Saturday, November 07, 2020

A case of you



Joni Mitchell *7 November, 1943

"Just before our love got lost you said
"I am as constant as a northern star"
And I said "Constantly in the darkness
Where's that at?
If you want me I'll be in the bar"

On the back of a cartoon coaster
In the blue TV screen light
I drew a map of Canada
Oh Canada
With your face sketched on it twice
Oh you're in my blood like holy wine
You taste so bitter and so sweet

Oh I could drink a case of you darling
Still I'd be on my feet
oh I would still be on my feet

Oh I am a lonely painter
I live in a box of paints
I'm frightened by the devil
And I'm drawn to those ones that ain't afraid

I remember that time you told me you said
"Love is touching souls"
Surely you touched mine
'Cause part of you pours out of me
In these lines from time to time
Oh, you're in my blood like holy wine
You taste so bitter and so sweet

Oh I could drink a case of you darling
And I would still be on my feet
I would still be on my feet

I met a woman
She had a mouth like yours
She knew your life
She knew your devils and your deeds
And she said
"Go to him, stay with him if you can
But be prepared to bleed"

Oh but you are in my blood
You're my holy wine
You're so bitter, bitter and so sweet

Oh, I could drink a case of you darling

11 comments:

  1. Not a song I knew. And huge thanks for the lyrics.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are welcome, Sue.
      Do you understand the lyrics? What is your interpretation?

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    2. I wont go as far as to say I understood it all, but took the bitter and the sweet image particularly as a reflection that any relationship (failed or not) has both. A similar thought to my belief that we never get over grief. We learn to (mostly) live with it, but it changes us.
      And I love that she is not intoxicated by him/no longer intoxicated by him and is standing on her own feel.

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    3. To begin with your end: "[...] you'll find me in the bar" is a fine line.
      Although I did read the long attempt to interprete almost each word in the link I set in my first reply to Andrew, I did not understand much more, afterwards.
      But when I listened to it early in the year I enjoyed the music and thus decided to post it on her birthday.

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  2. I don't understand these lyrics. I tried twice. My deficiency, I expect.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So there are already two of us. ;-)
      After reading your comment I "metagered" her name, the song title, lyrics and meaning, and was quite baffled when reading "My interpretation" on here.

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    2. Yes, fine music.
      And you should not even have expected deficiency, Andrew.
      If I were to always blame me for "my deficiency" when I do not understand something, I would have to blame myself more often than certain people are twittering lies.

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  3. I don't really understant the lyrics clearly. I think it's a very unique lost love that will never be forgotten. The story might be a bit confusing, but the music and voice are so incredibly moving that it seems it's happening to me. That's what Joni Mitchell does with her voice. She involves every fiber of your soul.

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    Replies
    1. A fine description of the impact* music and voice have. Thank you, Claude.
      * if impact is the right word.

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