Tuesday, December 09, 2014

Carey by Joni Mitchell

The wind is in from Africa
Last night I couldn't sleep
Oh, you know it sure is hard to leave here Carey
But it's really not my home
My fingernails are filthy, I got beach tar on my feet
And I miss my clean white linen and my fancy French cologne

Oh Carey get out your cane
And I'll put on some silver
Oh you're a mean old Daddy, but I like you fine

Come on down to the Mermaid Cafe and I will buy you a bottle of wine
And we'll laugh and toast to nothing and smash our empty glasses down
Let's have a round for these freaks and these soldiers
A round for these friends of mine
Let's have another round for the bright red devil
Who keeps me in this tourist town

Come on, Carey, get out your cane
I'll put on some silver
Oh you're a mean old Daddy, but I like you

Maybe I'll go to Amsterdam
Or maybe I'll go to Rome
And rent me a grand piano and put some flowers 'round my room
But let's not talk about fare-thee-wells now
The night is a starry dome.
And they're playin' that scratchy rock and roll
Beneath the Matalla Moon

Come on, Carey, get out your cane
And I'll put on some silver
You're a mean old Daddy, but I like you

The wind is in from Africa
Last night I couldn't sleep
Oh, you know it sure is hard to leave here
But, it's really not my home
Maybe it's been too long a time
Since I was scramblin' down in the street
Now they got me used to that clean white linen
And that fancy French cologne

Oh Carey, get out your cane
I'll put on my finest silver
We'll go to the Mermaid Cafe
Have fun tonight
I said, Oh, you're a mean old Daddy, but you're out of sight 

LADY WHO IS STILL GOING STRONG AT AGE 71

3 comments:

Aaron said...

The wind is in from africa. A very inspired way to set the stage for this song. I'm not a huge joni Mitchel fan but I am amazed at her two albums blue and hijera. Even though the music and songs aren't my cup of tea I love listening to them. I think it's because she is clearly writing these songs from a place of pure connected inspiration it's clear that she just recorded the music and poetry that was flowing through her with no intention of selling music. And that is the kind of presence that is very attractive. This song is about a chick on trip who met some dude and they are spending time together for a while. No big thing. Not very interesting. But the way she expresses everything opens up for people to be able to relate to it in some way. I could say more but I can't cuz I have to take archer to school.

Pirate Aggro said...

What school could Archer be going to at two years old? Yes its a very poetic song. and it is indeed about a dude she met while traveling.

Aaron said...

He is 3 you ass