BOTH SIDES NOW
(written by Joni Mitchell in about 1970)
Bows and flows of angel hair,
Moons and Junes and ferris wheels,
Tears and fears and feeling proud,
(from miriam berg's folksong collection)
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,
And rain and snow on everyone,
So many things I might have done,
But clouds got in the way.
I've looked at clouds from both sides now,
From up and down, and still somehow,
It's clouds' illusions I recall,
I really don't know clouds at all.
The dizzy dancing way you feel,
As ev'ry fairy tale comes real,
I've looked at love that way,
But now it's just another show,
You leave them 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 clouds at all.
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,
There's something lost, but something 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.