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".
Same Situation
Joni Mitchell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For so many years
Tethered to a ringing telephone
In a room full of mirrors
A pretty girl in your bathroom
Checking out her sex appeal
I asked myself when you said you loved me
"Do you think this can be real?"
Still, I sent up my prayer
Wondering where it had to go
With heaven full of astronauts
And the Lord on death row
While the millions of his lost and lonely ones
Call out and clamor to be found
Caught in the struggle for higher position
And the search for love that sticks around
You've had lots of lovely women
Now you turn your gaze to me
Weighing the beauty and the imperfection
To see if I'm worthy
Like the church
Like a cop
Like a mother
You want me to be truthful
Sometimes you turn it on me like a weapon though
And I need your approval
Still, I sent up my prayer
Wondering who was there to hear
I said "send me somebody
Who's strong and somewhat sincere"
With the millions of the lost and lonely ones
I called out to be released
Caught in my struggle for higher achievements
And my search for love
That don't seem to cease
Joni Mitchell's "Same Situation" is a mellow song about the struggle for self-acceptance in a relationship that is weighed down by insecurity and doubt. The song's lyrics are a reflection on the singer's feelings of being caught in a cycle of self-doubt and inadequacy, despite the love and attention she receives from her partner. The song's opening line, "Again and again the same situation," sets the tone for a theme of repetition that runs throughout. The song's second verse specifically addresses the singer's fear of being rejected by her partner.
The lyrics suggest a sense of longing and a search for something more substantive than the superficiality of the relationship. The "millions of lost and lonely ones" referenced in the song are representative of the general feeling of isolation and disconnection from others. The singer asks for someone stronger and more sincere to enter her life, someone who is able to give her the love she deserves.
Overall, the song captures the singer's vulnerability, as well as the complexity of human relationships, with a haunting melody and introspective lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Again and again the same situation
I keep finding myself in the same difficult position over and over again.
For so many years
This problem has persisted for a long time.
Tethered to a ringing telephone
Stuck waiting for someone else to make a move or decision.
In a room full of mirrors
Surrounded by reflections of myself and my own flaws and doubts.
A pretty girl in your bathroom
Feeling insecure about my own appearance and comparing myself to others.
Checking out her sex appeal
Evaluating my own attractiveness and worth based on societal and gender norms.
I asked myself when you said you loved me
Questioning if someone's love for me is real or truly reciprocated.
"Do you think this can be real?"
Wondering if love and happiness can exist for me in this situation.
Still, I sent up my prayer
Hoping for some sort of help or guidance from a higher power.
Wondering where it had to go
Questioning if my prayer will be heard or if there is anyone out there listening.
With heaven full of astronauts
Feeling like there are more important things to worry about than my own personal problems.
And the Lord on death row
Thinking about the systemic injustices and suffering in the world.
While the millions of his lost and lonely ones
Noticing the immense amount of people who are also struggling and searching for meaning.
Call out and clamor to be found
Feeling like everyone is trying to be heard and validated.
Caught in the struggle for higher position
Feeling like I must constantly strive to be better than others or meet certain societal expectations.
And the search for love that sticks around
Desiring a deep, lasting connection and affection.
You've had lots of lovely women
Noticing that my partner has had many attractive partners before me.
Now you turn your gaze to me
Feeling scrutinized by my partner for my own worthiness.
Weighing the beauty and the imperfection
Judging me based on both superficial traits and deeper flaws.
To see if I'm worthy
Determining if I meet their standards or expectations.
Like the church
Being expected to be honest and pure like a religious institution.
Like a cop
Being scrutinized and potentially punished for any wrongdoings.
Like a mother
Being held to high expectations like a parent figure.
You want me to be truthful
Being expected to be honest and authentic.
Sometimes you turn it on me like a weapon though
Feeling like my honesty is used against me as a form of control or manipulation.
And I need your approval
Feeling like my worth is dependent on external validation from my partner.
Wondering who was there to hear
Doubting if anyone is actually listening or cares about my problems.
I said "send me somebody
Asking for help and support from a higher power or the universe.
Who's strong and somewhat sincere"
Desiring someone who is capable and genuine in their care for me.
With the millions of the lost and lonely ones
Feeling like I am not alone in my struggles and others are also searching for connection and support.
I called out to be released
Asking for liberation and freedom from my struggles and desires.
Caught in my struggle for higher achievements
Feeling like I must constantly strive for more and better things in order to feel validated.
And my search for love
Desiring a deep and meaningful connection with someone.
That don't seem to cease
Feeling like my search for love is never-ending and always a struggle.
Lyrics © Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN), Royalty Network
Written by: Joni Mitchell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Steven DiBernardo
"And my search for love... that don't seem to cease." Damn!
Again and again the same situation
For so many years
Tethered to a ringing telephone
In a room full of mirrors
A pretty girl in your bathroom
Checking out her sex appeal
I asked myself when you said you loved me
"Do you think this can be real?"
Still, I sent up my prayer
Wondering where it had to go
With heaven full of astronauts
And the Lord on death row
While the millions of his lost and lonely ones
Call out and clamor to be found
Caught in the struggle for higher position
And the search for love that sticks around
You've had lots of lovely women
Now you turn your gaze to me
Weighing the beauty and the imperfection
To see if I'm worthy
Like the church
Like a cop
Like a mother
You want me to be truthful
Sometimes you turn it on me like a weapon though
And I need your approval
Still, I sent up my prayer
Wondering who was there to hear
I said "send me somebody
Who's strong and somewhat sincere"
With the millions of the lost and lonely ones
I called out to be released
Caught in my struggle for higher achievements
And my search for love
That don't seem to cease
Greg Stewart
Lyrics:
Again and again the same situation
For so many years
Tethered to a ringing telephone
In a room full of mirrors
A pretty girl in your bathroom
Checking out her sex appeal
I asked myself when you said you loved me
Do you think this can be real?
Still I sent up my prayer
Wondering where it had to go
With heaven full of astronauts
And the Lord on death row
While the millions of his lost and lonely ones
Call out and clamour to be found
Caught in their struggle for higher positions
And their search for love that sticks around
You've had lots of lovely women
Now you turn your gaze to me
Weighing the beauty and the imperfection
To see if I'm worthy
Like the church
Like a cop
Like a mother
You want me to be truthful
Sometimes you turn it on me like a weapon though
And I need your approval
Still I sent up my prayer
Wondering who was there to hear
I said Send me somebody
Who's strong and somewhat sincere
With the millions of the lost and lonely ones
I called out to be released
Caught in my struggle for higher achievements
And my search for love
That don't seem to cease
Geert De Baets
Joni Mitchell – The Same Situation
Again and again the same situation
For so many years
Tethered to a ringing telephone
In a room full of mirrors
A pretty girl in your bathroom
Checking out her sex appeal
I asked myself when you said you loved me
"Do you think this can be real?"
Still I sent up my prayer
Wondering where it had to go
With heaven full of astronauts
And the Lord on death row
While the millions of his lost and lonely ones
Call out and glamour to be found
Caught in their struggle for higher positions
And their search for love that sticks around
You've had lots of lovely women
Now you turn your gaze to me
Weighing the beauty and the imperfection
To see if I'm worthy
Like the church
Like a cop
Like a mother
You want me to be truthful
Sometimes you turn it on me like a weapon though
And I need your approval
Still I sent up my prayer
Wondering who was there to hear
I said "Send me somebody
Who's strong, and somewhat sincere"
With the millions of the lost and lonely ones
I called out to be released
Caught in my struggle for higher achievements
And my search for love
That don't seem to cease...
Geert De Baets
Joni Mitchell – The Same Situation
Again and again the same situation
For so many years
Tethered to a ringing telephone
In a room full of mirrors
A pretty girl in your bathroom
Checking out her sex appeal
I asked myself when you said you loved me
"Do you think this can be real?"
Still I sent up my prayer
Wondering where it had to go
With heaven full of astronauts
And the Lord on death row
While the millions of his lost and lonely ones
Call out and glamour to be found
Caught in their struggle for higher positions
And their search for love that sticks around
You've had lots of lovely women
Now you turn your gaze to me
Weighing the beauty and the imperfection
To see if I'm worthy
Like the church
Like a cop
Like a mother
You want me to be truthful
Sometimes you turn it on me like a weapon though
And I need your approval
Still I sent up my prayer
Wondering who was there to hear
I said "Send me somebody
Who's strong, and somewhat sincere"
With the millions of the lost and lonely ones
I called out to be released
Caught in my struggle for higher achievements
And my search for love
That don't seem to cease
ranickel
"Court and Spark" is just such a phenomenal album, every cut is wonderful in it's own right, but this is my favorite. The lyrics....those lyrics. Thank you Joni.
Matt Harrison
first time here today, not sure why I hadn't tried her before I love people influenced by her, like Kate Bush or Carly Simon...of course I tried Blue first and I just couldn't get there. By Help Me I was hooked. So glad I was directed to this album!!!
Timothy Ryan
ranickel- yep, Joni has such an ache in her vocals
its fantastic. "The millions of lost and lonely ones"
makes my head spin everytime I hear her launch into it.
Greg Stewart
So true...absolute genius
Bob Eveslage
Man, I lover this album. How can anyone dislike the beauty in her music...the color, the chords, the melody. She DOES NOT sing off key! If you are a musician (as I am) and can't hear the beauty in this...??? Well...enough said!
Sam Lewis
Joni is unbelievable. The energy it takes to make something like this! It cuts to the quick, to the bone. She makes a damn symphany out of it.
Robert Johnson
Incredibly insightful and confronting accuracy about people looking for love and to be loved. Completely and unconditionally. Indeed Joni is one of a kind and Court and Spark is the Masterpiece that never ages.
Steven DiBernardo
"And my search for love... that don't seem to cease." Damn!
Again and again the same situation
For so many years
Tethered to a ringing telephone
In a room full of mirrors
A pretty girl in your bathroom
Checking out her sex appeal
I asked myself when you said you loved me
"Do you think this can be real?"
Still, I sent up my prayer
Wondering where it had to go
With heaven full of astronauts
And the Lord on death row
While the millions of his lost and lonely ones
Call out and clamor to be found
Caught in the struggle for higher position
And the search for love that sticks around
You've had lots of lovely women
Now you turn your gaze to me
Weighing the beauty and the imperfection
To see if I'm worthy
Like the church
Like a cop
Like a mother
You want me to be truthful
Sometimes you turn it on me like a weapon though
And I need your approval
Still, I sent up my prayer
Wondering who was there to hear
I said "send me somebody
Who's strong and somewhat sincere"
With the millions of the lost and lonely ones
I called out to be released
Caught in my struggle for higher achievements
And my search for love
That don't seem to cease
Anton Taiki
my all time favourite Joni Mitchell song - listening now in 2019
B Smith
So now in 2020 at the tender age of 68 yrs. old, I ask you...find me something better than this album from 1974...we had so much music in that time that we didn't know what we had until it was gone...