Both Sides Now
Blossom Dearie Lyrics

Bows and flows of angel hair
I used to see beauty in everything, even the intangible, like angel hair.

And ice cream castles in the air
I used to dream and fantasize about impossible things, like castles made of ice cream.

And feather canyons everywhere
I used to see soft, gentle things everywhere, even in the rugged canyons.

I've looked at clouds that way
I used to see everything with a sense of magic and wonder, even in the clouds.

But now they only block the sun
Now, clouds are just an obstacle that gets in the way of the sun's rays.

They rain and they snow on everyone
Clouds don't just block the sun, they also bring rain and snow which affect people everywhere.

So many things I would have done
I feel like I could have accomplished so much more, if only these clouds weren't in my way.

But clouds got in my way
I feel like I've been held back and hindered by these clouds at every turn.

I've looked at clouds from both sides now
I've seen clouds in both a positive and negative light, from above and below.

From up and down, and still somehow
No matter which way I look at the clouds, they still remain a constant obstacle in my life.

It's cloud illusions I recall
Looking back, I realize that some of my views about clouds were mere illusions, and not grounded in reality.

I really don't know clouds at all
In the end, I don't really understand clouds or what they mean to me.

Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels
I used to find love and romance in the simplest of things, like the moon, the month of June, and even Ferris wheels.

The dizzy dancing way that you feel
The feeling of being in love is like a dizzy dance, where everything else fades away and only that person remains.

As every fairy tale comes real
Being in love felt like every fairy tale I ever read coming true, like a dream becoming a reality.

But now it's just another show
Love has lost its magic and become mundane, like just another performance to be observed.

And you leave 'em laughing when you go
Leaving a relationship feels like a joke, something to be laughed at even when it hurts.

And if you care, don't let them know
If you truly care for someone, you can't let them see how much they mean to you or else risk being hurt in return.

Don't give yourself away
It's important to keep your emotions and feelings guarded, to avoid being hurt by others.

I've looked at love from both sides now
I've seen love from both a positive and negative perspective, from giving and taking.

From give and take, and still somehow
No matter how I've approached love, it hasn't worked out for me.

It's love's illusions I recall
Looking back on it all, I realize that I've been living under the illusion of what love truly is.

I really don't know love
In the end, I don't really understand love or what it means to me.

Really don't know love at all
Despite everything I've been through, I still feel like I'm in the dark when it comes to understanding love.

Tears and fears and feeling proud
Life is full of ups and downs, moments of strength and moments of weakness, and situations that make us feel proud and accomplished.

To say "I love you" right out loud
Expressing love openly and honestly is important, and something to be proud of even if it doesn't work out.

Dreams and schemes and circus crowds
Life is full of dreams and ideas, as well as the energy and thrill of the crowds in a circus.

I've looked at life that way
I've lived life with an open and optimistic attitude, seeing the best in every situation.

Oh but now old friends they're acting strange
As I've grown older, the people I used to know and love have changed, and it's been a difficult adjustment for me.

And they shake their heads
They don't understand me or my choices, and it's hard to reconcile my feelings with their disapproval.

And they tell me that I've changed
I've grown and evolved as a person, but others perceive this as a negative change.

Well something's lost but something's gained
As I've changed, I've lost some parts of myself, but I've also gained new perspectives and experiences.

In living every day
Ultimately, life is about living in the present moment and making the most of every day.

I've looked at life from both sides now
I've seen life from both a positive and negative perspective, experiencing both victories and setbacks.

From win and lose and still somehow
Despite everything that's happened, I've managed to persist and endure, overcoming obstacles along the way.

It's life's illusions I recall
Looking back, I realize that many of my views on life were illusions, and not grounded in reality.

I really don't know life at all
In the end, I don't truly understand life or what it means to me.

It's life's illusions I recall
Despite everything I've seen, I still feel like my view of life is incomplete and based on illusions.

I really don't know life
In the end, I'm still searching for meaning and understanding when it comes to life.

I really don't know life at all
Despite what I might have experienced, I still feel like there's so much I don't know or understand about life.