I never thought it had anything to do with crows--- I have always thought it was about a young man's struggle with post traumatic syndrome-- coming back from the war --- the beat of black wings is the sound of the helicopters so loud in his ears,,,,,,,"I cant even hear the F*cking music ,,,,, they train you to hunt they train you to kill,,, keep the drinks coming girl til I cant feel a thing,,,, this is a vet dealing with post war life--also tea leaf prophecy is classic--Joni is a genius
I agree Flowerbombalicious. For whatever reason, I tend to favor matured voices and I like Joni's sound more in her later work. I don't know what it is. I guess I like the deep resonance.
Joni has seemed to identify with crows -- she said so overtly in "black crow" from the hejira album, & where the cover art showed her as a crow-like (or sybil-like) figure with black garments streaming behind - though crows congregate in flocks (or "murders", the old term), unlike Joni, who has always preferred to travel alone -
I agree with loveisfree4all. Janet took this song to another level... With her angelic sounding voice, it made this song sound more inspirational and just overall better. Joni didn't do bad though of course. I mean, she did create this song. props for her :)
@MrZELIG9 LOL. Pop star devotees say funny things. This Madonna fanatic who I went road-tripping with one time basically said the same thing about Madonna's cover of American Pie while we were listening to it. Just how it is in the pop realm. I like Janet, btw. Rhythm Nation has some amazing work on it! But... yeah. Haha!
@loveisfree4all Janet's version is almost a carbon copy of this one. I gotta disagree with you. Basically if you like Janet's voice more than Joni's you'll favor her version, but the music arrangement is nearly identical.
Wonderful song from what I think was, sadly, her last really great album (Chalk Mark in a Rainstorm, named from a lyric in this track). 'Lakota', about land-grabs from native American Indians ("we have seen the trampled rainbows in the smoke of cars") was another great one.
"Chalk Mark" (1988) was and remains a very good album, but I would rank the next one "Night Ride Home" (1991) higher.
Not because it marked a return to her folk roots necessarily, but because of the quality of the songwriting. Have you checked it out? I'd rate the title track and Slouching Towards Bethlehem among her greatest songs.
Possibly some of the most moving lyrics she ever has written. What a poet, what a muse... even if the concept was not hers, she turned it into a painting.
I found the video for this song on an old VHS tape. I would love to post it but don't know the best way to get it on here... It shows JM introducing the song and where it came from. Quite unique.
Funny how there are 3 comments in 3 days when the video was posted 2.5 years ago. I bought this LP new as a mild fan of her music and sold it ten years ago. Then I found it in a used book store a few days ago and bought it again. I only appreciated Joni Mitchell after buying Blue a few years ago, which I got since it was the top ranked album by a female on The Rolling Stone's top 500 albums. I listened to Blue a few times before I liked it and now agree it's one of the top albums ever.
This album was the album that blew me away, her songs on this album were excellently done and they really helped me to re connect with her views that her and I share.
It's a very good book - written a long time ago - Le'Carre is a brilliant author, (tinker,Tailor,Spy is a masterpiece)...and Joni definitely does it credit..thanks for the info...about the song!
with Hopkins as his "control" and gets drunk. He then tries to pick up 2 girls sitting at a nearby table. One tells him in a hippy-type response that she "sees black wings beating all around him."
He stumbles out and and passes a bohemian looking guy sitting in the street literally "drawing pictures on the sidewalk with chalk." The guy asks for money as "Kyle" walks away.
Blockbuster rents the movie for those who might care.
The song is acyually about a 1962 movie called "The Looking Glass War" from a John LeCarre book of the same title.
In the movie (which stars Anthony Hopkins in an early roll) there is a scene where a young eastern european soldier is recruited by the british to spy on e germany. He goes to see his girlfriend after getting trained in London and discovers she has had an abortion of their baby. He storms out (after hitting her) and goes to a Pub where he sits cont.
I love the "Johnny Angel" chorus. She wasn't trying to be funny, but it comes across unintentially humorous. She's harking back to the early 60's when this must have happened. At least "Chalk Mark" and "Dog Eat Dog" show some passion.
I'd given up on Joni many years ago, thinking she only did 'soft folk'. Some years later I heard this song on the radio and it just blew my mind. Since then I love her and anything she ever did. This record in particular, I've worn it off. There's absolutely no one like her.
In reply to a little bit below, Joni was the first to say the 'F' word on an album release back in 1971, or right around then, in the lyrics of 'Woman of Heart and Mind.'
The song's about the aftermath of an abortion
eddierondack 5 days ago
I never thought it had anything to do with crows--- I have always thought it was about a young man's struggle with post traumatic syndrome-- coming back from the war --- the beat of black wings is the sound of the helicopters so loud in his ears,,,,,,,"I cant even hear the F*cking music ,,,,, they train you to hunt they train you to kill,,, keep the drinks coming girl til I cant feel a thing,,,, this is a vet dealing with post war life--also tea leaf prophecy is classic--Joni is a genius
jrmrinaz 1 month ago
@jrmrinaz it's about the aftermath of an abortion
eddierondack 5 days ago
I agree Flowerbombalicious. For whatever reason, I tend to favor matured voices and I like Joni's sound more in her later work. I don't know what it is. I guess I like the deep resonance.
AleekahTV 2 months ago
Joni has seemed to identify with crows -- she said so overtly in "black crow" from the hejira album, & where the cover art showed her as a crow-like (or sybil-like) figure with black garments streaming behind - though crows congregate in flocks (or "murders", the old term), unlike Joni, who has always preferred to travel alone -
SupernalOne 2 months ago
joni said so herself that out of all of the remakes she has heard, janets was her favorites......so i dont get all the hate towards janet......
jeminijemini 3 months ago 3
A great album and totally underappreciated. This cut and Number One are my favorites, but it's all good.
47barolo 3 months ago
we're not listening to Joni doing Janet Jackson songs...
chefykeystone 4 months ago 2
I agree with loveisfree4all. Janet took this song to another level... With her angelic sounding voice, it made this song sound more inspirational and just overall better. Joni didn't do bad though of course. I mean, she did create this song. props for her :)
Dadsgirl240 6 months ago
Janet Jackson took it to another level?!? Put the mouse down...and step away from the keyboard
MrZELIG9 6 months ago
@MrZELIG9 LOL. Pop star devotees say funny things. This Madonna fanatic who I went road-tripping with one time basically said the same thing about Madonna's cover of American Pie while we were listening to it. Just how it is in the pop realm. I like Janet, btw. Rhythm Nation has some amazing work on it! But... yeah. Haha!
madsketcher 4 months ago
Janet Jackson did a great job on her remake of this song. Prior to that, I'd never heard of it. Very nice song.
juantee06 6 months ago 3
omggg bananas. Janet and Joni! great talent
bribrialltheway98 6 months ago 2
thanks to Janet Jackson's version, im realy starting to love thios song!
michaeljacbabe15 6 months ago 5
Love this version! Heard Janet Jackson's version last night for the first time and I think she took the song to another level.
loveisfree4all 6 months ago 18
@loveisfree4all It was probably a lower level.
HatManAtLarge 4 months ago
@loveisfree4all Janet's version is almost a carbon copy of this one. I gotta disagree with you. Basically if you like Janet's voice more than Joni's you'll favor her version, but the music arrangement is nearly identical.
jmillzz2 1 month ago
I'm really liking this song and the Janet Jackson cover is to thank. So many layers to this song.
demarcus21 6 months ago 2
sorry to troll but does anyone want to tell me what JM's best dance tracks are?
veuvecliquot 7 months ago
I really like this song!
zemkam1951 8 months ago
I understand it is Ben Orr singing the background track!
zemkam1951 8 months ago
AORUUUU!
Thanx a lot!
mujersemilla 9 months ago
Is that Benjamin Orr background voice too
13candyo 9 months ago
huge huge fan. every track on this album is a gem
foodieclub 9 months ago
Wonderful song from what I think was, sadly, her last really great album (Chalk Mark in a Rainstorm, named from a lyric in this track). 'Lakota', about land-grabs from native American Indians ("we have seen the trampled rainbows in the smoke of cars") was another great one.
Suliantv 11 months ago
@Suliantv
"Chalk Mark" (1988) was and remains a very good album, but I would rank the next one "Night Ride Home" (1991) higher.
Not because it marked a return to her folk roots necessarily, but because of the quality of the songwriting. Have you checked it out? I'd rate the title track and Slouching Towards Bethlehem among her greatest songs.
Best-
kyraaxoxoable 10 months ago
Possibly some of the most moving lyrics she ever has written. What a poet, what a muse... even if the concept was not hers, she turned it into a painting.
artistkeith3 11 months ago
I found the video for this song on an old VHS tape. I would love to post it but don't know the best way to get it on here... It shows JM introducing the song and where it came from. Quite unique.
ytcarol 1 year ago
Comment removed
ytcarol 1 year ago
Love it. Strange how I prefer her voice now that it's deeper. I realize it's due to her age and cigarettes, but it's so soulful and rich.
Flowerbombalicious 1 year ago 9
Funny how there are 3 comments in 3 days when the video was posted 2.5 years ago. I bought this LP new as a mild fan of her music and sold it ten years ago. Then I found it in a used book store a few days ago and bought it again. I only appreciated Joni Mitchell after buying Blue a few years ago, which I got since it was the top ranked album by a female on The Rolling Stone's top 500 albums. I listened to Blue a few times before I liked it and now agree it's one of the top albums ever.
Sparco41e 1 year ago 2
Brilliant album from the true master that is Joni.
FlashFace 1 year ago
This album was the album that blew me away, her songs on this album were excellently done and they really helped me to re connect with her views that her and I share.
AcousticPhases 1 year ago
my all time fav. song by Joni.........
chefykeystone 1 year ago
It's a very good book - written a long time ago - Le'Carre is a brilliant author, (tinker,Tailor,Spy is a masterpiece)...and Joni definitely does it credit..thanks for the info...about the song!
farsajjj 1 year ago
with Hopkins as his "control" and gets drunk. He then tries to pick up 2 girls sitting at a nearby table. One tells him in a hippy-type response that she "sees black wings beating all around him."
He stumbles out and and passes a bohemian looking guy sitting in the street literally "drawing pictures on the sidewalk with chalk." The guy asks for money as "Kyle" walks away.
Blockbuster rents the movie for those who might care.
PS: I agree, GREAT song.
stimpyz1 1 year ago
The song is acyually about a 1962 movie called "The Looking Glass War" from a John LeCarre book of the same title.
In the movie (which stars Anthony Hopkins in an early roll) there is a scene where a young eastern european soldier is recruited by the british to spy on e germany. He goes to see his girlfriend after getting trained in London and discovers she has had an abortion of their baby. He storms out (after hitting her) and goes to a Pub where he sits cont.
stimpyz1 1 year ago
ENJOY MY ART.
PUBSHAMROCKS 1 year ago
best song ever
chefykeystone 1 year ago
Janet Jackson remade this for a Joni Mitchell Tribute album.
knmlover 1 year ago
I love the "Johnny Angel" chorus. She wasn't trying to be funny, but it comes across unintentially humorous. She's harking back to the early 60's when this must have happened. At least "Chalk Mark" and "Dog Eat Dog" show some passion.
ghanick 2 years ago
'Keep the drinks coming Girl, 'till I can't feel anything'
Great lyric!
eleanormcstone 2 years ago
I'd given up on Joni many years ago, thinking she only did 'soft folk'. Some years later I heard this song on the radio and it just blew my mind. Since then I love her and anything she ever did. This record in particular, I've worn it off. There's absolutely no one like her.
cambiarmivida 2 years ago
In reply to a little bit below, Joni was the first to say the 'F' word on an album release back in 1971, or right around then, in the lyrics of 'Woman of Heart and Mind.'
ArkadyRenkovich 2 years ago
One of her best
nicck 2 years ago
It tripped me out the first time I realized she said the "F" word in this song! LOL I tripped out over it and laughed later. :)
tall32guy 3 years ago