Both Sides, Now.

Both Sides, Now

Lyrics: Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell composed sometime before 1967 and inspired by a passage in “Henderson the Rain King”, latter a 1959 novel by Saul Bellow.

Vocals: Joni Mitchell, latter born Roberta Joan Anderson.

Both Sides, Now.

Rows and flows of angels hair,
And ice cream castles in the air,
And feather canyons everywhere,
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.
It’s life’s illusions that I recall.
I really don’t know life,
I really don’t know life at all.

END