Joni Mitchell - Both Sides, Now
from the LP "Clouds", 1969
Bows and flows of angel hair
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,
they rain and snow on everyone
so many things I would have done
but clouds got in my way
Reality and illusion: Baudrillard - The Transparency of Evil when all illusion is gone.
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
Illusion again. She is so very much a philosopher. I never knew.
Moons and Junes and ferris wheels,
the dizzy dancing way you feel
as every fairy tale comes real
I've looked at love that way
but now it's just another show,
you leave 'em laughing when you go
and if you care, don't let them know,
don't give yourself away
The "floating sign" of pretence: dissembling.
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 love at all
What Zizek was saying about fucking in Reading Lacan, Eyes Wide Shut, p. 49-50
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.
But now old friends are acting strange,
they shake their heads, they say I've changed
well, somethings lost but somethings 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.
The loss of illusion. Win and lose in the dialectic.
Yes, Joni is a post modern poet who is a singer-songwriter.
