Ladies of the Canyon – English Lyrics

• By: Joni Mitchell
• Album: Ladies of the Canyon

Lyrics & Translation

Step into the vibrant world of Joni Mitchell's "Ladies of the Canyon" and unlock a rich tapestry of language and imagery. This song offers a beautiful glimpse into a unique historical and cultural moment, the Laurel Canyon scene, and introduces you to vivid character sketches. Through Mitchell's poetic lyrics and nuanced vocal delivery, you can explore expressions related to creative pursuits, community life, and the celebration of individuality. Paying close attention to her descriptive language will enhance your understanding of English through storytelling and evocative phrasing, making it a special piece for language learners and music lovers alike.

[English]

Trinna wears her wampum beads

She fills her drawing book with lines

Sewing lace on widows weeds

And filigree on leaf and vine

Vine and leave are filigree

And her coat's a second hand one

Trimmed with antique luxury

She is a Lady of the Canyon

Annie sits you down to eat

She always makes you welcome in

Cats and babies round her feet

And all are fat and none are thin

None are thin and all are fat

She may bake some brownies today

Saying, "You are welcome back"

She is another Canyon Lady

Estrella, circus girl

Comes wrapped in songs and gypsy shawls

Songs like tiny hammers hurled

At beveled mirrors in empty halls

Empty halls and beveled mirrors

Sailing seas and climbing banyans

Come out for a visit here

To be a Lady of the Canyon

...

Trinna takes her paints and her threads

And she weaves a pattern all her own

Annie bakes her cakes and her breads

And she gathers flowers for her home

For her home she gathers flowers

And Estrella, dear companion

Colors up the sunshine hours

Pouring music down the Canyon

Coloring the sunshine hours

They are the Ladies of the Canyon

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
wears /werz/ A1	verb - to have clothing on one's body
drawing /ˈdrɔːɪŋ/ A2	noun - a picture made with a pencil, pen, or crayon
sewing /ˈsoʊɪŋ/ A1	verb - to join or attach something by making stitches with a needle and thread
lace /leɪs/ B1	noun - a fine open fabric of cotton or silk made by looping, plaiting, or twisting thread in patterns
weeds /wiːdz/ B1	noun - a wild plant growing where it is not wanted and in competition with cultivated plants
filigree /ˈfɪlɪɡriː/ B2	noun - ornamental work of fine (typically gold or silver) wire formed into delicate tracery.
vine /vaɪn/ A2	noun - a climbing plant that bears grapes
coat /koʊt/ A1	noun - an outer garment worn outdoors
trimmed /trɪmd/ B1	verb - to decorate (something), typically along an edge
antique /ænˈtiːk/ B1	adjective - having a high value because of age
luxury /ˈlʌkʃəri/ B2	noun - a state of great comfort or elegance, especially when involving great expense
cats /kæts/ A1	noun - a small domesticated carnivorous mammal with soft fur, a short snout, and retractile claws
babies /ˈbeɪbiz/ A1	noun - a very young child
fat /fæt/ A1	adjective - having a large amount of excess flesh
bake /beɪk/ A1	verb - to cook (food) by dry heat without direct exposure to a flame, typically in an oven
circus /ˈsɜːrkəs/ A2	noun - a traveling company of performers that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, etc.
gypsy /ˈdʒɪpsi/ B1	adjective - relating to or characteristic of gypsies
mirrors /ˈmɪrərz/ A2	noun - a reflective surface, now typically of glass coated with a metallic substance, that reflects a clear image.
empty /ˈempti/ A2	adjective - containing nothing; not filled or occupied.
sailing /ˈseɪlɪŋ/ A2	verb - to travel in a boat with sails, especially as a sport or recreation
climbing /ˈklaɪmɪŋ/ A1	verb - to go up or ascend
companion /kəmˈpænjən/ B2	noun - a person or animal with whom one spends a lot of time or with whom one travels
sunshine /ˈsʌnʃaɪn/ A2	noun - direct sunlight unbroken by cloud.

Key Grammar Structures

• Trinna wears her wampum beads

  ➔ Simple Present Tense (Habitual Action)

  ➔ The verb "wears" is in the simple present tense, indicating a habitual or recurring action. Trinna regularly wears her wampum beads.

• Sewing lace on widows weeds

  ➔ Present Participle as a Verb (Describing an action in progress or a characteristic)

  ➔ "Sewing" is a present participle used as a verb, describing an action in progress. It provides detail about Trinna's activities.

• She is a Lady of the Canyon

  ➔ Simple Present Tense (State of Being)

  ➔ "Is" is the simple present form of the verb "to be", indicating a state of being. It identifies Trinna as a Lady of the Canyon.

• She always makes you welcome in

  ➔ Adverb of Frequency (always) with Simple Present Tense

  ➔ "Always" is an adverb of frequency indicating how often Annie makes you welcome. It's used with the simple present tense "makes" to describe a recurring action.

• Cats and babies round her feet

  ➔ Prepositional Phrase (Spatial Relationship)

  ➔ "Round her feet" is a prepositional phrase indicating the spatial relationship between the cats and babies and Annie. "Round" functions as a preposition.

• Saying, "You are welcome back"

  ➔ Present Participle as Adverbial Modifier (Giving Reason/Explanation)

  ➔ "Saying" is a present participle functioning as an adverbial modifier, explaining why Annie may bake brownies. It indicates the reason for the action that follows.

• Comes wrapped in songs and gypsy shawls

  ➔ Past Participle as Adjective (Passive Voice Implied)

  ➔ "Wrapped" is a past participle used as an adjective to describe Estrella. It implies a passive voice construction (she is wrapped).

• Songs like tiny hammers hurled

  ➔ Simile with 'like' and Past Participle as Adjective

  ➔ The sentence uses a simile with "like" to compare songs to tiny hammers. "Hurled" is a past participle used as an adjective, describing the hammers.

• Come out for a visit here

  ➔ Imperative Mood (Direct Command or Invitation)

  ➔ "Come out" is an imperative verb, offering a direct invitation to visit.