Daydreaming About Clouds

I've been listening to Joni Mitchell a lot recently. She soothes my soul in these troubled times. She's absolutely one of my favorite artists and has been since my college days when a paramour of mine with long blonde hair, not unlike Joni's hair in her younger years, introduced me to her.

I have so many favorite songs of Joni's but one of my most favorite songs, especially as I get older, is Both Sides Now. It starts out talking about daydreaming about clouds and I know something about daydreaming about clouds.

When I first started elementary school, every day at recess at I would sit under a tree and watch the clouds drift by. Wanting to get away from playground bullies, I would imagine what it might be like to stand upon a cloud and float away.

I longed to get away from the meanness of the class bullies. I wanted to get away from a family that was at best, alien to me and at worst, abusive at times. I dreamed of building a house in the clouds and staying safe up there in the sunshine and the moonshine. I really thought I could walk and climb on clouds! The only problem I couldn't figure out was getting up there in the first place. That eluded me but I looked at clouds that way for a long time. I really didn't know clouds at all.

Both Sides Now by Joni Mitchell

Rows and floes of angel hair
And ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere
Looked at clouds that way

But now they only block the sun
They rain and they 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 that you feel
As every fairy tale comes real
I've looked at love that way

But now it's just another show
And 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 that I recall
I really don't know love
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

Oh, but now old friends, they're acting strange
And they shake their heads and they tell me that 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
It's life's illusions that I recall
I really don't know life

I really don't know life at all