Joni Mitchell - River

"Blue" (1971)

[md]

I was twenty years old in 1971 when my first "serious" girlfriend introduced me to her music and several of her songs became "our songs". I entered the Army a few months later with our having an understanding that we'd wait until I had leave to marry. Shortly after I got to my first duty assignment, my mother called to tell me that Kathy had been killed with two others in a car accident. Though I still love her music, it's sometimes hard to listen to Joni even these 50 years later. I'm fortunate that my wife understands.

[christopherbaranet]

When I was in high school I hated female, guitar-playing folk singers. One day my sister borrowed my car. She left " Blue" in the cassette player. I listened to it. I was hooked. Its 50 years later, every Christmas morning I play this song while I have my coffee.

[Sameoldfitup]

“Has it ever struck you that life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by you so quick you hardly catch it going?”― Tennessee Williams.

[MrCretemaniam]

I'm 62 years old now. But I was introduced to Joni when I was about 14 . I go to Joni when I need comfort and peace.

[ritamarie]

I remember my momma playing this song in the kitchen when she was making dinner, I would help her and she would sing. I miss that.

[muckaxe]

This song encapsulates pain in a way that no other song has. “I’m so hard to handle/l’m selfish and I’m sad.” It takes enormous balls to be that vulnerable.

[SuperC]

Graham Nash wrote: I met Joni in 1967 when I was in the Hollies and we played Ottawa. Later, I flew from London to spend a few days with her in Los Angeles. When I arrived, I could hear voices in the house. David Crosby and Stephen Stills were having dinner with her. The Byrds had thrown David out and Stephen’s band, Buffalo Springfield, were over. We smoked a big one and Stephen played this fabulous song, You Don’t Have to Cry, with David and myself singing harmonies. So Joni witnessed the birth of Crosby, Stills and Nash.

We were a couple for two years – and I watched her write many of the songs on Blue. She didn’t finish it until after we parted. River made me sad, because it chronicled the end of our relationship, but also elated, because it was such a beautiful song and she had the courage to bare her soul. We were very much in love. I treasured that relationship.
I remember leaving the house to give her the space to finish My Old Man. I’m sad that it’s about me again, but it’s so brilliant. Like the song suggests, I asked her to marry me but I think she thought I wanted a “wife” to cook meals and so on, which was never my intention. I wanted her to be as free as possible, to be as brilliant as possible. She’s an amazing woman. I’m proud to have been a part of her life. In 100 years’ time, people will remember the Beatles, Bob Dylan and Joni.

[BeamBalance]

This is my Christmas mood every year, but especially this year.
Nothing feels right anymore.

[jacklawrence]

One of the most beautiful songs ever written, sung by one of the most beautiful, melancholy voices ever. It's as simple as that.

[ericzander]

In 1979 Mitchell reflected, "The Blue album, there's hardly a dishonest note in the vocals. At that period of my life, I had no personal defenses. I felt like a cellophane wrapper on a pack of cigarettes. I felt like I had absolutely no secrets from the world and I couldn't pretend in my life to be strong. Or to be happy. But the advantage of it in the music was that there were no defenses there either."

[AjarLobster]

Such a heater track 👍 👌 who's here 70 years later 🤔

[cr-jrnh]

This was my mums favourite song she passed away 9 years today we played this song at her funeral I remember her playing the piano and singing this I miss her so very much

[umpireva]

Played this for a bunch 19-22 year old soldiers in Afghanistan mountains Christmas 2012. Everyone one of them was crying like babies. Powerful song!!!!

[상식의배반]

This is the first time iv heard Joni michel's.
Am I lucky enough?
From korea.

[rileyrourke]

born in 93 here. One of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard in my life.

[marvinm.messier]

2020 is a year we can skate away from....

[stregadisalem]

Didn’t have to watch a movie to come here.

[waakkeuppp]

It's coming on Christmas
They're cutting down trees
They're putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace
Oh I wish I had a river I could skate away on

But it don't snow here
It stays pretty green
I'm going to make a lot of money
Then I'm going to quit this crazy scene
Oh I wish I had a river I could skate away on

I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to fly
I wish I had a river I could skate away on
I made my baby cry

He tried hard to help me
You know, he put me at ease
And he loved me so naughty
Made me weak in the knees
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on

I'm so hard to handle
I'm selfish and I'm sad
Now I've gone and lost the best baby
That I ever had
I wish I had a river I could skate away on

Oh, I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to fly
I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I made my baby say goodbye

It's coming on Christmas
They're cutting down trees
They're putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace
Oh I wish I had a river I could skate away on

[MichaelBaker-izqd]

One of the Greatest songs ever written! The most Beautiful, Bittersweet, Love Ballad, I have ever heard.

[lindahuff]

This album "Blue" should be heard for everyone at least once. Stripped bare and full of pain, but beautiful.