From Both Sides Now
Roger Whittaker Lyrics

Bows and flows of angel hair
I used to see the world as a beautiful and wondrous place, filled with things often associated with heaven and holiness

And ice cream castles in the air
I used to dream of impossible, fantastical things that were sweet and cleverly constructed in my head

And feather canyons everywhere
I used to imagine landscapes made of light, delicate materials and dreamlike formations

I've looked at clouds that way
My perspective was idyllic and fanciful, and I used to see clouds as part of the ethereal beauty of the world

But now they only block the sun
With time, clouds became mere obstacles to my daily routine and no longer inspired me in the same way

They rain and they snow on everyone
I began to see the nuisance of clouds, with their tendency to cause distress among people through rain, snow, and storms

So many things I would have done
I lament the lost opportunities and the things I did not achieve because of the obstacles that clouds posed in my perception

But clouds got in my way
My fanciful, idealistic way of seeing clouds has been replaced by the reality of their inconvenience and obstructions

I've looked at clouds from both sides now
I've seen the romantic, dreamy view of clouds, and I've also seen the practical, inconvenient view of clouds

From up and down, and still somehow
No matter from which perspective I look at clouds, they are still imperfections in an otherwise beautiful view

It's cloud illusions I recall
I remember the illusions of beauty and wonder that I associated with clouds, but these illusions are no longer part of my reality

I really don't know clouds at all
I used to think of clouds as part of an idyllic world, but now I realize I know very little about their true nature and their impact on everyday life

Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels
I used to associate love with romantic, idealistic things like the moon, the month of June, and the childish excitement of a Ferris wheel

The dizzy dancing way that you feel
I felt happy and elated about love in a way that felt almost disorienting, like a dizzying dance

As every fairy tale comes real
I was hopeful that love would be just like a fairy tale and lead to a happily ever after scenario

But now it's just another show
I've come to see love as a performance or a game, rather than the romantic fairytale I once believed it to be

And you leave 'em laughing when you go
When a relationship ends, others often see it as a joke or as just another silly show to be entertained by

And if you care, don't let them know
If you really care about someone, you shouldn't let other people know or they will use it against you

Don't give yourself away
Don't reveal your true feelings or intentions - people will use them against you

I've looked at love from both sides now
I've seen the romantic, idealistic view of love, and I've also seen the pragmatic, unromantic view of love

From give and take, and still somehow
No matter how I try to look at love (e.g. with a giving spirit and willingness to compromise), there is still something elusive and puzzling about it

It's love's illusions I recall
I remember the romantic, idealistic notions that I associated with love, but these are no longer part of my reality

I really don't know love
I used to think of love as something pure and idealistic, but now I see that it is full of contradictions and complexities that I cannot fully understand

Really don't know love at all
In reality, I know next to nothing about love and what it truly means or entails

Tears and fears and feeling proud
I experienced a wide range of emotions - sadness, anxiety, and pride - in connection to love and romance

To say "I love you" right out loud
I believed that verbalizing your love to someone was an essential part of the romantic experience

Dreams and schemes and circus crowds
I imagined grandiose dreams and ambitious plans for my romantic future, but these were often undermined by the chaotic environment that love and relationships can create

I've looked at life that way
Similar to my idealistic view of love and romance, I used to see life in a fanciful and idyllic way

Oh but now old friends they're acting strange
As I've grown older and more disillusioned, I notice that my old friends seem strange and distant to me

And they shake their heads
My friends seem to disapprove of my new outlook on life and love, and they cannot understand why I've changed so much

And they tell me that I've changed
My friends confront me with the fact that I've changed and that I'm no longer the person they knew and loved

Well something's lost but something's gained
Although I've lost some of my idealism and naiveté, I've also gained a deeper understanding of the complexity and nuance of life

In living every day
By experiencing and adapting to the challenges of everyday life, I've gained a new perspective on what is important and valuable

I've looked at life from both sides now
I've seen the idealistic, fanciful view of life, and I've also seen the practical, realistic view of life

From win and lose and still somehow
No matter how I try to look at life (e.g. as a winner or a loser), there is still something elusive and puzzling about it

It's life's illusions I recall
I remember the idealistic, fanciful notions that I associated with life, but these are no longer part of my reality

I really don't know life at all
Despite my experience and my acquired wisdom, there is still so much that I don't know and cannot fully understand about life

It's life's illusions I recall
Even though I have left behind some of my idealistic views, I still remember them fondly and with a sense of nostalgia

I really don't know life
I may have gained some wisdom and experience throughout my life, but in the end, I still realize how little I know and how much there is to still learn and understand

I really don't know life at all
Despite a long and varied life, there is still so much mystery and complexity that is beyond our comprehension