For the Roses
Joni Mitchell Lyrics

I heard it in the wind last night
The singer heard something strange, like the sound of something being celebrated or applauded, carried by the wind at night.

It sounded like applause
The sound the singer heard resembled people clapping and cheering.

Did you get a round resounding for you
The singer wonders if someone they know was the target of the applause and celebration they just heard in the wind.

Way up here
The artist is in a high place, possibly a balcony or a hilltop, that allowed them to hear the mysterious sound clearly.

Seems like many dim years ago
The artist reminisces about a distant past that feels like it happened a long time ago and is hard to remember clearly.

Since I heard that face to face
It has been a long time since the singer has heard something in person, rather than as an indistinct sound carried by the wind.

So seen you face to face
The singer may be addressing someone they haven't seen in a long time, or they may be reflecting on the value of direct communication over distant, vague messages.

Though tonight I can feel you here
Despite the physical distance between the artist and someone they care about, the artist feels their presence in some way.

I get these notes
The artist receives letters or other communications from people who want to share information or stories about someone they both know.

On butterflies and lilac sprays
The artist receives letters or other communications written on delicate or fragrant materials, like old-fashioned stationery or small flowers.

From girls who just have to tell me
The singer receives communications from people who feel a need or desire to share their thoughts or experiences with them.

They saw you somewhere
The people who write to the artist have seen someone they both know, and they want to share that information with the artist.

In some office sits a poet
The singer imagines a poet writing in an office, possibly with an air of loneliness or anxiety.

And he trembles as he sings
The poet is deeply moved and affected by their own work, perhaps to the point of being physically affected by it.

And he asks some guy
The poet seeks help or validation from someone they hope to impress or who has connections in their industry.

To circulate his soul around
The poet hopes that their work will circulate widely and be appreciated by many people, not just the few who have already heard it.

On your mark red ribbon runner
The artist addresses someone who is very driven and competitive, like a track athlete waiting for the starting signal.

The caressing rev of motors
The sound of engines starting or revving up is described as gentle or affectionate, rather than loud or harsh.

Finely tuned like fancy women
The engines sound like they are beautifully crafted and carefully maintained, like wealthy or sophisticated women.

In Thirties evening gowns
The engines sound like they belong to vintage or retro vehicles that might have been driven by glamorous people in the 1930s.

Up the charts
A piece of music or other cultural product is becoming popular or well-known among many people or in a specific media outlet.

Off to the airport
Someone is leaving town or traveling somewhere by plane.

Your name's in the news
Someone is currently very famous or successful, to the point of being often mentioned in news outlets or public discourse.

Everything's first class
The experience of being successful or famous is described as being of the highest possible quality, with no expenses spared or corners cut.

The lights go down
The mood or setting changes suddenly, possibly going from celebratory to more serious or ominous.

And it's just you up there
The focus of attention is entirely on one person, who is likely performing for an audience or otherwise in the public eye.

Getting them to feel like that
The performer is skilled at eliciting an emotional response from their audience, possibly by performing in a particularly moving or powerful way.

Remember the days when you used to sit
The artist addresses someone they know, encouraging them to remember a time in their past when they created things without the burden of expectations or pressures to succeed.

And make up your tunes for love
The artist is referencing the idea of creating art for pure love or enjoyment of the craft, rather than for financial or professional gain.

And pour your simple sorrow
The singer encourages the person they are addressing to infuse their art with honesty and vulnerability, rather than trying to craft a certain image or persona for public consumption.

To the sound hole and your knee
The singer references the physical object of a guitar or other instrument, emphasizing the simple act of making music in a relaxed or informal setting.

And now you're seen
The person the artist is addressing is now famous or successful, and their every move is noticed and commented on by others.

On giant screens
The scale of the person's fame or success is emphasized by the fact that they are often featured in large or prominent places, like movie theaters or public squares.

And at parties for the press
The person is invited to exclusive events held specifically for journalists or other media professionals, promoting their work or success.

And for people who have slices of you
The person's work or persona has been fragmented or commodified, becoming a small piece of a larger cultural framework or discourse.

From the company
The commodification of the person's work or persona is perpetuated by companies or other entities who profit from it, rather than the person themselves.

They toss around your latest golden egg
The person is expected to continue creating successful or profitable work, treated as a source of financial gain rather than an artist with creative agency.

Speculation-well, who's to know
It is unclear or uncertain what the person's future will be or how their work will be perceived or received by the public.

If the next one in the nest
The singer again references the idea of the person as a source of financial gain or cultural production, comparing them to a bird laying eggs for a larger entity to profit from.

Will glitter for them so
It is unclear whether the person will continue to be successful or profitable, as there are many factors beyond their own control that could affect their trajectory.

I guess I seem ungrateful
The artist acknowledges that they might come across as unappreciative or even rude, despite the many opportunities they may have been given.

With my teeth sunk in the hand
The singer uses the metaphor of a biting dog to describe themselves, possibly implying that they are fiercely protective of their own identity or artistic vision.

That brings me things
The things that the singer is being given or offered are of unclear origin or ownership, and may not have true value or meaning for the singer.

I really can't give up just yet
The artist is reluctant to abandon their artistic vision or integrity, despite the many forces that might be trying to convince them to do so.

Now I sit up here
The artist has changed positions, perhaps from being a struggling artist to being a more established critic or commentator on other people's art.

The critic!
The artist emphasizes their role as a critic or commentator on other people's work, possibly with a sense of irony or self-deprecation.

And they introduce some band
The singer is in a position to introduce or promote other people's work, and is perhaps less focused on their own creative output than they once were.

But they seem so much confetti
The people the artist is introducing have less meaning or weight to them than the artist might have expected, like streams of colorful but ultimately meaningless scraps of paper.

Looking at them on my TV set
The singer is watching other people perform or present their work via a television, emphasizing the distance or remove they feel from these people and their work.

Oh the power and the glory
The singer is reflecting on the potential of art or success to grant power or glory to those who achieve it.

Just when you're getting a taste for worship
The singer is referencing the way that fame or success can be addictive or manipulative, tempting people to pursue it more than honesty or creativity.

They start bringing out the hammers
Other people or forces, possibly those who profit from someone's success, begin to exert control over them, possibly by threatening to expose or diminish them.

And the boards
The artist may be referencing the idea of a stage, emphasizing how someone's creative efforts or persona can become controlled by powerful people or entities.

And the nails
The metaphor of a stage is continued, emphasizing how someone's power or control can be taken away by others using mundane yet powerful tools.

Chilly now
The singer describes the current setting or scene as colder or less inviting than it once was.

End of summer
The season is ending or changing, possibly implying a sense of loss or nostalgia.

No more shiny hot nights
The exciting or vibrant moments of the season or time period are over, and something more subdued or mundane has taken their place.

It was just the arbutus rustling
What the artist heard earlier, the sound of applause or celebration, is revealed to have just been the sound of a tree rustling in the wind.

And the bumping of the logs
The loud noises the singer heard were simply the sound of logs or other objects falling or being bumped around.

And the moon swept down black water
The scene is described in poetic language, emphasizing the beauty and mystery of nature and the world beyond human control.

Like an empty spotlight
The metaphor of a spotlight is used again, emphasizing how fleeting and temporary moments of admiration or attention can be.