1
I am a woman of heart and mind
With time on her hands
No child to raise
You come to me like a little boy
And I give you my scorn and my praise
You think I'm like your mother
Or another lover or your sister
Or the queen of your dreams
Or just another silly girl
When love makes a fool of me
After the rush when you come back down
You're always disappointed
Nothing seems to keep you high
Drive your bargains
Push your papers
Win your medals
Fuck your strangers
Don't it leave you on the empty side
I'm looking for affection and respect
A little passion
And you want stimulation, nothing more
That's what I think
But you know I'll try to be there for you
When your spirits start to sink
All this talk about holiness now
It must be the start of the latest style
Is it all books and words
Or do you really feel it?
Do you really laugh?
Do you really care?
Do you really smile
When you smile?
You criticize and you flatter
You imitate the best
And the rest you memorize
You know the times you impress me most
Are the times when you don't try
When you don't even try
With time on her hands
No child to raise
You come to me like a little boy
And I give you my scorn and my praise
You think I'm like your mother
Or another lover or your sister
Or the queen of your dreams
Or just another silly girl
When love makes a fool of me
After the rush when you come back down
You're always disappointed
Nothing seems to keep you high
Drive your bargains
Push your papers
Win your medals
Fuck your strangers
Don't it leave you on the empty side
I'm looking for affection and respect
A little passion
And you want stimulation, nothing more
That's what I think
But you know I'll try to be there for you
When your spirits start to sink
All this talk about holiness now
It must be the start of the latest style
Is it all books and words
Or do you really feel it?
Do you really laugh?
Do you really care?
Do you really smile
When you smile?
You criticize and you flatter
You imitate the best
And the rest you memorize
You know the times you impress me most
Are the times when you don't try
When you don't even try
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I agree strongly with most of what ZFT says about this song; it's an exposé of the parties to a relationship from both sides, with a critical eye on the male partner. It gets at something typical of many men that women used to have to put up with -- but it's not that simple; she seems to love him despite his selfishness in the relationship and other shortcomings. It's not just remarkable for what it expresses but how succinct it is -- under 40 lines, as it progresses through three verses, no chorus, and says so much in that short span. So, I was astonished at how incisive and direct it is when I first heard it in the '70s, and there was a long period when I sang it over and over to myself, trying to learn from or draw on it I think. It is a remarkable song, and in addition to the Dylan songs that ZFT mentions I'll add "Positively 4th Street," the song Joni credits for opening up lyric writing in ways no one had before ("You've got a lot of nerve to say you are my friend"). I'll only add that while it's a great song, it's not what everyone wants in a song, not upbeat or danceable or goofy or fun. If you like serious, poetic, insightful and meaningful lyrics tied to an enchanting melody, this is undoubtedly one of the greatest of those songs.
whoa, just noticed joni says "fuck" in this recording. she was pretty straight up, and definitely one of the most intelligent writers around, her dropping the f-bomb in that tone is pretty raw!
this is about one hell of a complicated relationship...
She was such an incredible writer.
This is probably the best written character study of a relationship I've ever heard in a song. Of all of her songs, this is the most raw, and the most honest. It's both analytical and emotional-- a combination that you never find in the male-dominated world of folk/rock music. Dylan managed both (Just Like a Woman, Idiot Wind, If You See Her Say Hello, Girl From the North Country, etc...) but never at the depth Joni paints here. First she analyzes herself; then she analyzes her guy down to his rawest self; then she concedes that she loves him anyway, despite her better instincts.
Honestly, this may be one of the greatest songs ever written.
Ever.
This is probably the best written character study of a relationship I've ever heard in a song. Of all of her songs, this is the most raw, and the most honest. It's both analytical and emotional-- a combination that you never find in the male-dominated world of folk/rock music. Dylan managed both (Just Like a Woman, Idiot Wind, If You See Her Say Hello, Girl From the North Country, etc...) but never at the depth Joni paints here. First she analyzes herself; then she analyzes her guy down to his rawest self; then she concedes that she loves him anyway, despite her better instincts.
Honestly, this may be one of the greatest songs ever written.
Ever.
Is this song about James Taylor?
@eric117589 JT doesn't strike me as a paper pusher or bargain driver kind of guy.
@eric117589 yes, it’s about James Taylor, who Joni had just come out of a relationship with. In fact most of the For The Roses album references that relationship.