Joni Mitchell: The Complete Poems and Lyrics

by Joni Mitchell

In the generation of singer-songwriters who came to fame in the '60s, none has had more impact--or created a more evocative, bittersweet, literate, and reflective body of work--than Joni Mitchell. Today's music owes much to her innovation and inspiration. This complete collection of her poetry and song lyrics reads like a poem cycle that finds unexpected meaning and beauty on the page.

After displaying a haunting and sophisticated quality in her first albums, Joni Mitchell (1968), Clouds (1969), Ladies of the Canyon (1970), and Blue (1972), Mitchell reached her poetic apotheosis in the surreal and mythical Hejira (1976) and Don Juan's Reckless Daughter (1977). During the '80s, Mitchell used her words to explore and mirror the commercial energy of the decade. She became more reflective in the following years with Night Ride Home (1991) and Turbulent Indigo (1994). Mitchell continues to grow her already remarkable talent, as is evident with her latest work, Taming the Tiger (1998).

The importance of Mitchell's entire oeuvre is unequivocal when seen as a lifetime of accomplished writing. As epic poet and tragedian, the power and honesty of her voice has inspired generations past and those to come. Joni The Complete Poems and Lyrics gives us the first opportunity to reconsider Mitchell's written work and her exalted place among the great poets and lyricists of our time.

This paperback edition includes the lyrics to Joni Mitchell's new album, Taming the Tiger, as well as an index for easy access to all titles.

Genres: Poetry, Music, Nonfiction, Canada

341 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Joni Mitchell, CC is a reknowned Canadian musician, songwriter, and painter.

Reviews

[Manny]

We visited Paradise the other day and found Joni was right. They really have paved it over and put up a parking lot.

[Flora]

I don't care if the later albums (except for "Turbulent Indigo") are crap. Bob Dylan -- the most overrated songwriter of all time -- has stolen her title as the best lyricist in popular music. Joni Mitchell is a brilliant writer, and that's all there is to it. If you need convincing, listen to and read the lyrics of the "Hejira" and "The Hissing of Summer Lawns" albums, and go from there to "Court and Spark" and "Don Juan's Reckless Daughter." Transcendent.

[Evan]

I saw a documentary recently on the life and career of Joni Mitchell, and my admiration for her soared. Of course her music has been part of my life---variously---for nearly 50 years. It's refreshing to read the lyrics on the page, surrounded by appropriate and respectful amounts of white space to set them off. To craft a song that stands alone as a first-rate poem in its own right is impressive. This book is full of those.

I give Mitchell pretty wide latitude. I even love those jazz fusion albums she did in the mid and late '70s. Just love those. They sound great and anyone who says otherwise needs to lay down the 'tard juice. Sorry, I get defensive, perhaps inappropriately.

[Victoria]

favorite activity: listening to joni while reading along and finding lyrics that are different in the song/book. Also just reading along and pausing it to underline a lyric that strikes me.

[Charlie]

I would give my left thumb to have my own copy of this book.

[Leo]

They just hate to see a female genius.
5,00

[Bee]

I grew up listening to my parents' folk music -- Simon & Garfunkel, The Mamas and the Papas, Joan Baez, Judy Collins; these were all in heavy rotation on our record player. Strangely, neither of my parents were Joni Mitchell fans so I didn't discover her until I was an adult. Her album 'Blue' changed my life. Before Joni, I was pretty much convinced that no one could write music like Bob Dylan, and while I'm not in agreement with the reviewer below that said she was better than Dylan, I definitely think she gives him a run for his money. That's the highest praise in my book. I found this 'Complete Poems and Lyrics' in my town's used bookstore and snatched it up greedily. I once wrote rather self-indulgently in my journal that I would want Joni Mitchell to write my life story, and that still holds true.

[Janee]

This was a Christmas gift from my husband many years ago, probably 1998 or 1999 - read in its entirety right away, and cherished ever since. I was reminded of this book when a friend recommended the Joni bio she'd just read, and when a recent Facebook post of old performance popped up - one I just had to share. Joni was the first pop icon I idolized, whose songs I memorized, and tried to replicate with my guitar. She'll always hold a spot in my heart.

[Linda Lipko]

In my opinion, there is no one comparable to the artistry of this wonderful, creative, artistic and talented lady! If you, like me, appreciate her poems and songs and the incredible manner in which she paints an image, then this is a book you will love.

As I write, I'm humming the a few of the words to some of her poems which are of the lessor known variety, they spin round and round in my head like a circle game.

The Midway

I met you on a midway at a fair last year
And you stood out like a ruby in a black man's ear
You were betting on the numbers
You were shaking up the dice
and I thought I saw you cheating once or twice

----------------------------------------
Urge For Going
I awoke today and found
the frost perched on the town
It hovered in a frozen sky
then it gobbled summer down
When the sun turns traitor cold
and all the trees are shivering in a naked row

I get the urge for going
But I never seem to go
I get the urge for going
When the meadow grass is turning brown
Summertime is falling down and winter is closing in

----------------------
The Hissing of Summer Lawns
He put up a barbed wire fence
To keep out the unknown
And on every metal thorn
Just a little blood of his own
She patrols that fence of his
To a latin drum
And the hissing of summer lawns

[Diane]

I've been on a Joni Mitchell kick since reading the Yaffe biography and went back to re-read this great book of her "complete" poems and lyrics. I put that in quotes because it was published in 1997 and only covers her work through the Turbulent Indigo album. There have been other great lyrics since then. This covers her iconic work in the 1970's from Blue and Court and Spark and Ladies of the Canyon. Then it moves to the 1980's when Mitchell and many of the other singer-songwriters struggled to find their place. I loved some of her later jazz work although sometimes the cocaine-induced lyrics are a bit messy and vague. The book ends with Turbulent Indigo....an album I loved the more I listened to it. Mitchell is a genius. Not always an easy genius, but a true lyricist. I'd recommend the Yaffe book but also the terrific interview (online I'm sure ) with Jian Ghomeshi.

[Lbaker]

A beautiful book full of beautiful words.

Joni Mitchell's poems and lyrics resonate with me, and obviously with many other people or she would not have the career that she has had.

[Marius van Blerck]

Joni Mitchell! A wonderful singer and poet. Just wonderful. I'm thinking of you ...

[Herman brown]

i got this before ever listening to her. she's humbling. i was scared to listen... then i almost cried the first time i heard a case of you.

[Ezra]

Joni, my beloved, thank you for your music. I am so devastated that my journey with this collection of your lyrics has come to an end. Your words mean so much to me. I loved every night that I would spin your records and read each word of this book as you sang. Hejira is undoubtedly the one that captured me the most and I can’t imagine my life without it.

Joni gets a lot of shit for her newer stuff. Her mid to late 70s stuff got a lot of pushback but it’s my favorite era of hers. Her 80s, 90s, and 00s works aren’t even brought up, a genuine crime. Her unapologetic nature and refusal to do anything everybody expected her to do makes these expressions so pure and real. Joni couldn’t do anything other than stick to her vision and her interests. I’m so so so grateful that we’re currently living in a Joni Renaissance and that I just get to love all of these songs that she has given us for free. Joni forever and always <3

[Adam Carrico]

Joni Mitchell is one of the greatest lyricists of all time. This book is obviously perfect.

[Alex Jiménez]

Joni the GOAT

[Kirby]

Joni is a lyrical genius. Reading some of my favorite songs in poem form gave them a whole new feel, reading things I hadn't read before was like finding something I had thought was lost forever. Wonderful.

[Lesley]

A source of inspiration.

[Courtney Dantzler]

i keep her words so close to me.

[Shannon]

The greatest musician and lyricist of the 20th century. My life's personal hero and obsession. A treasure and jewel on my bookshelf.

[Dozy Pilchard]

Stunning work. Beautiful.

[Silvio111]

Beautiful.