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".
Talk
Joni Mitchell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I didn't know I drank such a lot
'Til I pissed a tequila anaconda
The full length of the parking lot
Oh, I talk too loose
Again, I talk too open and free
I pay a high price for my open talking
Like you do for your silent mystery
Come and talk to me
Please talk to me
Talk to me, talk to me
Mr. Mystery
We could talk about Martha
We could talk about landscapes
I'm not above gossip
But I'll sit on a secret where honor is at stake
Or we could talk about power
About Jesus and Hitler and Howard Hughes
Or Charlie Chaplin's movies
Or Bergman's nordic blues
Please just talk to me
Any old theme you choose
Just come and talk to me
Mr. Mystery, talk to me
You could talk like a fool, I'd listen
You could talk like a sage
Anyway the best of my mind
All goes down on the strings and the page
That mind picks up all these pictures
It still gets my feet up to dance
Even though it's covered with keyloids
From the "slings and arrows of outrageous romance"
I stole that from Willy the Shake
You know, "neither a borrower nor a lender be"
Romeo, Romeo, talk to me
Is your silence that golden?
Are you comfortable in it?
Is it the key to your freedom
Or is it the bars on your prison?
Are you gagged by your ribbons?
Are you really exclusive or just miserly?
You spend every sentence as if it was marked currency
Come and spend some on me
Shut me up and talk to me
I'm always talking
Chicken squawking
Please talk to me
Ooh, talk to me
Ooh
The song "Talk to Me" by Joni Mitchell is a plea to a silent, mysterious man to open up and talk. The singer is frustrated because she talks too much and too openly, while this man remains silent and closed off. She has drunk too much tequila and knows she's paying a high price for her loose and open talk. She wants to sit down with the man and talk about anything - whether it's about Martha, landscapes, power, Jesus and Hitler, Howard Hughes, Charlie Chaplin's movies, or Bergman's Nordic blues - she just wants him to come and talk to her.
The singer believes that being silent could be a form of imprisonment -the man might be comfortable in his silence or find it to be the key to his freedom. On the other hand, he could be gagged by his ribbons or just miserly. The singer admires the power of his silence but wants him to open up and spend some sentences on her. She is the chicken squawking and always talking, whereas he is Mr. Mystery.
Overall, the song is about communication and how it can be challenging when there's a power dynamic involved. The singer wants to bridge the gap and get to know the man better but is struggling because of his silence. She wants to connect with him and hopes that he will open up and start talking.
Line by Line Meaning
There was a moon and a street lamp
The setting was serene and calming.
I didn't know I drank such a lot
I was surprised by how much I had to drink.
'Til I pissed a tequila anaconda
I drank so much tequila, my pee was like a snake.
The full length of the parking lot
My pee went all the way across the lot.
Oh, I talk too loose
I tend to speak without thinking.
Again, I talk too open and free
I'm often too candid and open with my words.
I pay a high price for my open talking
My honesty often comes at a cost.
Like you do for your silent mystery
Just as you pay a personal cost for being so mysterious.
Come and talk to me
Please open up and speak with me.
Please talk to me
I really want to hear from you.
Talk to me, talk to me
Just keep talking.
Mr. Mystery
You are quite the enigma.
We could talk about Martha
Let's talk about something, anything.
We could talk about landscapes
Seriously, anything.
I'm not above gossip
I admit, I like to hear the latest news.
But I'll sit on a secret where honor is at stake
I will keep important secrets out of respect.
Or we could talk about power
We could discuss strong leaders throughout history.
About Jesus and Hitler and Howard Hughes
We could discuss individuals who had significant impacts.
Or Charlie Chaplin's movies
Let's talk about the classics.
Or Bergman's nordic blues
I'm open to discussing thought-provoking films as well.
Please just talk to me
I really want to hear what you have to say.
Any old theme you choose
Feel free to bring up anything that comes to mind.
Just come and talk to me
I'm begging you, don't keep your thoughts to yourself.
Mr. Mystery, talk to me
You know who you are, and I want you to speak up.
You could talk like a fool, I'd listen
I am always open to hearing from you, regardless of how you present yourself.
You could talk like a sage
I respect your wisdom and would love to hear your thoughts.
Anyway the best of my mind
Regardless of anything else, I always give my all in conversations.
All goes down on the strings and the page
I put my deepest thoughts and feelings into my music and writing.
That mind picks up all these pictures
My mind is constantly taking in and processing new information.
It still gets my feet up to dance
Even with all that's taken place, I am still able to find joy and move forward.
Even though it's covered with keyloids
Despite scars from previous relationships.
From the 'slings and arrows of outrageous romance'
From the difficulties and heartbreaks of love and relationships.
I stole that from Willy the Shake
Borrowing from Will Shakespeare himself.
You know, 'neither a borrower nor a lender be'
Taking heed of the words of the great playwright.
Romeo, Romeo, talk to me
A nod to Romeo and Juliet, and a plea to open up and speak with me.
Is your silence that golden?
Do you really feel that your silence is always a good thing?
Are you comfortable in it?
Are you okay with staying silent?
Is it the key to your freedom
Do you see your silence as liberating?
Or is it the bars on your prison?
Do you feel trapped in your silence?
Are you gagged by your ribbons?
Are you unable to speak, even when you want to?
Are you really exclusive or just miserly?
Are you just being picky with your words or stingy with information?
You spend every sentence as if it was marked currency
You are very careful with every word, as if it's precious.
Come and spend some on me
Open up and share your thoughts with me.
Shut me up and talk to me
Stop holding back, and let's engage in a real conversation.
I'm always talking
I'm always ready to converse and communicate.
Chicken squawking
Sometimes I can be loud or annoying, like a chicken.
Please talk to me
Let's keep the communication flowing.
Ooh, talk to me
I'm ready and waiting for some deep and honest conversation.
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Joni Mitchell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind