Album: Wildflowers (1967)

Charted: 14 8

License This Song 

• Bows 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 have 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's illusions I recall
  I really don't know clouds at all
  
  Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels the dizzy dancing way you feel
  When 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 win and lose 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
  Schemes and dreams 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
  But something's lost but something's gained in living every day
  
  I've looked at life from both sides now
  From give and take and still somehow
  It's life's illusions I recall
  I really don't know life at all Writer/s: Joni Mitchell
  Publisher: Reservoir Media Management, Inc., Wise Music Group
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 19

• Rusty Russell from Apex NcSongfacts mentions that this song was used in the British Film Love Actually. One of my favorite movies set around Christmas with so many storylines. When this song is used it is a gut wrenching scene. Emma Thompson really played that scene as a very raw emotional scene. Even though she was acting I could feel and understand the loss and the betrayal she felt.
  This song was one of the first songs I learned how to play on guitar. As great as the music is the lyrics are even better. Joni was able to comprehend so much at 23. It would seems as though from the lyrical content that it was written from someone who had ridden life's emotional journeys for a long time. Thinking back now that this folk song classic was able to hold it's own in 1967 against rock's changing sounds of psychedelia. It is nice to know that not everyone was trying to dull the pain of life by using drugs and alcohol then.
• Joseph Morris from Philadelphia PaWhat songs did Joni Mitchell write with or for Judy and vice a versa
• Shatteredvinyl from GeorgiaI personally always interpreted this song as how it feels when you realize the grass isn't so green on the "other side",and that being on the other side of the coin so to speak isn't what you thought,and feels the same as where you were before...the disillusionment and melancholy of realizing it's basically the same from both sides.And either way it's mostly just illusions and expectations.Example,as silly as it sounds,someone being an 'ugly duckling' in their youth and being mistreated because of it...then blooming into a very different,striking person who is pursued for their looks yet is still used and abused for other reasons...that person has seen life from both sides and still only has their illusions of how things should have been better,but the reality is just as harsh.
• Katie Trion2findhome from Reading Pa Some things stay with you. Engraved into your heart, memory, spirit and soul. I was 4 maybe 5 but I remember. WFIL on the AM dial, the back seat of my Mom's Cadillac Brougham. Didn't understand the words. Didn't matter. I knew how I felt listening to the lady and pretty music. It felt safe, happy and sad like coming home from school to find out that your dog got loose and is lost. Still feels that way 50 years later. Now I know the words and like reading the Bible the message and meanings become new and profound as my life unfolds into a (sometimes catastrophic) kaleidoscope of Kodak moments. To everyone who's read this I sincerely wish you a life filled with love, harmony, gratitude, peace, joy, mirth, kindness and awe. Find something beautiful by considering same things differently daily. Before you sleep thank you for being you. Love for the sake of Love and have faith in faith itself.
  Forever for you my friend
• Kawa from Tokyo, JapanHi Music lovers,
  
  I think the songwriter of this song, Joni Mitchell, wrote this song in 1968 to prove that she was able to write a song like Bob Dylan's very groundbreaking song 'Blowin' In The Wind' in 1962. Because Bob had been like an icon since PPM coverd the song and made a big hit in 1964.
  All the singer-songwriters like Paul Simon or Joni Mitchell had been trying to write a song like 'Blowin' In The Wind', I think. SO Joni finally did !
  That was the song. Because the structure of the song, 'Both Sides Now', was very similar to 'Blowin'. And More, everyone understands that it was written by the female artist but it tells us about life or has a very message song like 'Blowin'. So I think she wanted to and tried to write this song like 'Blowin' and she did, I mean she proved it ! It was great !
• Dan from Slc, UtThe imagery in "Both Sides Now" is wonderful. And the aspect of the song that I was most touched by is in the last chorus. To be reminded that we are only experiencing our illusions about everything and not directly experiencing anything is a pretty profound idea.
• Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn December 15th 1968 "Both Sides Now" by Judy Collins peaked at #8 (for 1 week) on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; it had entered the chart on November 3rd and spent 11 weeks on the Top 100...
  It reached #3 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Tracks chart...
  The song first appeared on her 1967 album 'Wildflowers'; the album reached #5 on Billboard's Pop Albums chart...
  Ms. Collins will celebrate her 75th birthday come next May 1st.
  
• Steve from Whittier, CaIce Cream castles is na good reference, likewise that harpzichord and stuff does make it a Celtic sounding tune at that. There is a slight lyric difference in the final chorus-"from win and lose" on single or LP to "from give and take" on the other, but which version is the single or lp? [They're otherwise same length].
  '
  
• Camille from Toronto, OhQuite a masterpiece.
• Peg from Daytona, FlI have more than one time been out in nature finding solace in looking up at the sky when this song entered my mind, and I was able this time to catch it in a different way. Joni Mitchell really touched on the connectedness of life- especially now that im older and reflecting alot. I really dont know love, life, clouds at all. the more you live, you realzie the less you know about life. my 2 cents.
• Mike from Santa Barbara, CaThis song was used during the opening ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada, during a sequence that was used to show the vast praries of western Canada.
• Paul from Washington Dc, DcI heard that Collins recorded this behind Joni's back against her wishes, and that they didn't get along too well afterwards. I suspect that they were also romantic rivals for that affections of one or more of the men in CSN. Anybody agree?
• David from Youngstown, OhGreat, great song. My favorite version is by Neil Diamond on his '69 album, Touching You, Touching Me.
• Howard from St. Louis Park, MnJudy Collins' first hit single also put Joni Mitchell on the musical map. It's one of my favorites that was also covered by other artists, including Neil Diamond. I like the line "Ice cream castles in the air."
• Patrick from Southhapton, NyThe song is about how we remember or erroniously view. What we hope and dream is so much better and stronger than the reality. This "non event" becomes our important unforgetable "instead" event, sad human and so so beautiful. Happens with lovers alot they embrace the great illusion, its enough.
• Jodi from London, OnTrish, I think it's pretty clear that this song is about the narrator having gained new insight through life experience and realized that the grass is not green on the other side of the mountain. It's very poignant and sad, and oozes with truth.
• Andy from Arlington, VaBest. Lyrics. Ever.
• Guy from Woodinville, WaThe entire song is a tour de force! In particular it has remarkably clear, to-the-point, expressive lyrics!
• Jay from Syracuse, NyThis is an exceptional case in which a "straighter" cover version improves on the original: Collins instinctively and rightly turns Mitchell's bluesy version into a Celtic folk tune. A beautiful and evocative song that holds up well.

More Songfacts:

Chelsea DaggerThe Fratellis

The Fratellis song "Chelsea Dagger" was named for their lead singer's wife - it was her burlesque name.

Gangnam StylePsy

YouTube had to upgrade after PSY's "Gangnam Style" broke their hit counter in 2012. Once the video reached 2,147,483,647 views, the maximum positive value for a 32-bit signed binary integer in computing, the view-counter could no longer work.

DaughterPearl Jam

When Pearl Jam plays "Daughter" live, they usually extend the ending so Eddie Vedder can improvise, saying or singing whatever is on his mind.

Foolish BeatDebbie Gibson

Debbie Gibson was 17 years old when "Foolish Beat" topped the Hot 100. This gave her the honor of becoming the youngest artist ever to write, perform, and produce a #1 single.

Writing's On The WallSam Smith

Sam Smith's "Writing's On The Wall" was the first ever James Bond theme song to reach #1 in the UK.

Hey MamaDavid Guetta

The bedrock of David Guetta's Nicki Minaj-featuring single "Hey Mama" is a sample of "Rosie," a 1940s prison recording from folk archivist Alan Lomax that songwriter Esther Dean first showed the French DJ on YouTube.

Editor's Picks

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)Songwriter Interviews

Before "Rap" was a form of music, it was something guys did to pick up girls in nightclubs. Donnie talks about "The Rapper" and reveals the identity of Leah.

KissFact or Fiction

Kiss is the subject of many outlandish rumors - some of which happen to be true. See if you can spot the fakes.

Dave MasonSongwriter Interviews

Dave reveals the inspiration for "Feelin' Alright" and explains how the first song he ever wrote became the biggest hit for his band Traffic.

Lou Gramm - "Waiting For A Girl Like You"They're Playing My Song

Gramm co-wrote this gorgeous ballad and delivered an inspired vocal, but the song was the beginning of the end of his time with Foreigner.

CommercialsFact or Fiction

Was "Ring Of Fire" really used to sell hemorrhoid cream?

Actors With Hit SongsMusic Quiz

Many actors have attempted music, but only a few have managed a hit. Do you know which of these thespians charted?