 Blue (1971) [ larger cover art ] |
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Musicbrainz DBThe 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've 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
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, and I'll put on some silver
Oh, you're a mean old daddy but I like you, I like you, I like you, 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 playing that scratchy rock 'n' roll beneath the Matalla moon
Come on Carey, get out your cane and I'll put on some silver
Oh, 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 scrambling down in the streets
Now they got me used to that clean white linen and that fancy French cologne
Oh Carey get out your cane and 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 outta sight
| gjeeg (Syracuse, New York) | Posted: Mar 25, 2013 - 15:40 Second only to For the Roses!! Rick_V wrote: Blue is certainly one of the greatest albums of the last 40 years. Every true music lover should own it. |
| Diamond_Dog (Round Equatorial Pound) | Posted: Feb 22, 2013 - 04:56 " I Like You " |
| iTuner | Posted: Dec 21, 2012 - 13:19 avidfan wrote: Joni at her very best! Sadly, I can't stand Joni, so this earned a 2 from me. There must be something there since everyone loves her so much, I just don't get it. She constantly reminds me of Phoebe on Friends singing the "Smelly Cat" song in the cafe. Very well said. |
| mrtuba9 (most likely near Normal) | Posted: Sep 18, 2012 - 07:12 Reminds me of Catey :^) |
| Randomax (Wimberley, TX) | Posted: Jul 17, 2012 - 09:13 jools wrote: More likely Crete where she spent a lot of time in 1970s Thus the winds blowing over from Africa |
| jools (Brighton UK) | Posted: Apr 13, 2012 - 06:53 Alexandra wrote: Between the "I've got beach tar on my feet" and "this resort town" it sounds like she's talking about Santa Barbara.  More likely Crete where she spent a lot of time in 1970s |
| CCinSB (the west coast) | Posted: Mar 12, 2012 - 15:38 Alexandra wrote: Between the "I've got beach tar on my feet" and "this resort town" it sounds like she's talking about Santa Barbara.  |
| madebytim (Denmark) | Posted: Sep 04, 2011 - 14:44 Amazing singer... amazing guitarist as well |
| Alexandra (Here and Now) | Posted: Aug 04, 2011 - 04:56 Between the "I've got beach tar on my feet" and "this resort town" it sounds like she's talking about Santa Barbara. |
| Proclivities (Carrboro, NC) | Posted: Jul 03, 2011 - 19:48 myersei wrote: i've always hated joni mitchell.....but i think i'm finally coming out of the closet. i dig this one. i've had a theory for a while that one cannot simultaneously like joni mitchell and leonard cohen. the more i think about my new found liking of ms. mitchell, mr. cohen seems to grab me less. whats happening to me????? You might be too young to know the Joni Mitchell thing. Joni and Leonard are apparently friends - fellow Canadians and all that. |
| lily34 (lexvegas) | Posted: Jul 03, 2011 - 19:45 beautiful. one of my favs of hers. |
| rajah53 | Posted: May 01, 2011 - 15:10 And yet is rated 7+. Good stuff that stands the test of time. Not for everyone, but that doesn't make it bad music. Try the Mingus tribute album for something completely different. |
| myersei (Denver, CO) | Posted: Mar 30, 2011 - 23:52 i've always hated joni mitchell.....but i think i'm finally coming out of the closet. i dig this one. i've had a theory for a while that one cannot simultaneously like joni mitchell and leonard cohen. the more i think about my new found liking of ms. mitchell, mr. cohen seems to grab me less. whats happening to me????? |
| lily34 (lexvegas) | Posted: Jan 27, 2011 - 06:05 i love this song |
| sirdroseph (Yes) | Posted: Jan 27, 2011 - 06:00 GuiltyFeat wrote: This defines "ho-hum" for me. I don't know what I'm doing wrong. Everything is fine, you just have good taste!  |
| sirdroseph (Yes) | Posted: Jan 27, 2011 - 06:00 Dillinquent wrote: Everyone is entitled to express their opinion even if you don't agree with them. It's called diversity. Thank you! I despise Joni Mitchell, always have and that is my opinion in this country of free speech.  |
| GuiltyFeat (Ra'anana) | Posted: Jan 27, 2011 - 05:56 This defines "ho-hum" for me. I don't know what I'm doing wrong. |
| nigelr (Coffs Harbour, Australia) | Posted: Oct 08, 2010 - 22:52 Stone cold genius, hard to find peers for Joni such is her plethora of talents. And this one of her finest songs and albums, what a time to turn on RP for the day! Check out her early stuff from the Oscar Brandt days on the 'tube........ |
| Alpine (N39d39mW121d30m) | Posted: Sep 22, 2010 - 20:37 MORE JONI! MORE JONI! MORE JONI! MORE JONI! MORE JONI! MORE JONI! MORE JONI! MORE JONI! MORE JONI! MORE JONI! MORE JONI! MORE JONI! MORE JONI! MORE JONI! MORE JONI! MORE JONI! MORE JONI! MORE JONI! MORE JONI! MORE JONI! MORE JONI! |
| Jeff09 (Gainesville, Florida) | Posted: Sep 22, 2010 - 20:36 jools wrote: As I think I have said before - this is poetry set to music - that first couple of lines sends shivers down my spine. It beautiful and sad, yet optimistic...love it. thank you...that's it... |
| Dillinquent (Hertford, UK) | Posted: Jun 03, 2010 - 05:01 GeoCat wrote: To all you HATERS: why bother posting your negative comments? You all are pathetic. Everyone is entitled to express their opinion even if you don't agree with them. It's called diversity. |
| jools (Brighton UK) | Posted: May 18, 2010 - 05:29 As I think I have said before - this is poetry set to music - that first couple of lines sends shivers down my spine. It beautiful and sad, yet optimistic...love it. |
| patmvcr | Posted: Mar 31, 2010 - 20:42 BLUE was the first album I ever bought... wore the vinyl through.... an early fling of mine sent me a postcard from Matella.. and unceremoniously dumped me when he got back! the BASTARD! |
| heliootoni (Minas Gerais, Brazil) | Posted: Feb 28, 2010 - 05:35 Nice!!! |
| Felix_The_Cat (Buenos Aires, Argentina) | Posted: Feb 12, 2010 - 06:46 Just by listening to some parts of the vocals I could swear this is a Kate Bush tune... |
| Mandible | Posted: Feb 12, 2010 - 06:41 This song makes me so happy! |
| osbyec | Posted: Feb 12, 2010 - 06:39 I fell in love with Joni and this album this year. I've been listening to this song a lot lately, too. 8—>9 |
| Rick_V (New Orleans) | Posted: Jan 11, 2010 - 20:09 Blue is certainly one of the greatest albums of the last 40 years. Every true music lover should own it. |
| thondermonst (Antwerpen, Belgium) | Posted: Dec 27, 2009 - 08:03 Thanks for playing this one. I have fond memories of a holiday in Matala. Love to go back... |
| (former member) (hotel in Las Vegas) | Posted: Dec 27, 2009 - 07:57 love it... |
| azactive | Posted: Dec 11, 2009 - 11:27 I beg you to avoid this song in the company of alternative like Death Cab or the like. I'm in my early 40's so that could be the reason but its awful to hear in general but more so against a different era such as the 90"s Alternative/Indie's its painful—I turn the station off and listen to something else. sorry. |
| onomasticator (London, England) | Posted: Oct 25, 2009 - 12:23 I was eight years old when this came out - powerful nostalgia for another era. Her voice evokes so much more than others' . . . whatever you think of her. |
| rluking (Underground) | Posted: Oct 09, 2009 - 13:09 Joni is capable of writing some really crappy songs. This isn't one of them, but one damned fine song. |
| SanFranGayMan (San Francisco) | Posted: Sep 23, 2009 - 22:51 Proclivities wrote: This song is quite melodic and harmonious, unlike some of hers. She has always tended to deviate from "standard" chord structures as well as "straight" 4/4 time, which seems to trouble a lot of listeners - well that, and of course, her voice. I like this song however. This comment just goes to show how much depth there is in music appreciation. I don't even understand the conversation about "straight" 4/4, but all I know is I have always enjoyed her. Needless to say, so more than others. But hey, this IS the artist sharing her soul with us, and like Joni, we all have so many different sides to ourselves and she shows us all hers. Someone may appreciate the musicality, others, like me, appreciate her lyrics and relevance to time and space when she creates her music—and the quirkiness of it. Which brings us back to why we are all here at Radio Paradise—I have discovered so much music I would have never found otherwise. And so, many of my friends. Baby Jepus approves, I'm sure! |
| Sloggydog (UK) | Posted: Sep 23, 2009 - 22:42 What an amazing album...such a shame it was introduced to me by a friend with whom things never worked out. Tends to make me a bit sad but i still listen to it and remember arguing about the song i could drink a case of you and whether it was a compliment or a sledge. |
| Proclivities (Carrboro, NC) | Posted: Aug 07, 2009 - 12:07 tompoll wrote: I'll use a different term — vehemently dislike — but I'm in the same boat. I never understood why I didn't like her stuff until I read the book by Daniel Levitin called "This Is Your Brain on Music." She defies standard chord and harmony conventions in her music. Respect, admiration, but still vehement dislike. I guess I like more conventional structure. This song is quite melodic and harmonious, unlike some of hers. She has always tended to deviate from "standard" chord structures as well as "straight" 4/4 time, which seems to trouble a lot of listeners - well that, and of course, her voice. I like this song however. |
| GeoCat | Posted: Aug 07, 2009 - 12:01 To all you HATERS: why bother posting your negative comments? You all are pathetic. |
| Tim_in_N_FL (Florida) | Posted: Aug 07, 2009 - 12:00 avidfan wrote: Joni at her very best! Sadly, I can't stand Joni, so this earned a 2 from me. There must be something there since everyone loves her so much, I just don't get it. She constantly reminds me of Phoebe on Friends singing the "Smelly Cat" song in the cafe. Spot on! Thank you. I too can appreciate an artist's talent and place in pop/folk music history without "liking" their work. Such is my position on Joni's work. |
| wbeaver | Posted: Aug 07, 2009 - 11:59 Even I get annoyed by the high-pitched parts in some of Joni's songs sometimes - but this song, this album, are absolute classic, poetic, and you really learn to appreciate with each revisit. Stands test of time. |
| mirland (Denmark) | Posted: Jun 21, 2009 - 00:58 avidfan wrote: Joni at her very best! Sadly, I can't stand Joni, so this earned a 2 from me. There must be something there since everyone loves her so much, I just don't get it. She constantly reminds me of Phoebe on Friends singing the "Smelly Cat" song in the cafe. So very very true! |
| Bear1492 (West of Boston, East of St. Louis, usually.) | Posted: May 20, 2009 - 07:09 avidfan wrote: Joni at her very best! Sadly, I can't stand Joni, so this earned a 2 from me. There must be something there since everyone loves her so much, I just don't get it. She constantly reminds me of Phoebe on Friends singing the "Smelly Cat" song in the cafe. Well, I can't say that I share the low rating opinion of Joni, but I have to give the "Smelly Cat" comment props! I'll never hear Joni again without thinking of Phoebe.  |
| liser (Rancho Gato) | Posted: May 04, 2009 - 08:23 Love this song - good morning, everybody! |
| avidfan | Posted: Apr 18, 2009 - 16:07 Joni at her very best! Sadly, I can't stand Joni, so this earned a 2 from me. There must be something there since everyone loves her so much, I just don't get it. She constantly reminds me of Phoebe on Friends singing the "Smelly Cat" song in the cafe. |
| LowPhreak (Earth (for now)) | Posted: Apr 18, 2009 - 16:06 Give it up for the master pleease!!  |
| highwindows (Suffolk, UK) | Posted: Mar 18, 2009 - 03:34 Just beautiful dear Joni !! |
| kaybee (Lost in the Wilds of Toronto) | Posted: Mar 02, 2009 - 17:44 This song automatically brings back a lot of memories of my first year living away from my parents. |
| Mari (île de lesvos) | Posted: Mar 02, 2009 - 07:01 74% for hideous, hmm..? Absolutely hideous. |
| mirland (Denmark) | Posted: Mar 02, 2009 - 06:54 Absolutely hideous. |
| jools (Brighton UK) | Posted: Mar 02, 2009 - 06:54 Jungle_Jim wrote: It doesn't get any better. Sod the song - where exactly are you in Brighton? Just curious as there seems to be just the 2 of us..... |
| jools (Brighton UK) | Posted: Mar 02, 2009 - 06:53 I love this track - the lyrics are so poetical and very sad. How much more evocative can you get than that forst line? Magic. |
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