Joni Mitchell at the 2022 Newport Folk Festival / Both Sides Now

“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.”

Roberta Joan Mitchell (née Anderson; born November 7, 1943) is a Canadian and American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and painter. As one of the most influential singer-songwriters to emerge from the 1960s folk music circuit, Mitchell became known for her personal lyrics and unconventional compositions, which grew to incorporate elements of pop, jazz, rock, and other genres. Among her accolades are eleven Grammy Awards, and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. Rolling Stone, in 2002, named her “one of the greatest songwriters ever,” and AllMusic, in a 2011 biography, stated “Joni Mitchell may stand as the most important and influential female recording artist of the late 20th century.”

On July 24, 2022, Joni Mitchell appeared unannounced as a special guest in the closing performance of the final day of the Newport Jazz Festibal in Rhode Island, where she had first played in 1967, as part of a set billed as “Brandi Carlile” and Friends.” Supported by a group of well-wisher musicians, she participated in a 13-song set of her own material and covers, including one that she played as a solo on electric guitar.

In 2015, Mitchell suffered a disabling aneurysm and was inspired slowly back into music-making by a visit from an old friend, singer-songwriter Eric Anderson to begin hosting monthly music sessions at her home in Laurel Canyon. The sessions became known as “Joni Jams. Brandi Carlile organized the sessions and recruited musicians, and among those who came over the years to play music and sing in Mitchell’s living room were Elton John, Paul McCartney, Bonnie Ratt, Harry Styles, Chaka Khan, Herbie Hancock, Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig among others.

Mitchell was delighted by the return of music to her home. The music sessions raised her spirits and assisted her recovery from her serious disabling aneurysm. She began to sing in the sessions and learn to play guitar again. As her health improved, a return to live performance began to seem possible, plans were cautiously laid, a set list was prepared. In July 2022, after a rehearsal the night before, Mitchell joined Carlile and others on stage at the Newport Festival for a live Joni Jam, her first public performance in nine years.

At 80 years old, having regained her ability to sing again, she voices words of her famous song once again in 2022 at the Newport Folk Festival. No one has the right to sing this song as much as Joni.

“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.”

______________________________

Both Sides Now / From the Clouds Album

Rows and floes 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

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 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

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

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 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

I’ve looked at life from both sides now 
From up and down and still somehow
It’s life’s illusions I recall
I really don’t know life at all

© June 19, 1967; Gandalf Publishing Co. (as “From Both Sides Now”)