Amelia Earhart was a pioneering aviator who in 1932 became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.
Amelia
Joni Mitchell Lyrics
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When I spotted six jet planes
Leaving six white vapor trails across the bleak terrain
It was the hexagram of the heavens
It was the strings of my guitar
Amelia, it was just a false alarm
The drone of flying engines
It scrambles time and seasons
If it gets through to you
Then your life becomes a travelogue
Of picture postcard charms
Oh, Amelia, it was just a false alarm
People will tell you where they've gone
They'll tell you where to go
But 'til you get there yourself
You never really know
Where some have found their paradise
Others just come to harm
Oh, Amelia, it was just a false alarm
I wish that he was here tonight
It's so hard to obey
His sad request of me to kindly stay away
So this is how I hide the hurt
As the road leads cursed and charmed
I tell Amelia, it was just a false alarm
A ghost of aviation
She was swallowed by the sky
Or by the sea, like me, she had a dream to fly
Like Icarus ascending
On beautiful foolish arms
Amelia, it was just a false alarm
Maybe I've never really loved
I guess that is the truth
I've spent my whole life in clouds at icy altitude
And looking down on everything
I crashed into his arms
Amelia, it was just a false alarm
I pulled into the Cactus Tree Motel
To shower off the dust
And I slept on the strange pillows of my wanderlust
I dreamed of 747s
Over geometric farms
Dreams, Amelia, dreams and false alarms
In Joni Mitchell’s song Amelia, the lyrics take the listener on a journey through the desert, where the singer sees six jet planes leaving white vapor trails in the sky, creating a hexagram of the heavens. The singer compares the drone of the flying engines to a song that scrambles time and seasons, allowing a person’s life to become a travelogue of picture postcard charms. However, despite the allure of travel and adventure, the singer notes that people will tell you where to go and where they’ve found their paradise, but until you get there yourself, you will never really know.
Additionally, Joni sings about a sad request from someone she loves, and how she is hiding her hurt by telling Amelia it was just a false alarm. The song also references Amelia Earhart, a famous pilot who disappeared while trying to fly around the world in 1937. The reference to Earhart highlights the dangers of flight, and the implications of the singer’s feelings for the person who requested she stay away. In the final verses, the lyrics suggest that the singer has never really loved, and that her whole life has been spent in the clouds, looking down on everything. The song ends with the singer dreaming of 747s over geometric farms, offering a glimpse of the endless possibilities that come with travel and exploration, despite the potential for false alarms.
Line by Line Meaning
I was driving across the burning desert
I was travelling through the hot, deserted terrain.
When I spotted six jet planes
I saw six airplanes flying in the sky.
Leaving six white vapor trails across the bleak terrain
The airplanes left white trails behind them as they flew over the lifeless landscape.
It was the hexagram of the heavens
It was a symbol of the skies.
It was the strings of my guitar
It reminded me of my music.
Amelia, it was just a false alarm
I was worried for nothing.
The drone of flying engines
The sound of the airplanes' engines was low and continuous.
Is a song so wild and blue
It was a strange and melancholy melody.
It scrambles time and seasons
It causes confusion and disorientation.
If it gets through to you
If it affects you.
Then your life becomes a travelogue
Your life becomes a journey through different places and experiences.
Of picture postcard charms
Full of beautiful sights that one would want to capture on a postcard.
People will tell you where they've gone
People will tell you about the places they have traveled to.
They'll tell you where to go
They'll give you suggestions on where to travel.
But 'til you get there yourself
But you won't truly understand until you experience it for yourself.
You never really know
You can't truly know.
Where some have found their paradise
Some people have found their perfect place in the world.
Others just come to harm
Others, however, may have negative experiences.
Oh, Amelia, it was just a false alarm
I was worried for nothing, Amelia.
I wish that he was here tonight
I wish that he was here with me now.
It's so hard to obey
It's difficult to follow his request.
His sad request of me to kindly stay away
He has asked me, in a sorrowful tone, to stay away.
So this is how I hide the hurt
This is how I conceal my pain.
As the road leads cursed and charmed
As I travel down this path, which is both blessed and cursed.
I tell Amelia, it was just a false alarm
I reassure Amelia that my worries were for nothing.
A ghost of aviation
She was a flying ghost, with an ethereal presence.
She was swallowed by the sky
She disappeared into the blue sky.
Or by the sea, like me, she had a dream to fly
She may have met the same fate as me, since we both had a dream of flying.
Like Icarus ascending
Like the mythological figure, Icarus, who flew too close to the sun and fell to his death.
On beautiful foolish arms
With my foolish, reckless desire to fly.
Amelia, it was just a false alarm
Don't worry, it was nothing, Amelia.
Maybe I've never really loved
Perhaps I've never truly been in love.
I guess that is the truth
I suppose that's the reality.
I've spent my whole life in clouds at icy altitude
I've spent my life in the skies, at high altitudes where it's cold.
And looking down on everything
Observing everything from above.
I crashed into his arms
I fell into his embrace.
Amelia, it was just a false alarm
It was nothing to worry about, Amelia.
I pulled into the Cactus Tree Motel
I arrived at the Cactus Tree Motel.
To shower off the dust
To wash the desert dust off of me.
And I slept on the strange pillows of my wanderlust
I used unfamiliar pillows because of my love for travelling.
I dreamed of 747s
I dreamed of huge airplanes.
Over geometric farms
Flying over neatly arranged, geometrically-shaped farms.
Dreams, Amelia, dreams and false alarms
Just my dreams, Amelia, and unfounded worries.
Lyrics © Aporia Records Inc., Reservoir Media Management, Inc., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Joni Mitchell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind