This is one of Joni Mitchell's most impressionistic lyrics. Unlike much of her wriiting, an exact meaning is elusive. Metaphor runs rampant here; words and short phrases are used to suggest much larger concepts.
I think it's about nightlife, specifically the Harlem jazz clubs of the early 20th century. The mention of painter Henri Rousseau links the jazz club imagery to ideas of primitivism, wilderness, and the untrained creative impulse. It also links the Afrocnetric to the Eurocentric, which seems to be another theme here.
The cathartic experience of the wild and untamed urban nightlife is tempered by a hint of danger, as evidenced by references to poppies as a symbol of both war dead and drug use.
Much like Rousseau in the lyric, Joni is painting a scene for us here, as opposed to detaailing specific events.
This is one of my favorite Joni Mitchell songs. A truly outstanding piece of work.
This is one of Joni Mitchell's most impressionistic lyrics. Unlike much of her wriiting, an exact meaning is elusive. Metaphor runs rampant here; words and short phrases are used to suggest much larger concepts. I think it's about nightlife, specifically the Harlem jazz clubs of the early 20th century. The mention of painter Henri Rousseau links the jazz club imagery to ideas of primitivism, wilderness, and the untrained creative impulse. It also links the Afrocnetric to the Eurocentric, which seems to be another theme here. The cathartic experience of the wild and untamed urban nightlife is tempered by a hint of danger, as evidenced by references to poppies as a symbol of both war dead and drug use. Much like Rousseau in the lyric, Joni is painting a scene for us here, as opposed to detaailing specific events. This is one of my favorite Joni Mitchell songs. A truly outstanding piece of work.