Shadows And Light
Joni Mitchell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And it has some source of light
Blindness, blindness and sight
The perils of benefactors
The blessings of parasites
Blindness, blindness and sight
Threatened by all things
Devil of cruelty
Drawn to all things
Devil of delight
Mythical devil of the ever-present laws
Governing blindness, blindness and sight
Suntans in reservation dining rooms
Pale miners in their lantern rays
Night, night and day
Hostage smiles on presidents
Freedom scribbled in the subway
It's like night, night and day
Threatened by all things
God of cruelty
Drawn to all things
God of delight
Mythical God of the everlasting laws
Governing day, day and night
Critics of all expression
Judges in black and white
Saying it's wrong, saying it's right
Compelled by prescribed standards
Or some ideals we fight
For wrong, wrong and right
Threatened by all things
Man of cruelty, mark of Cain
Drawn to all things
Man of delight, born again, born again
Man of the laws, the ever broken laws
Governing wrong, wrong and right
Governing wrong, wrong and right
Wrong and right
The opening lyrics of "Shadows and Light" by Joni Mitchell explore the idea that every picture or situation has both darkness and light, with potential for both blindness and clarity. Benefactors and parasites, cruelties and delights, mythical devils and gods, all aspects of life contain opposing energies. The line, "Threatened by all things," suggests that the human experience is fraught with danger and precariousness, and that the concept of darkness and light is an ever-present motif in existence.
The next verse zooms in on specific images of contrast, from suntans in reservation dining rooms to pale miners in lantern light. The phrases "night, night and day" and "threatened by all things" reiterate the perpetual fusion of duality. The lyrics then take on a more political tone; "hostage smiles on presidents" evokes a sense of restriction and forced diplomacy. However, the graffiti-style "freedom scribbled in the subway" is a bright spot of hope, though it too is contrasted with the darkness just as "night and day" were in the previous verse.
The final verse expands the topic to cover criticism, judgment, and fighting for ideals. Society's prescribed standards and expectations both drive us to conform and to rebel against them, creating a constant push-pull dichotomy that is ever-present in our culture. "Man of the laws, the ever broken laws" is a particularly powerful observation, acknowledging the prospect of societal rules and expectations being bent or ignored. The concluding repetition of "governing wrong, wrong and right" ties the entire song together, suggesting that concepts of good and evil are constantly battling and shifting.
Line by Line Meaning
Every picture has it's shadows
Everything has a dark side
And it has some source of light
But there’s also a bright side
Blindness, blindness and sight
We can choose to see or not see the good and bad in everything
The perils of benefactors
People who help us can also hurt us
The blessings of parasites
People who hurt us can also help us in unexpected ways
Threatened by all things
We always feel vulnerable
Devil of cruelty
We’re drawn to things that hurt us
Drawn to all things
We’re attracted to everything
Devil of delight
Both pain and pleasure tempt us
Mythical devil of the ever-present laws
Our desires are controlled by universal laws
Governing blindness, blindness and sight
These laws dictate how we choose to see and not see things
Suntans in reservation dining rooms
Indigenous people who’ve assimilated to Western standards
Pale miners in their lantern rays
Workers who’ve been stripped of their identity and life
Night, night and day
Life can be brutal and unforgiving
Hostage smiles on presidents
Politicians who’ve oppressed people with false promises
Freedom scribbled in the subway
People who’ve found freedom and comfort in unexpected places
God of cruelty
We don’t understand why God lets bad things happen
God of delight
But we still hope for good things
Mythical God of the everlasting laws
We see God as the one behind universal laws
Governing day, day and night
These laws dictate how we experience the world
Critics of all expression
People who judge and scrutinize everything
Judges in black and white
Those who enforce strict rules and codes
Saying it's wrong, saying it's right
Are quick to label things as good or bad
Compelled by prescribed standards
We’re forced to conform to society’s expectations
Or some ideals we fight
Or rebel against those expectations
For wrong, wrong and right
Our actions can be judged as good or bad
Man of cruelty, mark of Cain
Human nature can be cruel and destructive
Man of delight, born again, born again
But we can also be hopeful and reborn
Man of the laws, the ever broken laws
Our actions are determined by broken laws
Governing wrong, wrong and right
These laws dictate our morality and sense of justice
Governing wrong, wrong and right
Our sense of morality is fragile and can be corrupted
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Joni Mitchell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nolan Gottfried
0:00 - Intro
1:59 - In France They Kiss on Main Street
6:07 - Edith and the Kingpin
10:18 - Coyote
15:12 - Free Man in Paris
18:43 - Goodbye Pork Pie Hat
24:36 - Jaco's Solo (Third Stone from the Sun)
28:40 - The Dry Cleaner from Des Moines
33:02 - Amelia
≈ 39:41 - Pat's Solo
42:57 - Hejira
50:04 - Black Crow
54:00 - Furry Sings the Blues
59:37 - Raised on Robbery
1:02:52 - Joni introduces the band
1:04:02 - Why Do Fools Fall in Love
1:06:26 - Shadows and Light
Personel: Joni Mitchell - rhythm guitar/vocals; Jaco Pastorius - bass; Pat Metheny - lead guitar; Lyle Mays - keyboards; Don Alias - drums/percussion; Michael Brecker - tenor/soprano saxophone; The Persuasions - backing vocals
Lance Deschenes
This is one of the best things you could ever watch. Everybody on the stage is performing at peak levels of commitment, ability, artistry, and feeling, and the way they connect and communicate with each other and with the audience is joyful.
Alex Chambers
definitely at peak levels
Paul Johnston
My favorite period of Joni's. And what a band!!!
ann angel
What a band, indeed!
Nolan Gottfried
0:00 - Intro
1:59 - In France They Kiss on Main Street
6:07 - Edith and the Kingpin
10:18 - Coyote
15:12 - Free Man in Paris
18:43 - Goodbye Pork Pie Hat
24:36 - Jaco's Solo (Third Stone from the Sun)
28:40 - The Dry Cleaner from Des Moines
33:02 - Amelia
≈ 39:41 - Pat's Solo
42:57 - Hejira
50:04 - Black Crow
54:00 - Furry Sings the Blues
59:37 - Raised on Robbery
1:02:52 - Joni introduces the band
1:04:02 - Why Do Fools Fall in Love
1:06:26 - Shadows and Light
Personel: Joni Mitchell - rhythm guitar/vocals; Jaco Pastorius - bass; Pat Metheny - lead guitar; Lyle Mays - keyboards; Don Alias - drums/percussion; Michael Brecker - tenor/soprano saxophone; The Persuasions - backing vocals
captain tutan
Thanks!
Collin Bergkamp
Thank you!
Glen McGlone
Thanks, man. 🙏🏻
Rick Hoppe
Thanks, Nolan.
Jeffrey Sherman
About as much of a kick- ass band as you could put together! God I wish I could have been there!