1967 was a year before two men central in this story were born, and the year that Folk-Grammy winner (1969) Judy Collins released “Both Sides Now,” a song written by Joni Mitchell who was inspired by having to put up her father-abandoned daughter for adoption.
The familiar hippie-era original hit by Judy Collins with lyrics.
But this 2022 performance by the 78-yr-old Mitchell can’t be missed!
1968, March 31 – within 33 days of the birth of the two men central in this story – at the National Cathedral, Martin Luther King thundered: “We shall overcome because the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.”
[The Inscription Wall of The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial (a national memorial in West Potomac Park next to the National Mall in Washington, D.C.)]
1968, April 4, four days after that speech, MLK was assassinated.
2023 August 12, midday: A midlife woman at a kitchen table in Indianapolis lamented to another midlife couple how the political and religious left and right extremes shout at each other tragically. A midlife man also explained a visit with a religious official to urge considering that a local church decision could be on the wrong side in the long arc of history.
These four midlifers also chatted about common themes of an author favorite among them – themes like the “both/and” in non-duality, egos, and the first and second halves of life.
2023 August 12, at exactly 10:07pm in Indianapolis (Colt’s stadium), these four midlifers enjoyed “Both Sides Now” in the closing and winning show at the DCI (Drum Corps International) 2023 world championship, performed by The Blue Devils from Concord, CA.
- how the 4 midlifers experienced it from section 639
- dress rehearsal (Ft. Collins, CO)
- preseason preview
2023 August 15, three days later, the favorite author of the 4 midlifers blogged “Prophets are Radicals and Traditionalists” who see life from “both sides, now.”
“Normally, we would think [conservative traditionalism and radical liberalism] would cancel each other out. Most people cannot imagine that both can coexist, tame, and educate one another… To put together [these] opposites… demands a level of human maturity, groundedness, spiritual intelligence, a readiness not to be liked, and a willingness to be persecuted… Many people turned against Martin Luther King Jr. (d.1968)… Antiwar prophets are labeled as radicals even when they call us back to the ancient [conservative] tradition of Christian pacifism… that experience of God’s love which radically alters our vision of ourselves and our outlook on life. Too often we are concerned about petty things that in the end do not really matter… We shouldn’t be surprised if we find ourselves falling in love with our tradition *and* wanting to radically change the way things are. Entering into the vision and love of God alters our perception of reality,” as we look at love and life from ‘both sides.’
That author often reminds us that words don’t express this vision as readily as artists, so have a look at the lyrics of “Both Sides Now” below. Joni Mitchell began writing the song when flying in an airplane and looking down at clouds, up at which she of course had often looked. And the favorite author of the four midlifers often cites “The Cloud of Unknowing” – an anonymous, Christian mystical book from the late 1300s explaining that the way to know God is by experience coupled to “unknowing” what we have learned. When you look at the divine only from the side of what you have been taught, “they only block the sun… And rain and snow on everyone,” as Mitchell’s lyrics say, suggesting you really don’t know love, life, God at all:
I’ve looked at clouds/love/life from both sides now
From up and down and still somehow
It’s clouds/love/life illusions I recall
I really don’t know clouds/love/life at all
“Both ways now” (Joni Mitchell)
Rows and flows 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
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
The story behind the song:
* https://americansongwriter.com/the-meaning-behind-both-sides-now-by-joni-mitchell/
* https://www.smoothradio.com/features/the-story-of/both-sides-now-by-joni-mitchell-lyrics-meaning/
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Neil D. 2023-08-15
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