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".
I Don't Know Where I Stand
Joni Mitchell Lyrics
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Sunny day, braiding wild flowers and leaves in my hair
Picked up a pencil and wrote, "I love you," in my finest hand
Wanted to send it, but I don't know where I stand
Telephone, even the sound of your voice is still new
All alone in California and talking to you
And feeling too foolish and strange
I guess it's too early, 'cause I don't know where I stand
Crickets call, courting their ladies in star-dappled green
Thickets tall, until the morning comes up like a dream
All muted and misty, so drowsy now, I'll take what sleep I can
I know that I miss you, but I don't know where I stand
I know that I miss you, but I don't know where I stand
The song I Don't Know Where I Stand was written by Joni Mitchell and released on her debut album, Song to a Seagull, in 1968. The song is about the confusion and uncertainty that comes with a new relationship. The lyrics depict the singer's feelings of being unsure where she stands with her lover, and grappling with whether or not to confess her love.
In the first verse, the singer is enjoying a beautiful day and feeling lighthearted. She writes "I love you" on a piece of paper, but decides not to send it because she is unsure of where she stands in the relationship. In the second verse, she talks about talking to her lover on the phone and feeling too shy to say what she really wants to say. In the final verse, the singer describes the peace and tranquility of the night, but admits to missing her lover and not knowing where she stands.
The lyrics in this song convey the vulnerability and self-doubt that can accompany a new relationship. It's a relatable feeling for many people who have been in the early stages of romance, and Mitchell's raw and honest lyrics make the song a classic.
Line by Line Meaning
Funny day, looking for laughter and finding it there
On a day where I was feeling lighthearted, I sought out humor and found it easily.
Sunny day, braiding wild flowers and leaves in my hair
Under the sun's warmth, I intertwined flowers in my hair with no reservations.
Picked up a pencil and wrote, "I love you," in my finest hand
I drafted a loving message with care, paying attention to every detail.
Wanted to send it, but I don't know where I stand
Although I desired to express my deep feelings to someone, I was unsure of our current connection.
Telephone, even the sound of your voice is still new
Although we had spoken before, hearing your voice still elicited a sense of unfamiliarity.
All alone in California and talking to you
At this moment, I was situated on the other side of the country, conversing with you from afar.
And feeling too foolish and strange
Despite my willingness to communicate, I could not shake off the awkwardness and feelings of being foolish.
To say the words that I had planned
I had prepared heartfelt words to convey, but was unable to express them at that moment.
I guess it's too early, 'cause I don't know where I stand
I surmised that it was too soon to reveal my emotions due to our current undefined relationship.
Crickets call, courting their ladies in star-dappled green
I observed the insect's mating rituals, taking place under the sparkling green canopy of the stars.
Thickets tall, until the morning comes up like a dream
The tall plant life surrounding me blended with the misty dawn, producing an almost dreamlike aura.
All muted and misty, so drowsy now, I'll take what sleep I can
The soporific atmosphere compelled me to sleep, despite my yearning to communicate my feelings.
I know that I miss you, but I don't know where I stand
I understood that I was missing the person, but remained uncertain about my current standing in our relationship.
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Joni Mitchell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind