Both Sides Now – English Lyrics

• By: Joni Mitchell
• Album: Clouds

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the poignant beauty of Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now," a timeless exploration of life's changing perspectives. Through vivid imagery and heartfelt lyrics, this song encourages listeners to reflect on their own journeys and the wisdom gained through experience, offering a profound lesson in seeing the world from multiple angles.

[English]

Rows and flows of angel hair

And ice cream castles in the air

And feather canyons everywhere

I've looked at clouds that way

But now they only block the sun

They rain and snow on everyone

So many things I would've done

But clouds got in my way

I've looked at clouds from both sides now

From up and down, and still somehow

It's cloud illusions, I recall

I really don't know clouds at all

...

Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels

The dizzy dancin' way you feel

As every fairy tale comes real

I've looked at love that way

But now it's just another show

You leave 'em laughin' when you go

And if you care, don't let them know

Don't give yourself away

I've looked at love from both sides now

From give and take, and still somehow

It's love's illusions, I recall

I really don't know love at all

...

Tears and fears and feeling proud

To say "I love you" right out loud

Dreams and schemes and circus crowds

I've looked at life that way

But now old friends are acting strange

They shake their heads, they say I've changed

Well, something's lost, but something's gained

In living every day

I've looked at life from both sides now

From win and lose and still somehow

It's life's illusions, I recall

I really don't know life at all

...

I've looked at life from both sides now

From up and down, and still somehow

It's life's illusions, I recall

I really don't know life at all

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
clouds /klaʊdz/ A1	noun - visible mass of condensed water vapor floating in the atmosphere
sun /sʌn/ A1	noun - the star that provides light and heat to Earth
rain /reɪn/ A1	verb - water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
snow /snoʊ/ A1	verb - water falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
sides /saɪdz/ A1	noun - a surface of an object
illusions /ɪˈluːʒənz/ B2	noun - a false idea or belief
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - an intense feeling of affection verb - to feel deep affection for someone
show /ʃoʊ/ A1	noun - a public performance or display
tears /tɪərz/ A2	noun - drops of clear salty liquid secreted from glands in the eye
fears /fɪərz/ A2	noun - an unpleasant emotion caused by the perception of danger, pain, or threat
life /laɪf/ A1	noun - the condition that distinguishes organisms from inorganic matter
dreams /driːmz/ A2	noun - a series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person's mind during sleep
friends /frendz/ A1	noun - a person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection
lost /lɒst/ A2	adjective - unable to find one's way; having disappeared or been taken away
gained /ɡeɪnd/ B1	verb - obtain or secure (something desired or valuable)

Key Grammar Structures

• So many things I would've done

  ➔ Conditional Perfect (Would have + past participle)

  ➔ The phrase "would've done" (would have done) expresses a hypothetical situation in the past that did not happen. It's used to imagine a different outcome if circumstances had been different. "So many things I "would've done"", implies regret or unrealized potential.

• But now they only block the sun

  ➔ Simple Present (they block)

  ➔ The use of the simple present tense "block" signifies a current or habitual action. It describes the clouds' current state or their regular behavior. "But now they only "block" the sun", describes clouds negative impact.

• It's cloud illusions, I recall

  ➔ Noun as adjective (cloud illusions), Simple Present (I recall)

  ➔ "Cloud" is used as an adjective to describe the type of illusions being discussed. "I recall" is in the simple present, indicating a memory or something that is generally true for the speaker. "It's "cloud illusions", I "recall"", refers back to the initial idealistic view of clouds now being recognised as deceptive.

• The dizzy dancin' way you feel

  ➔ Present Participle as adjective (dancin')

  ➔ "Dancin'" is a present participle used as an adjective to describe the noun "way". It gives more information about the nature of the way of feeling. "The dizzy "dancin'" way you feel", expresses the euphoric and carefree nature of early love.

• You leave 'em laughin' when you go

  ➔ Present Continuous (You leave 'em laughin')

  ➔ The use of present continuous with "leave 'em laughin'" describes an action happening around the time of speaking, indicating a continuous act when you leave a situation/relationship. "You leave 'em "laughin'" when you go", implying superficiality of the relationship.

• Well, something's lost, but something's gained

  ➔ Passive Voice (something's lost, something's gained)

  ➔ The passive voice is used to emphasize the result of the action (loss or gain) rather than the actor who caused it. "Well, something's "lost", but something's "gained"", implies an acceptance of the changes brought by life experiences.