Both Sides Now

Joni Mitchell 是一位加拿大的音樂人和詩人。1968年，她創作了這一首民歌 Both Sides Now，當時成為了流行榜的大熱，今天依然是很多人心裡的經典。由中學時代開始，我已經十分喜愛這首歌。那時，差不多每晚都捱更抵夜收聽Uncle Ray的節目，欣賞到不少經典金曲，這首歌就是當時學會欣賞的。Both Sides Now的歌詞有一種說不出的憂鬱，Mitchell 像在說當人越長大、越了解世事、越了解人與人之間的關係，會越感到無奈，原來自己是多麼的無知。中學時聽它是一種味道，現在聽有更深的體會，這就是一首經典金曲的力量。2000年Joni Mitchell 錄製了Jazz版的 Both Sides Now，更添上了一份滄桑。但兩者比較，我還是喜歡較早期的版本。以下是歌詞：

Rows and flows of angel hair
And ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere,
I've looked at clouds that way.

But now they only block the sun,
They rain and snow on everyone
So many things I would have done,
But clouds got in my way.

I've looked at clouds from both sides now
From up and down and still somehow
It's cloud's illusions I recall
I really don't know clouds at all

Moons and Junes and ferris wheels,
The dizzy dancing way that you feel
As every fairy tale comes real,
I've looked at love that way.

But now it's just another show,
You leave 'em laughing when you go
And if you care, don't let them know,
Don't give yourself away.

I've looked at love from both sides now
From give and take and still somehow
It's love's illusions I recall
I really don't know love at all

Tears and fears and feeling proud,
To say "I love you" right out loud
Dreams and schemes and circus crowds,
I've looked at life that way.

Oh but now old friends they're acting strange,
They shake their heads, they say I've changed
Well something's lost, but something's gained
In living every day.

I've looked at life from both sides now
From win and lose and still somehow
It's life's illusions I recall
I really don't know life at all

I've looked at life from both sides now
From up and down, and still somehow
It's life's illusions I recall
I really don't know life at all