getting that first album done. Maybe some hyperbole there.
One of my absolute favorite singers/songwriters! ❤️