Both Sides Now
Doris Day Lyrics

Rows and flows of angel hair
The singer once saw beauty and magic all around her in the form of delicate angel hair-like strands cascading around her.

And ice cream castles in the air
The singer used to experience childlike joy and hopefulness, conjuring up fanciful castles made of ice cream and other whimsical elements.

And feather canyons everywhere
The singer was once surrounded by ethereal and delicate things, like feather canyons, everywhere she looked.

I've looked at clouds that way
The artist used to see beauty, imagination, and possibility in everything, even clouds.

But now they only block the sun
The artist now sees clouds, and other things like them, as mere obstacles that get in the way of enjoying the good things in life.

They rain and snow on everyone
The singer now sees clouds for what they are: weather. While beautiful in their own right, they can wreak havoc on people and their plans.

So many things I would have done
Because of her previous idealism, the singer now realizes she may have missed opportunities.

But clouds got in my way
The artist blames clouds - representing forces or circumstances beyond her control - for preventing her from realizing certain possibilities and dreams.

I've looked at clouds from both sides now
The artist has seen clouds from different perspectives - both the rosy, beautiful view of her youth and the practical, less romantic view of the present.

From up and down and still somehow
It doesn't matter whether she's looking up at the clouds from the ground, or looking down on them while flying in a plane - her perspective has changed nonetheless.

It's cloud's illusions I recall
The singer remembers how she once used to see a kind of illusionary beauty and magic in clouds.

I really don't know clouds at all
Now, the artist realizes that she never really understood clouds - what they are, how they function, and what they represent - until recently.

Tears and fears and feeling proud
The singer has experienced a range of emotions throughout her life, from sadness and fear to pride and happiness.

To say, "I love you" right out loud
The singer has learned to express love boldly and confidently.

Dreams and schemes and circus crowds
The singer used to have big, fanciful dreams and a desire to be at the center of a spectacle or show like a circus.

I've looked at life that way
This kind of idealistic thinking extended beyond just the circus and into the artist's ideas of what life should be like.

Oh, but now old friends they're acting strange
The artist's shift in perspective has made her relationships with friends uncomfortable or different.

They shake their heads, they say I've changed
Her friends have noticed the change in the singer and how she sees the world, and possibly do not approve.

But something's lost, but something's gained
As the singer has grown, she has realized that while she may have lost something in the process, she has also gained a greater understanding of the world and herself.

In living every day
The artist has come to understand these things through the everyday experiences of living, rather than any kind of extraordinary journey.

I've looked at life from both sides now
The artist has seen life from different perspectives and has come to a new understanding.

From win and lose and still somehow
The artist has learned to view life's victories and losses in a way that helps her make forward progress.

It's life's illusions I recall
The singer remembers how she used to think of life as a certain way, only to realize that her youthfulness provided her with a somewhat distorted view.

I really don't know life at all
Now, the artist realizes she never truly understood life until she experienced more of it, and explored its various aspects in a more nuanced way.