by The great Canadian singer and songwriter Joni Mitchell wrote a powerful song in 1969 when she was 26 years old called The Fiddle and the Drum. Joni wrote the song as a concerned friend of the United States and now, nearly forty years later, her words still ring and sting with a righteous vengeance as exampled in this pointed excerpt:
You say I have turned
Like the enemies you’ve earned
But I can remember
All the good things you are
And so I ask you please
Can I help you find the peace and the star
Oh, my friend
What time is this
To trade the handshake for the fist
And so once again
Oh, America my friend
And so once again
You are fighting us all
And when we ask you why
You raise your sticks and cry and we fall
Oh, my friend
How did you come
To trade the fiddle for the drum
The magic of Mitchell’s music is how it can bend time and force remembrance.
And so once again we are all transfixed as she pulls the lessons of 1969 forward under our noses in 2006.
And so once again we are all left wondering how we came to give up our love of the sound of the fiddle after harvest in exchange for the booming drum of war beating across nations far from our fields at home.
I just love Joni Mitchell! That song was said to ruin her first album.
I know “The Fiddle and the Drum” was not well-liked by many in 1969 and some critics did believe it ruined her “Clouds” album but I am uncertain if they took the point of her song or not.
The point of her song is sharp but when you’re meeting a dull mind you don’t get much bounce. I wonder how the 60’s protest groups like Peter, Paul and Mary feel about reliving the whole war thing.
It must be a freakish nightmare to have to live the protestations against war all over again. Many are re-rising to the call of duty to protect the historic honor of Freedom of Speech in the USA, though.
Joni Mitchell rocks! I love her so! She must feel like in a timewarp from the 60’s to now and all the mess in the world.
Hi Alexis!
I agree it must be a curious feeling to feel you have to re-fight for peace and universal freedom in your 60’s when you were doing that in your 20’s in the 1960’s!
There’s no retirement for the weary today. I remember seeing Joni Mitchell on television when I was young. She was so young back then but so wise too.
I’m glad you remember Joni from way back, Alexis! I don’t remember much of her early career, but I do have the “Rock Icons” DVD of “The Dick Cavett Show” from 1969 where she sang “The Fiddle and the Drum” a cappella on the show live. It is a glorious and haunting performance!
Jefferson Airplane and David Crosby and Stephen Stills were all on that same show — and all so young and talented and raw and beautiful – and they all just returned from performing at Woodstock.
You know David I think I remember that Dick Cavett show and it was her coming out party, right? No one really knew her then. She was wearing a flowing dress.
You are right, Alexis! Joni was sort of awkward and insecure on the Cavett show, but her supreme talent gave her confidence beyond her years. She wore a long, flowing, green dress.
She sang all by herself on “Fiddle” and played piano on another song.
It was a truly magical set and Dick Cavett, a good ole Lincoln, Nebraska boy who made good and graduated from Lincoln High School, found his own way on that memorable show.
I remember her on that show, David. I remember.
Me too, Alexis, me too.
I have only listened the A Perfect Circle version only, I must confess. That’s how I met this song. I’m not even American nor Canadian, and I know just a little bit about Joni Mitchell, from TV documentals, and stuff like that. But when I heard this song for the first time, I felt something deep down inside. It really moved me. And I looked for info about this song, and that’s how I found this website. The lyrics are powerful, touching, and I bet they were felt with mixed and perhaps opposite feelings when it was heard for the first time back in the 60’s. Now I think I missed those moments, but blame it on me… I hadn’t been born. I’m only 29 (Only?) Anyway… I just wanted to comment on this song. Thanks…
Hi keithxdan —
Joni Mitchell is a huge talent. If you catch her performance of this song on the Dick Cavett CD you’ll see her young and full of promise and you’ll know what a real star looks like in the hand.
Hi
I heard this song first time tonight and I was struck by the wisdom
it has resonances for all
And I will continue to support hurling over football
I agree it is a wise and resonant song, walter.
Welcome to the blog!
Hurling is a unique delight.