Help Me
Joni Mitchell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I think I'm falling
In love again
When I get that crazy feeling, I know
I'm in trouble again
I'm in trouble
'Cause you're a rambler and a gambler
And you love your lovin'
But not like you love your freedom
Help me
I think I'm falling
In love too fast
It's got me hoping for the future
And worrying about the past
'Cause I've seen some hot hot blazes
Come down to smoke and ash
We love our lovin'
But not like we love our freedom
Didn't it feel good
We were sitting there talking
Or lying there not talking
Didn't it feel good
You dance with the lady
With the hole in her stocking
Didn't it feel good
Didn't it feel good
Help me
I think I'm falling
In love with you
Are you going to let me go there by myself
That's such a lonely thing to do
Both of us flirting around
Flirting and flirting
Hurting too
We love our lovin'
But not like we love our freedom
In Joni Mitchell's song Help Me, the singer expresses her fear of falling in love, presumably with a man who is not ready to commit to a serious relationship. She acknowledges her attraction to him despite the knowledge that he is a "rambler and a gambler" who prioritizes his freedom over his love life. She fears that she is moving too quickly and worries about what the future may hold. Nonetheless, she recalls the good times they had together, such as "sitting there talking" and "dancing with the lady with the hole in her stocking," and the feeling that came with those moments.
The song's refrain "We love our lovin' but not like we love our freedom" is a reflection on modern love in a complex society that values independence and self-expression over commitment and responsibility. It's clear that the singer desires a lasting relationship, but acknowledges that the freedom that comes with being single is something that's hard to give up.
Overall, Help Me is a poignant song that captures the difficulties of modern love. The singer is filled with desire and uncertainty as she navigates a relationship, but ultimately remembers the joys of being with someone special.
Line by Line Meaning
Help me
I need your guidance and assistance.
I think I'm falling
I'm experiencing feelings of attraction and infatuation.
In love again
I'm experiencing a romantic attachment to someone again.
When I get that crazy feeling, I know
I recognize the signs of my own emotional instability.
I'm in trouble again
I'm concerned that my feelings will cause problems.
'Cause you're a rambler and a gambler
You have a restless nature and take risks.
And a sweet-talking-ladies man
You're charming and smooth with women.
And you love your lovin'
You enjoy physical intimacy.
But not like you love your freedom
You value independence and autonomy more than romantic attachment.
I think I'm falling
My feelings of attraction are intensifying.
In love too fast
I'm worried that I'm becoming emotionally attached too quickly.
It's got me hoping for the future
I'm optimistic about the possibilities of a romantic relationship.
And worrying about the past
I'm concerned that past experiences will interfere with the present.
'Cause I've seen some hot hot blazes
I've witnessed intense emotional experiences that ended in disappointment.
Come down to smoke and ash
Those intense emotional experiences ended in destruction and loss.
We love our lovin'
We enjoy physical intimacy.
But not like we love our freedom
We value independence and autonomy more than romantic attachment.
Didn't it feel good
We enjoyed each other's company and the physical experience.
We were sitting there talking
We had a comfortable and intimate conversation.
Or lying there not talking
We were comfortable with silent physical proximity.
You dance with the lady
You enjoyed the company of a woman.
With the hole in her stocking
You appreciated the imperfections of someone you found attractive.
I think I'm falling
My feelings of attraction are intensifying.
In love with you
I'm emotionally attached to you.
Are you going to let me go there by myself
Will you support and accompany me in my emotional attachment?
That's such a lonely thing to do
It would be difficult and isolating to pursue my emotional attachment alone.
Both of us flirting around
We're both engaging in playful romantic behavior.
Flirting and flirting
We're enjoying the fun and excitement of potential romantic attachment.
Hurting too
We're also experiencing emotional pain and uncertainty.
We love our lovin'
We enjoy physical intimacy.
But not like we love our freedom
We value independence and autonomy more than romantic attachment.
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Joni Mitchell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nunya1738
R C Nelson That would seem rather a first, and so telling, as the The Man and his plan...end game in play.
I lament this fact, though it is not absolute. But yes, most won't even watch something if it is in black and white, or mock something as late to the "culture" as a flip up phone, so used to "new" bullshit confection/smartphones/ipads every year that costs more and has entranced and entrapped them in meaningless technology. Who the fluck wants to watch a movie on a damn smartphone, or even a sporting event, unless there were zero options for the latter?
Lost, they are, when they forget a charger, or (less often, as they always have them, even dropping them in the toilet, the phones themselves) have to TRY and go without for even a quick hour.
I truly feel sad for them. Twitter and Facebook making them vapid and distilled for the advertisers, unable to form a complete sentence or even seeing the import in that.
Think of this--someday, after most morons allow technology to become a part of their BODIES, nano bots and the like (which is far sooner on the horizon than people think), there will be software or some virus to download and learn or be proficient at playing guitar, or piano.
Great, you say? No. You will have NONE of the journey to that skill, even self taught. You will not APPRECIATE the beauty in it.
They should have wiped those college kids off the face of the earth, when they started stealing music, in court. Not only is sound quality, the soul of the music lost, but there is NO PHYSICAL THING, no Album...just crap loaded into a phone or itouch or whatever, MP3 player. When you drop that in the toilet next time, are you seriously going to buy or replace it all?
Most folks have thousands of pictures of the kids, cousins, family...ON THEIR COMPUTERS, phones...nice how they float up, randomly, as a desktop background. Gone forever, possibly if the grid goes down. Albums with photos, ACTUAL PHOTOS, have soul.
I blame cats like Aerosmith and Led Zep, trying to jumpstart glory days, allowing their hooks and melodies to be SAMPLED, as otherwise Rap would have had its little day in the sun, vs. infiltrating the culture, replete with bitches, hoes, big pimpin', crystal...
But it is way deeper. Disney got bought, churned out slut makers of children like Brittney Spears and the other clones, music that is so formulaic and would NEVER be listened to if not for MTV, and ass in your face, or guys holding their dicks and bragging how they are the baddest. Zero originality, BY DESIGN.
All this shit, Madonna on and etc, is what THE CULTURE is being made into, and it is just sad. Guns and Cash, the next casualties, then its checkmate. Try some civil disobedience when your credit, either on a debit card or in that rice grain sized chip in your hand, or the scan of your eye tells you you can't buy water, or food, or pay your rent.
PEACE
@johngillespie3969
I was photographing Joni at a concert back in the day when another photographer yelled “smile Joni”, her reply was “you’ll have to catch it when it’s there”. Taught me everything I needed to know about photojournalism and capturing real moments. Such a beautiful and talented woman.
@peggylynn7131
That was pretty cool answer. She is not a poser or a pleaser. Love that.
@hmyers08279
John Gillespie lol yes she gave you good advice.
@dididylan-pena6597
Dear Lord she's just not a people pleaser🤣 Love her she's just so authentic and strongheaded
@dididylan-pena6597
A. Fox savage😂
@fredmoore8661
Good one!
@drkimberlystclair
I can't believe how lucky I was to be a teenager in the 70's. Thank you God!
@Dannmcg
80’s kid here, and as much as I do love and miss the 80’s, I always felt I was born 10 years to late
@andreahilburn799
Born in 1969 and very happy to have grown up in the 70s and 80s!
@jhenry9486
Totally agree