Both Sides Now
Reeves Dianne Lyrics

Bows and flows of angel hair
The curly and flowing locks of hair that resemble angelic beauty.

And ice cream castles in the air
The fanciful castles made of ice cream that exist only in the imagination.

And feather canyons everywhere
The soft, fluffy canyons that seem to stretch out for miles and are everywhere in sight.

I've looked at clouds that way
I used to see the world as a place full of whimsy and imagination.

But now they only block the sun
Now, clouds are merely obstructions and get in the way of what I want or need.

They rain and snow on everyone
Clouds are not choosy about who they pour their precipitation over, and that can be problematic.

So many things I would have done
There were so many activities or goals that I had planned but couldn't follow through due to unforeseen emotional setbacks.

But clouds go in my way
Clouds seem to always block the way, metaphorically speaking, causing difficulties and disruptions.

I've looked at clouds from both sides now
I've observed clouds from different perspectives, both from above and from below, but have never been able to fully understand them.

From up and down
I have viewed clouds from the vantage points of being up high and down low.

And still somehow
Despite all that experience, I still haven't been able to grasp the true nature of clouds.

It's cloud illusions I recall
What I remember most vividly are my illusions about clouds, not their actual appearance or properties.

I really don't know clouds
I am essentially unfamiliar with clouds and their vagaries.

At all
I am clueless and completely in the dark when it comes to understanding clouds.

Moons and Junes and ferris wheels
The poetic conveyance of an idealistic life of childish wonder, bolstered by the imagery of natural beauty and playful amusements.

The dizzy dancing way you feel
The joyous and exhilarating feeling one experiences when lost in the mad rush of life.

As every fairy tale comes real
The point of time or moment when everything feels so perfect that it's as though a fairytale has come to life.

I've looked at love that way
I have, at one point, held romantic love in high esteem, as an idealistic fairytale-like notion.

But now it's just another show you leave
Now, instead of having true, profound love that lasts a lifetime, love is more like a show, like entertainment, something that doesn't last.

Them laughing when you go
Others might react to the end of a love affair with laughter; this love was never serious or genuine, after all.

And if you care don't let them know
If you really care about someone who is leaving, you won't want to tell them or do anything that might make them laugh or think you are foolish.

Don't give yourself away
You should hold back your feelings and emotions and never let them show, even if it means not being honest or truthful.

I've looked at love from both sides now
I have experienced love from different angles, the highest idealistic notions and the more pragmatic and harsh reality.

From give and take
I've had love where both partners give and take equally from each other, and love where one partner dominates or controls the relationship.

And still somehow
Despite gaining experience, it seems there is much yet to learn about love.

It's love's illusions I recall
Even if I cannot fully understand love, it's the blissful memories and the optimistic concept of love that I still hold onto.

I really don't know love
I am not confident I can distinguish between what true love is and what it might / used to be like in my head.

At all
I haven't got a grasp on love; it is still incredibly foreign and difficult to understand.

Tears and fears and feeling proud
The rollercoaster of emotions experienced throughout one's lifetime-- the times of sadness or terror mixed with periods of joy and pride.

To say I love you right aloud
The ability to be honest and open with others about one's romantic feelings, even if it risks being vulnerable or feeling foolish.

Dreams and schemes and circus crowds
The wide array of desires, goals, and masses of people one might find themselves interacting with at various points in life.

I've looked at life that way
I viewed life through a lens of endless possibilities and potential happiness.

But now old friends are acting strange
In the present, friends that I have had for years are no longer like they used to be; they act standoffish or less interested in me.

They shake their heads, they say I've changed
Others are noticing a change in me, one that may be hard to explain or comprehend.

Well something's lost but something's gained
While there may have been a loss of something in transitioning to a different phase in life, there may also have been aspects gained or improved.

In living every day
Simply from experiencing life's ups and downs every day, one may gain new perspectives or unlock a new sense of self-awareness.

I've looked at life from both sides now
Examining life from the perspective of negatives and positives, of gains and losses, of regrets and pleasures.

From win and lose
Looking at life through times where one has won, and other times where one has lost.

And still somehow
Even after carefully examining life as thoroughly as possible, it still feels difficult to grasp or comprehend.

It's life's illusions I recall
In the end, what is recalled most vividly are the illusions or wishful thinking one may have had about life, not necessarily what has been experienced in reality.

I really don't know clouds
Similarly with the previous two stanzas, one remains skeptical of one's own understanding of such abstract and complex topics as clouds, love, and life.

I really don't know love

I really don't know life

At all