Joni Mitchell - Both Sides Now

ER sent me this song. He is right, it is beautiful.
It is one of Joni Mitchell's best known songs, written in March 1967, inspired by a passage in Henderson the Rain King by Saul Bellow.
In addition to Mitchell's own recording of the song, Judy Collins recorded it in 1967 (shortly after Mitchell wrote it); Collins' version reached the top ten on the U.S. pop singles charts and won a 1968 Grammy Award for Best Folk Performance. Rolling Stone ranked it #170 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Bows and flows of angel hair and ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere, i've looked at cloud 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 illusions i recall.
I really don't know clouds at all.

Moons and junes and ferris wheels, the dizzy dancing way 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.
But now old friends are acting strange, they shake their heads, they say
I've changed.
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.