Joni Mitchell [by Lewis Saul]

Yes, lyricists and poets are different species.

But for me, Joni has always been both. I like her early albums, but they lack gravitas -- in both the compositions and lyrics.

Beginning in 1974, she began to learn from the jazz musicians she hung around with. Tom Scott, Jaco Pastorius and Larry Klein taught her things like rearranging chord roots and changing up rhythmic patterns. Her lyrics/poetry got tighter.

Here are seven tunes from her middle period (1974-1985) which I think are extraordinary -- both musically and lyrically:

1. Free Man in Paris
from Court and Spark (1974)

 

 

I was a free man in Paris
I felt unfettered and alive
There was nobody calling 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
Stoking the star making machinery
Behind the popular song

 

2. Harry's House/Centerpiece
from The Hissing of Summer Lawns (1975)



Heatwaves on the runway
As the wheels set down
He takes his baggage off the carousel
He takes a taxi into town
Yellow schools of taxi fishes
Jonah in a ticking whale
Caught up at the light in the fishnet windows
Of Bloomingdale's
Watching those high fashion girls
Skinny black models with raveen curls
Beauty parlor blondes with credit card eyes
Looking for the chic and the fancy to buy

 

3. Talk to Me
from Don Juan's Reckless Daughter (1977)

 

 

We could talk about Martha
We could talk about landscapes
I'm not above gossip
But I'll sit on a secret where honor is at stake
Or we could talk about power
About Jesus and Hitler and Howard Hughes
Or Charlie Chaplin's movies
Or Bergman's nordic blues
Please just talk to me
Any old theme you choose
Just come and talk to me
My Mystery talk to me

 

4. Jericho
from Don Juan's Reckless Daughter (1977)

 

 

I'll try to keep myself open up to you
That's a promise that I made to love
When it was new
Just like Jericho I said
"Let these walls come tumbling down"
I said it like I finally found the way
To keep the good feelings alive
I said it like it was something to strive for

 

5. The Dry Cleaner from Des Moines
from Mingus (1979)

 

 

I'm down to a roll of dimes
I'm stalking the slot that's hot
I keep hearing bells all around me
Jingling in the lucky jackpots
They keep you tantalized
They keep you reaching for your wallet
Here in fools' paradise

 

6. Be Cool
from Wild Things Run Fast (1982)

 

If there's one rule to this game
Everybody's gonna name
It's be cool
If you're worried or uncertain
If your feelings are hurtin'
You're a fool if you can't keep cool
Charm 'em
Don't alarm 'em
Keep things light
Keep your worries out of sight
And play it cool
Play it cool
Fifty-fifty
Fire and ice

 

7. The Three Great Stimulants
from Dog Eat Dog (1985)

 

 

I picked the morning paper off the floor
It was full of other people's little wars
Wouldn't they like their peace
Don't we get bored
And we call for the three great stimulants
Of the exhausted ones
Artifice brutality and innocence
Artifice and innocence

Comments

[Rebecca]

😍😍😍 Sisotowbell Lane is one of my absolute favorites where she writes “a poet can sing, sometimes we try. Yes we always try.”

Joni Mitchell’s music will always have such a special place in my heart and I have you to thank 🙏🏼🎶

[Emily Fragos]

Mitchell's "A Case Of You" is surely one of the finest and most beautiful and most moving songs of our time; but if you are looking for rearranged chord roots and changing rhythmic patterns and elusive poetry, look to the great New York City singer/songwriter of that era, Laura Nyro. Joni Mitchell (and Bob Dylan) were in awe of Nyro's "New York Tendaberry." So many years later, it still stuns.