From: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org (JMDL Digest) To: joni-digest@smoe.org Subject: JMDL Digest V2012 #211 Reply-To: joni@smoe.org Sender: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk Unsubscribe:mailto:joni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe Website:http://jonimitchell.com JMDL Digest Wednesday, February 15 2012 Volume 2012 : Number 211 ========== TOPICS and authors in this Digest: -------- Re: Nathan [Catherine McKay ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 15 Feb 2012 11:34:53 -0800 (PST) From: Catherine McKay Subject: Re: Nathan I have definitely met people like Nathan, (in fact, sometimes I AM Nathan), and I agree with you that it is a very good song indeed, for the reasons you've mentioned. It shows up as the last track on side one of the LP, (the "I came to the city" side) and grouchy old stressed-out-by-city Nathan is, in fact, helping Joni out by taking her out of the city, "from confusion to the plane," a plane which undoubtedly will take her out of the "ghostly garden" of the city, to where "the sky goes on forever without meter maids and peace parades." Pirate of Penance, on t'other hand, has always sounded out of place to me. As well, it comes across as a bit precious, like maybe something she wrote in her younger and more naive days, but thinking grandiosely, no doubt with "The Pirates of Penzance" in the back of her mind, since it is a bit of a mini-operetta. >________________________________ > From: Robert Sartorius >To: joni@smoe.org; onlyjoni-digest@smoe.org >Cc: Bob Muller >Sent: Wednesday, February 15, 2012 10:38:46 AM >Subject: RE: Nathan > >Bob M replied to Betsy: > >"I get 2/3 of that...I've not heard HER do Midnight Cowboy, just Donal >Leace, >and it's nothing to write home about. Pirate of Penance is also really >terrible and doesn't belong on her first record when she had so many better >songs. She should have canned Nathan La Franeer as well, come to think of >it. > >But Chelsea Morning - I adore that one, those opening chords are just like >throwing open the blinds and letting in the rays of a beautiful new day. It >always makes me feel good." > >I 100% concur with Pirate of Penance. It does not fit the theme of the >album, which otherwise paints realistic portraits of life (in the city, and >by the seashore). Also, the musical style is Palinish to my ears. > >I also agree about Midnight Cowboy, which I have listened to only once (a >deliberate number) and Chelsea Morning (which I have played and sung on my >guitar many times - especially in the morning - as a "pick me up"). > >However, I am afraid that I must demur re Nathan. I love the lyrics of that >song, which fit well on the "I Came To The City" side. (The editor in me has >always changed the word "I'll" in line 4 to "we'll", and dislikes the >duplication of the phrase "shared a common space", but I digress.) Have you >ever met Nathan? I have. And having lived in NYC for a couple of years >during my early 20s, I can relate pretty strongly to the feelings expressed >on all 5 songs of side one. Moreover, Nathan serves as the transition, >taking her out of the city and down to the seaside (by way of the tunnel). > >Here's what tickles me: > >The alliteration (I would not be surprised if it turned out that this was >the song that "inspired" Helplessly Hoping.) Taking the cake were the lines > >With gangs and girly shows >The ghostly garden grows > >But others are not far behind > >crawled the canyons >tunnels tiled and turning >Burglar bells and wishing wells >Meter maids and peace parades > >Tickling phrases > >I hired a coach >Eyebrows furrowed >Grumbled at the grey >Through the tunnels tiled and turning into daylight (I love that line) >Filled it full of silver >Left the fingers counting > >And the whole last verse gets me - especially the way that she pans out near >the end to the endless (and empty) sky from the specific (and crowded) >scenes she leaves. > >He asked me for a dollar more >He cursed me to my face >He hated everyone who paid to ride >And share his common space >I picked my bags up from the curb >And stumbled to the door >Another man reached out his hand >Another hand reached out for more >And I filled it full of silver >And I left the fingers counting >And the sky goes on forever >Without meter maids and peace parades > > >Finally, the litmus test for me - I really have enjoyed playing and singing >this song over the years. It's just not in the same class as Pirate of >Penance. > >True, Joni had some "better songs" that she could have used on her first >record. But that record was a thematic one - and those other songs wouldn't >have fit the art she envisioned. (And I love the way Cactus Tree ties the >two sides together - the man who's been out sailing who takes her to his >schooner, and the lady in the city who thinks she loves them all). > >Bobsart ------------------------------ End of JMDL Digest V2012 #211 ***************************** ------- To post messages to the list, send tojoni@smoe.org. Unsubscribe by clicking here: mailto:joni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe -------