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".
Urge for Going
Joni Mitchell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It hovered in a frozen sky, then it gobbled summer down
When the sun turns traitor cold
And all trees are shivering in a naked row
I get the urge for going but I never seem to go
I get the urge for going
When the meadow grass is turning brown
I had me a man in summertime
He had summer-colored skin
And not another girl in town
My darling's heart could win
But when the leaves fell on the ground
And bully winds came around pushed them face down in the snow
He got the urge for going and I had to let him go
He got the urge for going
When the meadow grass was turning brown
And summertime was falling down and winter was closing in
Now the warriors of winter they gave a cold triumphant shout
And all that stays is dying and all that lives is getting out
See the geese in chevron flight flapping and racing on before the snow
They've got the urge for going and they've got the wings so they can go
They get the urge for going
When the meadow grass is turning brown
Summertime is falling down and winter is closing in
I'll ply the fire with kindling and pull the blankets to my chin
I'll lock the vagrant winter out and I'll bolt my wandering in
I'd like to call back summertime and have her stay for just another month or so
But she's got the urge for going so I guess she'll have to go
She get the urge for going when the meadow grass is turning brown
And all her empires are falling down
And winter's closing in
And I get the urge for going when the meadow grass is turning brown
And summertime is falling down
The lyrics of Joni Mitchell's "Urge for Going" present a theme of change and transition, specifically the change of seasons from summer to winter. The first verse describes the singer's feeling of restlessness when she sees the first signs of winter and how the summer rushed by so quickly, as if it was "gobbled" up. Despite her desire to leave and start anew, she never actually goes. In the second verse, the singer reminisces about a past summer love that ended when the leaves changed and winter arrived. Her lover left when he felt the "urge for going." This sets the stage for the final verse where the singer resigns herself to winter's arrival and prepares to brace for the cold. She expresses a desire to keep the warmth of summer, but ultimately knows she has to let it go.
The imagery and lyrics used in this song highlight Mitchell's talent for painting a vivid picture with her words. The lyrics convey a sense of urgency that arises from the change of seasons and how it can affect people's emotions and lives. Mitchell's vocals and poetic lyrics make the listener feel as though they're experiencing the same emotions as the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
I awoke today and found the frost perched on the town
Upon waking up today, Joni Mitchell noticed that frost has settled on the town.
It hovered in a frozen sky, then it gobbled summer down
The frost seemed to be in the sky, frozen and motionless, and it devoured the last remains of summer.
When the sun turns traitor cold
When the sun becomes cold and turns traitor, breaking the promise of warmth and comfort associated with summer.
And all trees are shivering in a naked row
During the cold season, the bare trees appear to be shaking in a naked uniform line, further emphasizing the bleak atmosphere of winter.
I get the urge for going but I never seem to go
Joni feels like leaving and going away from the town, but circumstances seem to prevent her from doing so.
When the meadow grass is turning brown
The color of the grass in the meadow showing the onset of fall indicates a time of transition and change.
Summertime is falling down and winter is closing in
The end of summer marks the arrival of winter.
He had summer-colored skin
Joni's man had tan and glowing skin that's typical of summer.
But when the leaves fell on the ground
With the falling of the leaves indicating the end of summer comes a realization of letting go of something that once was there.
He got the urge for going and I had to let him go
Joni's man also needed to go, prompted by the changing of seasons, and she had no choice but to let him go.
Now the warriors of winter they gave a cold triumphant shout
The war that winter has won against summer is marked by its ability to make its presence felt while the temperatures keep dropping.
And all that stays is dying and all that lives is getting out
The winter season sees a lot of dark, dormant energy, causing everything else that lives to seek out other places to thrive.
See the geese in chevron flight flapping and racing on before the snow
The sight of the geese flying away in the sky before the snow comes is emblematic of the natural flow of seasons and creatures that live in it.
They've got the urge for going and they've got the wings so they can go
Geese have the ability to fly away and achieve what Joni desires-to go wherever they wish to go- because of their wings.
I'll ply the fire with kindling and pull the blankets to my chin
Joni plans to stay indoors during winter, keeping herself warm by using a fire and pulling blankets to her chin.
I'd like to call back summertime and have her stay for just another month or so
Like other fields and creatures, even Joni wishes for summer to stay just a little bit longer.
But she's got the urge for going so I guess she'll have to go
Since even summertime has got the urge to leave, Joni accepts the inevitable leaving of summer as part of transitioning to another season.
And all her empires are falling down
The summer reign is coming to an end, signified by the collapse of empires associated with summer.
And I get the urge for going when the meadow grass is turning brown
Joni likewise feels the need to leave when the meadow grass is discolored from the summer green, indicating the arrival of fall.
And summertime is falling down
Summer can no longer hold out against the change in the seasons.
Lyrics © Crazy Crow Music / Siquomb Music Publishing
Written by: Joni Mitchell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
KM ROCKS
I awoke today and found the frost perched on the town
It hovered in a frozen sky, then it gobbled summer down
When the sun turns traitor cold
And all trees are shivering in a naked row
I get the urge for going but I never seem to go
I get the urge for going
When the meadow grass is turning brown
Summertime is falling down and winter is closing in
I had me a man in summertime
He had summer-colored skin
And not another girl in town
My darling's heart could win
But when the leaves fell on the ground
And bully winds came around pushed them face down in the snow
He got the urge for going and I had to let him go
He got the urge for going
When the meadow grass was turning brown
And summertime was falling down and winter was closing in
Now the warriors of winter they gave a cold triumphant shout
And all that stays is dying and all that lives is getting out
See the geese in chevron flight flapping and racing on before the snow
They've got the urge for going and they've got the wings so they can go
They get the urge for going
When the meadow grass is turning brown
Summertime is falling down and winter is closing in
I'll ply the fire with kindling and pull the blankets to my chin
I'll lock the vagrant winter out and I'll bolt my wandering in
I'd like to call back summertime and have her stay for just another month or so
But she's got the urge for going so I guess she'll have to go
She get the urge for going when the meadow grass is turning brown
And all her empires are falling down
And winter's closing in
And I get the urge for going when the meadow grass is turning brown
And summertime is falling down
Clayton W. Munsey
Urge For Going
Joni Mitchell
I awoke today and found the frost perched on the town
It hovered in a frozen sky, then it gobbled summer down
When the sun turns traitor cold
and all trees are shivering in a naked row
I get the urge for going but I never seem to go
I get the urge for going
When the meadow grass is turning brown
Summertime is falling down and winter is closing in
I had me a man in summertime
He had summer-colored skin
And not another girl in town
My darling's heart could win
But when the leaves fell on the ground
And bully winds came around pushed them face down in the snow
He got the urge for going and I had to let him go
He got the urge for going
When the meadow grass was turning brown
And summertime was falling down and winter was closing in
Now the warriors of winter they gave a cold triumphant shout
And all that stays is dying and all that lives is getting out
See the geese in chevron flight flapping and racing on before the snow
They've got the urge for going and they've got the wings so they can go
They get the urge for going
When the meadow grass is turning brown
Summertime is falling down and winter is closing in
I'll ply the fire with kindling and pull the blankets to my chin
I'll lock the vagrant winter out and I'll bolt my wandering in
I'd like to call back summertime and have her stay for just another month or so
But she's got the urge for going so I guess she'll have to go
She get the urge for going when the meadow grass is turning brown
And all her empires are falling down
And winter's closing in
And I get the urge for going when the meadow grass is turning brown
And summertime is falling down
Randel Bailey
Joni will never know how much she has affected us with her music. I'm 67 this year, and have been a continuous fan for all this time. Love you so much, Joni, for so many things.
Ufoman
Hope your still with us Joni Fans . God Bless, man.
deepfriedsammich
The song is timeless, a classic. Mitchell's metaphor would speak to anyone who has lived with winter, and experienced it and its effects personally. Her relating of grief and loss to winter is also something that transcends time. Play the song for people today and they would still understand, still feel what Mitchell is evoking, emotionally. What our age has to do with it (I'm 60, myself) is that the song was popular at a time when people who are our age now got to experience it. ;)
Audrey Sokoki
Same age and same opinion as you
Symbalon Smiradion
Just arrived at 50.
I think Joni knows how much affected us.
The Circle Game is my very favorite of hers.
Peter K
69 going on 70... (EU - NL) love her music & fascinated by her since a friend played Court&Spark record HiSchool time
KM ROCKS
I awoke today and found the frost perched on the town
It hovered in a frozen sky, then it gobbled summer down
When the sun turns traitor cold
And all trees are shivering in a naked row
I get the urge for going but I never seem to go
I get the urge for going
When the meadow grass is turning brown
Summertime is falling down and winter is closing in
I had me a man in summertime
He had summer-colored skin
And not another girl in town
My darling's heart could win
But when the leaves fell on the ground
And bully winds came around pushed them face down in the snow
He got the urge for going and I had to let him go
He got the urge for going
When the meadow grass was turning brown
And summertime was falling down and winter was closing in
Now the warriors of winter they gave a cold triumphant shout
And all that stays is dying and all that lives is getting out
See the geese in chevron flight flapping and racing on before the snow
They've got the urge for going and they've got the wings so they can go
They get the urge for going
When the meadow grass is turning brown
Summertime is falling down and winter is closing in
I'll ply the fire with kindling and pull the blankets to my chin
I'll lock the vagrant winter out and I'll bolt my wandering in
I'd like to call back summertime and have her stay for just another month or so
But she's got the urge for going so I guess she'll have to go
She get the urge for going when the meadow grass is turning brown
And all her empires are falling down
And winter's closing in
And I get the urge for going when the meadow grass is turning brown
And summertime is falling down
Cindy Zapf
Another great song
Sonja Gavett
I too have always been haunted this song. Heard Tom Rush's version in 1970 and it is still my favorite. My wife always loved it, I played it for her when we met in '71. It was the opening song for the Celebration of Her Life this last spring. She got the urge for going and I had to let her go. i hope she still loves it, make me cry every time. Fly on, Little Wing
Dan Lincoln
I like Tom's better. JMO