Carey
Joni Mitchell Lyrics


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The wind is in from Africa
Last night I couldn't sleep
Oh, you know it sure is hard to leave here, Carey
But it's really not my home
My fingernails are filthy
I've got beach tar on my feet
And I miss my clean white linen and my fancy French cologne
Oh Carey, get out your cane (Carey, get out your cane)
And I'll put on some silver (I'll put on some silver)
Oh, you're a mean old Daddy, but I like you fine

Come on down to the Mermaid Cafe
And I will buy you a bottle of wine
And we'll laugh and toast to nothing and
Smash our empty glasses down
Let's have a round for these freaks and these soldiers
A round for these friends of mine
Let's have another round for the bright red devil, who
Keeps me in this tourist town

Come on, Carey, get out your cane (Carey, get out your cane)
And I'll put on some silver (I'll put on some silver)
Oh, you're a mean old Daddy, but I like you
I like you, I like you, I like you

Maybe I'll go to Amsterdam
Or maybe I'll go to Rome
And rent me a grand piano and put some flowers 'round my room
But let's not talk about fare-thee-wells now
The night is a starry dome
And they're playin' that scratchy rock and roll
Beneath the Matala Moon

Come on, Carey, get out your cane (Carey, get out your cane)
And I'll put on some silver (I'll put on some silver)
You're a mean old Daddy, but I like you

The wind is in from Africa
Last night I couldn't sleep
Oh, you know it sure is hard to leave here, but it's
Really not my home
Maybe it's been too long a time since I was
Scramblin' down in the street
Now they got me used to that clean white linen and that
Fancy French cologne

Oh Carey, get out your cane (Carey, get out your cane)
I'll put on my finest silver (I'll put on some silver)




We'll go to the Mermaid Cafe, have fun tonight
I said, oh, you're a mean old Daddy, but you're out of sight

Overall Meaning

Joni Mitchell’s song “Carey” showcases her sweet voice and folk songwriting style that has been a longtime favorite among music enthusiasts. It is believed that Joni wrote this song when she was living on the Greek island of Crete in a small town called Matala. The first line of the song, “The wind is in from Africa” was a reference to the sand and dust that blew over from the Sahara Desert. In this song, she sings about missing home while living in Greece but also enjoying the experience. She mentions her dirty nails and beach tar on her feet, as well as missing her clean white linen and fancy French cologne.


“Carey” is a love song of sorts, with Joni singing, “Oh Carey, get out your cane, and I'll put on some silver, oh you're a mean old daddy but I like you fine.” It's not clear if Carey is an actual person or if Joni made him up for the song. The Mermaid Cafe that Joni mentions in the song is a real place in Matala that was popular with hippies and travelers during the 1960s and 70s. When she sings “Let's have another round for the bright red devil, who keeps me in this tourist town,” she may be referring to herself, as she has been quoted as saying that the "bright red devil" referred to her as well as the vibrant sunsets at Matala.


In the end, Joni closes the song with, “I said oh you're a mean old daddy, but you're out of sight” which leaves the listener with a positive impression of their relationship. Overall, “Carey” is a beautiful, folksy tune that is a testament to love, travel, and adventure.


Line by Line Meaning

The wind is in from Africa
The wind is coming from Africa, indicating a change in atmosphere or environment.


Last night I couldn't sleep
The singer was restless and unable to sleep the previous night.


Oh, you know it sure is hard to leave here, Carey
The singer finds it difficult to leave where he/she is, despite not feeling like it's home, and addresses someone named Carey.


But it's really not my home
The artist does not feel like his/her current location is home.


My fingernails are filthy
The artist's fingernails are dirty, perhaps from manual labor or lack of hygiene.


I've got beach tar on my feet
The singer's feet have tar from the beach on them.


And I miss my clean white linen and my fancy French cologne
The singer misses their luxurious lifestyle and possessions.


Oh Carey, get out your cane (Carey, get out your cane)
The artist is addressing Carey again, asking him to get his cane.


And I'll put on some silver (I'll put on some silver)
The artist is offering to dress up in silver accessories.


Oh, you're a mean old Daddy, but I like you fine
The artist likes Carey despite his mean demeanor.


Come on down to the Mermaid Cafe
The singer suggests going to the Mermaid Cafe.


And I will buy you a bottle of wine
The artist offers to purchase a bottle of wine for Carey.


And we'll laugh and toast to nothing and
The singer suggests enjoying each other's company and toasting without a particular reason.


Smash our empty glasses down
The singer suggests smashing their empty glasses in a celebratory manner.


Let's have a round for these freaks and these soldiers
The singer suggests toasting for unconventional people and soldiers.


A round for these friends of mine
The artist suggests toasting for his/her own friends.


Let's have another round for the bright red devil, who
The artist suggests toasting for a specific individual, the "bright red devil".


Keeps me in this tourist town
The "bright red devil" person keeps the singer in a tourist town.


Maybe I'll go to Amsterdam
The singer suggests a potential travel destination to Amsterdam.


Or maybe I'll go to Rome
The artist suggests a potential travel destination to Rome.


And rent me a grand piano and put some flowers 'round my room
The artist suggests renting a grand piano and decorating their room with flowers.


But let's not talk about fare-thee-wells now
The artist suggests avoiding discussion of goodbyes or departures.


The night is a starry dome
The singer describes the night sky as a starry dome.


And they're playin' that scratchy rock and roll
The artist hears music playing, specifically scratchy rock and roll.


Beneath the Matala Moon
The singer is referring to a specific location, beneath the Matala Moon.


I'll put on my finest silver (I'll put on some silver)
The singer offers to dress up in their best silver accessories.


We'll go to the Mermaid Cafe, have fun tonight
The singer suggests going to the Mermaid Cafe and having a good time with each other.


I said, oh, you're a mean old Daddy, but you're out of sight
The artist reiterates that Carey is mean, but that he is still impressive in some way.




Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Joni Mitchell

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@lucy-zh8uc

Carey by Joni Mitchell♡
The wind is in from Africa
Last night I couldn't sleep
Oh, you know it sure is hard to leave here, Carey
But it's really not my home
My fingernails are filthy
I've got beach tar on my feet
And I miss my clean white linen and my fancy French cologne

Oh Carey, get out your cane (Carey, get out your cane)
And I'll put on some silver (I'll put on some silver)
Oh, you're a mean old Daddy, but I like you fine

Come on down to the Mermaid Cafe
And I will buy you a bottle of wine
And we'll laugh and toast to nothing and
Smash our empty glasses down
Let's have a round for these freaks and these soldiers
A round for these friends of mine
Let's have another round for the bright red devil, who
Keeps me in this tourist town

Come on, Carey, get out your cane (Carey, get out your cane)
And I'll put on some silver (I'll put on some silver)
Oh, you're a mean old Daddy, but I like you
I like you, I like you, I like you

Maybe I'll go to Amsterdam
Or maybe I'll go to Rome
And rent me a grand piano and put some flowers 'round my room
But let's not talk about fare-thee-wells now
The night is a starry dome
And they're playin' that scratchy rock and roll
Beneath the Matala Moon

Come on, Carey, get out your cane (Carey, get out your cane)
And I'll put on some silver (I'll put on some silver)
You're a mean old Daddy, but I like you

The wind is in from Africa
Last night I couldn't sleep
Oh, you know it sure is hard to leave here, but it's
Really not my home
Maybe it's been too long a time since I was
Scramblin' down in the street
Now they got me used to that clean white linen and that
Fancy French cologne

Oh Carey, get out your cane (Carey, get out your cane)
I'll put on my finest silver (I'll put on some silver)
We'll go to the Mermaid Cafe, have fun tonight
I said, oh, you're a mean old Daddy, but you're out of sight



@nodood

The wind is in from Africa
Last night I couldn't sleep
Oh, you know it sure is hard to leave here, Carey
But it's really not my home
My fingernails are filthy
I've got beach tar on my feet
And I miss my clean white linen and my fancy French cologne
Oh Carey, get out your cane (Carey, get out your cane)
And I'll put on some silver (I'll put on some silver)
Oh, you're a mean old Daddy, but I like you fine
Come on down to the Mermaid Cafe
And I will buy you a bottle of wine
And we'll laugh and toast to nothing and
Smash our empty glasses down
Let's have a round for these freaks and these soldiers
A round for these friends of mine
Let's have another round for the bright red devil, who
Keeps me in this tourist town
Come on, Carey, get out your cane (Carey, get out your cane)
And I'll put on some silver (I'll put on some silver)
Oh, you're a mean old Daddy, but I like you
I like you, I like you, I like you
Maybe I'll go to Amsterdam
Or maybe I'll go to Rome
And rent me a grand piano and put some flowers 'round my room
But let's not talk about fare-thee-wells now
The night is a starry dome
And they're playin' that scratchy rock and roll
Beneath the Matala Moon
Come on, Carey, get out your cane (Carey, get out your cane)
And I'll put on some silver (I'll put on some silver)
You're a mean old Daddy, but I like you
The wind is in from Africa
Last night I couldn't sleep
Oh, you know it sure is hard to leave here, but it's
Really not my home
Maybe it's been too long a time since I was
Scramblin' down in the street
Now they got me used to that clean white linen and that
Fancy French cologne
Oh Carey, get out your cane (Carey, get out your cane)
I'll put on my finest silver (I'll put on some silver)
We'll go to the Mermaid Cafe, have fun tonight
I said, oh, you're a mean old Daddy, but you're out of sight
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Joni Mitchell



@SuperC888

Cary Raditz - The Inspiration For Joni Mitchell's 'Carey' Talks
MUSIC NEWS
The Inspiration For Joni Mitchell's 'Carey' Talks
by NPR Staff All Things Considered “Just who is that Mean Old Daddy”?
This song may take you back a ways — say, about 50 years.


That's Joni Mitchell, back when her voice was high and light. It's "a helium voice," as she describes it in an interview with NPR's Morning Edition.

Mitchell just released a box set — a retrospective of her decades-long career — called Love Has Many Faces. Now 77, Mitchell was in her 20s when she wrote "Carey" for her 1971 album Blue. Since then, fans have often wondered what it's about. Who is "Carey"? A friend of Mitchell's? A muse? Is he even real?

He is.

Cary Raditz (spelling was never Joni’s forte) is a 75-year-old investment analyst who lives in the Washington, D.C., area. Back in his 20s, he was living in Matala, a little village on the island of Crete, which is where he met and befriended the singer-songwriter — though he didn't like her at first.

"I resented her, because a lot of my friends were turning into absolute fools and fawning over Joni Mitchell," Raditz says. "So she was disturbing the tranquility of this little place."

The two had their first run-in at the Delphini, the "taverna" where Raditz worked. He was serving tables and she was a customer.

"She picked up all her trash from the table, a handful of it, and came over to me," Raditz says. "She cleaned her table! And I just looked at it — and, you know, there are shards of broken glass and plates on the floor from [a party] last night. I just took it and threw it on the floor. ... She caught me in a weak moment, and then we became friends after that."


Joni Mitchell, pictured here in 1970, wrote the song "Carey" while living in Matala, Crete.

Mitchell gave Raditz the song as a present on his 24th birthday.

"It was a goodbye song," he says. "There was a little bit of a sadness about that. But she was always leaving, and she'd change her mind, and we'd find something else to do or go traveling."

How does Raditz hear the song now?

"Like all poetry, it tends to grow within you. And it tends to take on your own personal meanings and shadings and tones, and other memories that become associated with it."



All comments from YouTube:

@jacksonurenmusic

So bummed that these aren’t on Spotify anymore but glad I have YouTube

@cathyceesay9233

Yes! What happened....?!! I thought I was going mad

@aszstrid

@Cathy Ceesay Joe Rogan happened 😢

@Jerakolia1

Glad my parents have vinyl 😅

@aszstrid

@Cherry Cola Samee

@garystackhouse5787

To hell with that greedy arse that owns Spotify. Never mind Joe Rogan... this jerk pays people PENNIES for thousands of plays of their songs.

32 More Replies...

@elizabethpeters4805

This song has resonated in my heart since the first time I heard it.

@lindanorris2455

RIGHT ON.

@guimamaximiano

Me too.

@gardengirl7446

Same!

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