Mitchell began singing in small nightclubs in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and throughout western Canada, before moving on to the nightclubs of Toronto, Ontario. She moved to the United States and began touring in 1965. Some of her original songs ("Urge for Going", "Chelsea Morning", "Both Sides, Now", "The Circle Game") were recorded by other folk singers, allowing her to sign with Reprise Records and record her debut album, Song to a Seagull, in 1968. Settling in Southern California, Mitchell helped define an era and a generation with popular songs like "Big Yellow Taxi" and "Woodstock". Her 1971 album Blue is often cited as one of the best albums of all time; it was rated the 30th best album ever made in Rolling Stone's 2003 list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time", rising to number 3 in the 2020 edition. In 2000, The New York Times chose Blue as one of the 25 albums that represented "turning points and pinnacles in 20th-century popular music". NPR ranked Blue number 1 on a 2017 list of Greatest Albums Made by Women.
Mitchell switched labels and began exploring more jazz-influenced melodic ideas, by way of lush pop textures, on 1974's Court and Spark, which featured the radio hits "Help Me" and "Free Man in Paris" and became her best-selling album. Mitchell's vocal range began to shift from mezzo-soprano to more of a wide-ranging contralto around 1975. Her distinctive piano and open-tuned guitar compositions also grew more harmonically and rhythmically complex as she melded jazz with rock and roll, R&B, classical music and non-Western beats. In the late 1970s, she began working with noted jazz musicians including Jaco Pastorius, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, and Pat Metheny as well as Charles Mingus, who asked her to collaborate on his final recordings. She later turned to pop and electronic music and engaged in political protest. She was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 44th Annual Grammy Awards in 2002 and became a Kennedy Center Honoree in 2021.
Mitchell produced or co-produced most of her albums. A critic of the music industry, she quit touring and released her 17th and last album of original songs in 2007. Mitchell has designed most of her own album covers, describing herself as a "painter derailed by circumstance".
Funeral
Joni Mitchell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, But I know he's very lucky too
Because when Mingus dies there's gonna be the same funeral they had for Duke Ellington
In a big church and the whole country's going to say
Wow, he was so far out, you know what I mean?
No man, no big church! I'm going to be buried man
You're going to get a big funeral, you're famous
Vedanta Society, India, I'm going to be buried in India
I know, but you're going to get a big funeral in this country
And they'll play your music for two days
Who's going to do that?
It's far out isn't it, y'know what I mean?
You want me to hurry up, man
No I don't want you to hurry up, but in the future
I know you're going to get a beautiful funeral
I can see it
But I got it all planned, man
You're going to be here many more years
You know the Vedanta Society in India, Yuga?
Yeah
Well, I'm going to be buried by that church
Yeah?
So they gotta find another place to do it, that's all
Plenty of time to go. You have another fifty years, you're lucky
Uh, Duke lived to be 77 years old right?
Right!
I'm gonna cut him!
Coltrane was very strong, you know
I'm gonna cut Duke
In Joni Mitchell's song Funerals, there is a conversation between the singer and the jazz musician Charles Mingus, who was terminally ill at that time. Mingus talks about how he is going to be buried in India near the Vedanta Society, and how he has planned his funeral. He expresses his desire for a simple funeral, unlike Duke Ellington's funeral, which he thinks was over the top. The singer assures Mingus that he will have a big funeral in the USA and that people will play his music for two days.
The conversation reflects on the mortality of human beings, and how a funeral is a way to pay tribute to the deceased. The lyrics suggest that Mingus, as a renowned musician, might otherwise be destined for a grand funeral like Ellington's, but Mingus has his own plans, apparently reflecting his simpler, perhaps more spiritual approach to life.
The conversation between Joni and Mingus is an observation on death and its inevitability. Joni tries to comfort Mingus by ensuring that he will have a grand funeral in the USA, showing the respect and admiration his talent deserves. The song shows that even the most celebrated and accomplished people are aware that they, too, have limited time on earth and must plan for their final farewell.
Line by Line Meaning
Led an enormous band
Referring to jazz musician Charles Mingus who was known for leading big bands
Oh, But I know he's very lucky too
Despite his success, Joni Mitchell thinks Charles Mingus is also fortunate in other ways
Because when Mingus dies there's gonna be the same funeral they had for Duke Ellington
Mingus will get the same type of funeral as Duke Ellington, who was also a renowned jazz composer and pianist
In a big church and the whole country's going to say
The entire nation will recognize Mingus' contribution to music
Wow, he was so far out, you know what I mean?
People will acknowledge Mingus' unique and innovative approach to music
No man, no big church! I'm going to be buried man
Mingus corrects Joni and tells her that he has already planned his burial
I got my shit all figured out
Mingus has made all the necessary arrangements for his funeral
You're going to get a big funeral, you're famous
Joni predicts that Mingus will have a grand funeral befitting his fame and success
Vedanta Society, India, I'm going to be buried in India
Mingus reveals that he has chosen to be buried in India by the Vedanta Society
I know, but you're going to get a big funeral in this country
Joni reiterates that Mingus will still have a grand funeral in the US to celebrate his life and music
And they'll play your music for two days
Mingus' compositions will be played for two days during his funeral
Who's going to do that?
Mingus questions who will be responsible for organizing the funeral and playing his music
It's far out isn't it, y'know what I mean?
Joni acknowledges that the idea of a grand funeral is exciting and unique
You want me to hurry up, man
Mingus thinks Joni is trying to rush his life and the planning for his funeral
No I don't want you to hurry up, but in the future
Joni clarifies that she is not trying to rush Mingus but is thinking about his future
I know you're going to get a beautiful funeral
Joni reiterates that Mingus will have a grand and beautiful funeral
I can see it
Joni envisions Mingus' funeral to be a memorable and fitting tribute to his contribution to music
But I got it all planned, man
Mingus reassures Joni that he already has everything planned for his funeral
You're going to be here many more years
Joni hopes that Mingus will have a long life ahead of him despite his illness
You know the Vedanta Society in India, Yuga?
Mingus asks Joni if she is aware of the Vedanta Society in India
Well, I'm going to be buried by that church
Mingus confirms that he has already chosen the Vedanta Society to be the place for his burial
Yeah?
Joni responds inquisitively to Mingus' choice of the Vedanta Society
So they gotta find another place to do it, that's all
Mingus acknowledges that his funeral will have to be arranged at a different location now that he has already chosen the Vedanta Society for his burial
Plenty of time to go. You have another fifty years, you're lucky
Joni wishes that Mingus will have many more years ahead of him and is grateful for the time they have left
Uh, Duke lived to be 77 years old right?
Mingus inquires about Duke Ellington's age at the time of his death
Right!
Joni confirms that Duke Ellington lived to be 77 years old
I'm gonna cut him!
Mingus seems determined to outlive Duke Ellington despite his illness
Coltrane was very strong, you know
Mingus mentions the strength of another jazz great, John Coltrane, as an example of his own strength
I'm gonna cut Duke
Mingus is still determined to outlive Duke Ellington
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Charles Mingus, Joni Mitchell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind