Music Appreciation

maxrandb

(17,561 posts) Tue Jun 23, 2026, 08:51 AM Jun 23

Joni Mitchell "Blue" released 55 years ago

Last edited Tue Jun 23, 2026, 12:00 PM - Edit history (1)

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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
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
Oh, 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
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
Oh, 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
Singing songs of joy and peace
I wish I had a river
I could skate away on

6 replies

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Joni Mitchell "Blue" released 55 years ago (Original Post) maxrandb Jun 23 OP

I think "Blue" was her best album. patphil Jun 23 #1

I'm giving it a spin right now maxrandb Jun 23 #2

Have always loved this album. Martin68 Jun 23 #3

A truly great work of art, but thucythucy Jun 23 #4

You're right. 55 years ago. I fixed it maxrandb Jun 23 #6

When I was playing in clubs, I used to cover this as a medley... NNadir Jun 23 #5

patphil

(9,351 posts)

1. I think "Blue" was her best album.

Reply to maxrandb (Original post)

Tue Jun 23, 2026, 09:26 AM

Jun 23

I particularly liked James Taylor's contribution on several songs. It gave added depth to her music.

maxrandb

(17,561 posts)

2. I'm giving it a spin right now

Reply to patphil (Reply #1)

Tue Jun 23, 2026, 09:30 AM

Jun 23

Not only one of her best, but one of the best LPs ever.

Martin68

(28,328 posts)

3. Have always loved this album.

Reply to maxrandb (Original post)

Tue Jun 23, 2026, 10:05 AM

Jun 23

thucythucy

(9,175 posts)

4. A truly great work of art, but

Reply to maxrandb (Original post)

Tue Jun 23, 2026, 10:20 AM

Jun 23

it was released in 1971. So maybe this is a repost?

Together with "John Lennon Plastic Ono Band" this was a breakthrough in honesty, and self-confessional in the way Life Studies by Robert Lowell, Kaddish by Allen Ginsberg, and Ariel by Sylvia Plath were breakthroughs.

Grateful to them all for their courage in putting so much on the line.

Thanks for posting.

maxrandb

(17,561 posts)

6. You're right. 55 years ago. I fixed it

Reply to thucythucy (Reply #4)

Tue Jun 23, 2026, 12:01 PM

Jun 23

NNadir

(38,898 posts)

5. When I was playing in clubs, I used to cover this as a medley...

Reply to maxrandb (Original post)

Tue Jun 23, 2026, 10:23 AM

Jun 23

...with California Dreaming - a poor rendition built off Jose Feliciano's version- and her Shades of Scarlett Conquering.

I loved that song, River. When I lived in California before I met my future wife, I could really feel and sing it like it mattered in my then unhappy love life.

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