Joni Mitchell - Free Man In Paris (Live London 1983)

written & produced by Joni Mitchell | from the album Court & Spark (1974) | live from Wembley Arena, London (1983) | additional audio mixing by sonicboy19

"The way I see it," he said,
"You just can't win it
Everybody's in it for their own gain
You can't please 'em all
There's always somebody calling you down
I do my best
And I do good business
There's a lot of people asking for my time
They're trying to get ahead
They're trying to be a good friend of mine."

"I was a free man in Paris
I felt unfettered and alive
There was nobody calling me up for favors
And no one's future to decide
You know I'd go back there tomorrow
But for the work I've taken on
Stoking the star maker machinery
Behind the popular song."

"I deal in dreamers
And telephone screamers
Lately I wonder what I do it for
If l had my way
I'd just walk through those doors
And wander
Down the Champs Elysées
Going café to cabaret
Thinking how I'll feel when I find
That very good friend of mine."

"I was a free man in Paris
I felt unfettered and alive
Nobody was calling me up for favors
No one's future to decide
You know I'd go back there tomorrow
But for the work I've taken on
Stoking the star maker machinery
Behind the popular song."

© 1973 Crazy Crow Music

[doovie]

Let's talk about how UNDERRATED she is at rhythm guitar.

[jimmie]

Nobody comes near her unique talent. She is in a class all her own.

[jerryhoward]

So lucky to have seen her in 74 with CSNY she is a major force in music, her music is very relevant still today. Very Special.

[stephenduffy]

I was there. 23 rows back and 35 years younger

[paulevans]

Nearly 50 years ago I WAS a free man in Paris and I've always felt that this song was written for me. I suppose the place is irrelevant...we were all free once!

[caiusKeys]

Joni has a little something that's frequently missing in today's musicians: talent...

[davidparnell]

Wow Joni...I thought and learned a lot about life listening to your songs...she could feel life (The Hissing of Summer Lawns)...she could foretell the future (They took all the trees put 'em in a tree museum, And they charged the people a dollar an' a half just to see 'em, Don't it always seem to go, That you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone, They paved paradise, put up a parking lot) Yes, I learned a lot from the woman from Saskatchewan...she's an impish angel, a muse of life...a reveller of beautiful musical contemplation…”…While she’s busy being free…”

[crotalusatrox]

Just when you thought Help Me couldn't take you higher, Free Man in Paris plays. Like all of Joni's music it only gets better and better. God bless you, you're such a beautiful woman and soul Joni Mitchell.

[hannahstaelens]

1983 I was 21 and just starting my life and how lucky I was to grow up in the 70's when music was at its best. Arguably the best decade of music ever, and will ever be.
The 70's, I wish I could go back and experience it all over again. Joni is my muse and direction.

[lindahuff]

My friends and I would sit in a circle and sing loudly all things Joni. Best songwriter ever.

[GM-vfpx]

Joni is so totally unique!A world Icon of Artistic Expression and a Legend of a Lady!!

[refundrick]

About 50 years ago a group of friends and I went to Phil's Pancake and Steak House at the Chinook Shopping Centre in Calgary on a Friday night for dinner and drinks. There was a shy young girl (a student at Mount Royal College) by the name of Joan Anderson who was the entertainer for the night. She mesmerized us all with her songs and her voice. A half a century later and she still has that effect on me.

[basilthrush]

I suddenly realised I was sharing a hotel lift with Joni and John Guerin in London around the time of the concert. I could see that she knew I’d recognised her and for one second I struggled with blurting out how much I worshipped her and her music. ... but it seemed ridiculous. And so the moment passed. But my love for her music and particularly Hissing of Summer Lawns has lasted all my life.

[JudgeJulieLit]

Not just a "star" ... she's a galaxy.

[prophetpeaks]

Joni, you'll allways be a very good freind of mine, Love Lama.

[covey]

Joni was not only the greatest singer songwriter of the last half of the 20th Century, but a brilliant Guitarist.

[gabotdf]

Wandering down Champs Elysees listening this song. That was almost a religious experience I´ll never forget. Thank you for that, Joni

[josephliptak]

I remember first hearing this song in 1974 at age 14 and still dig it after all these years.

[teacherdavid--eatplaylearn]

Blessings from Taiwan  🇹🇼😇🧧

Congratulations to Joni Mitchell to win a lifetime achievement honor: the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song in 2023💪🤩👍

[alexandercameron]

I am a Woodstock generation guy.  Joni captures it all.  Fantastic!