Free Man In Paris

by Joni Mitchell

Footnotes to Free Man In Paris

Champs Elysées
The Champs Elysées (Elysian fields) were originally nothing but fields, until Marie de Medicis decided in 1616 to put up a long tree-lined pathway. In 1667, Le Notre extended the vista of the Tuileries and the Champs-Elysees became a very fashionable place to walk. In 1724, the avenue was extended up to Chaillot hill, now the site of the Arc de Triomphe and the Etoile.

The actual avenue of the Champs-Elysées did not become city property until 1828, when they added footpaths and fountains. They also added gas lighting at this time.

Today, the Champs Elysées is one of the most famous streets in the world, with its cinemas, cafés, and luxury specialty shops. This special status made it the site of much growth and activity. At the very heart of Paris, it is one of the most symbolic places in the city, representative of its spirit and glory.

The glamour of the Champs-Élysées, particularly its upper end, may not be quite what it was, dominated as it is by airline offices, car showrooms, and bright, light shopping arcades. But there's still the Lido cabaret, Fouquet's high-class bar and restaurant, and plenty of cinemas and outrageously priced cafes to bring the punters in. At Christmas this is where the fairy lights go, and on December 31 everyone happily jams in, in their cars, to hoot in the New Year.

The new landscaping project has removed the avenue's side lanes where cars used to prowl in search of parking spaces, and now pedestrians have an equal share of the avenue's width, with shade from more trees. cultural centers, deluxe hotels and other activities that participate in the tradition and prestige of the Champs-Elysees are encouraged to return by the municipality.

The stretch between the Rond-Point roundabout - whose Lalique glass fountains disappeared during the German occupation -and Concorde is bordered by chestnut trees and municipal flower beds, pleasant enough to stroll among, but not sufficiently dense to muffle the squeal of accelerating tyres. The two massive buildings rising above the greenery to the south are the Grand and Petit Palais, with their overloaded Neoclassical exteriors, rail station roofs and exuberant flying statuary. They house a number of museums and the Grand Palais is the address for major cultural exhibitions, curtailed at the moment due to major restoration works.

On the north side, combat police guard the high walls round the presidential Elysee palace and the line of ministries and embassies ending with the US in prime position on the corner of place de la Concorde. On Thursdays and at weekends you can see a stranger manifestation of the self-images of states in the postage stamp market at the corner of avenues Gabriel and Marigny.

Guitar Transcriptions of Free Man In Paris

• Guitar chords by Mark Domyancich
• Guitar tablature by Howard Wright

Free Man In Paris has been recorded by 68 other artists

• A Bird That Whistles (from "A Bird That Whistles" - 1996)
• Alvarez, Guada (from "Homenaje a Joni Mitchell IX Festival Ondas de Jazz en la cuidad" - 2015)
• Baker, Cheryl  (from "Cheryl Sings Joni" - 2017)
• Big Faith (from "Back To The Garden" - 1992)
• Big Yellow (- 2016)
• Big Yellow Taxi (from "A Tribute To Joni Mitchell" - 2002)
• Black Crow (- 2010)
• Blue Tapestry (from "Blue Tapestry" - 2002)
• Bruce Isaacson with Red Seidman (from "Live at the Hog's Breath Saloon Key West" - 2003)
• CCRobin (from "The Last CCRobin Tapes" - 1998)
• Chappell Kingsland (from "this 'n' that" - )
• Colvin, Shawn  (from "(unreleased live performance)" - )
• Count Zero (from "Affluenza" - 1996)
• Court And Spark Band (- )
• David Johnson & Fake Zappa (from "In Search of Love and Music: A Tribute to Joni Mitchell" - 2019)
• Del Paggio, Marcelo (from "Completa Luz " - 2003)
• Diachun, Melody (from "Eq" - 2008)
• Diamond, Neil  (from "I'm Glad You're Here With Me Tonight" - 1977)
• Diane Rosenthal, Dave Egelhofer, & Deeme Katson (from "Strathmore Presents - A Tribute To Joni Mitchell" - 2009)
• Doug Organ Trio (from "Doug Organ Trio" - 2010)
• Eden, Joanna (from "Joni & Me" - 2016)
• Engling, Gail  (from "Just Because..." - 2012)
• Farley, Michael (from "VII" - 2018)
• Ford, Kimberly (from "A Celebration of Joni Mitchell" - 2015)
• Graham Blvd (from "Chartbusters 1974" - 2008)
• Henning Olsen Band (from "A Tribute Minus Mitchell" - 2004)
• Inside Out Jazz (from "Live At CJ's" - 2008)
• Isaacson, Bruce (from "All I Wanna Be Is Me" - 2010)
• Jazzbum/Daniel Davison (from "Impressions" - 2001)
• John, Elton (from "A Case Of Joni" - 2000)
• Jojo (from "Agape" - 2012)
• Jolize (from "North Spur" - 2004)
• Kennedy, Brian (from "A Love Letter To Joni" - 2013)
• King, Jonathon (from "A Rose In A Fisted Glove" - 1975)
• Lagan, Mandy (from "The Joni Book I" - 2016)
• Lewis, Al (from "The Covers EP Vol.1" - 2013)
• LRK Trio (- )
• Miller, Betsy  (from "Becology" - 2013)
• Milne, Andy (from "New Age of Aquarius" - 1999)
• Olympia (- 2016)
• Phish (- 2010)
• Pizzarelli, John (from "Double Exposure" - 2012)
• Rachel Z Trio (from "Moon At The Window" - 2002)
• Robin Adler & Mutts of the Planet (from "Joni Mitchell's Blue & Court And Spark - Live At Dizzy's" - 2011)
• Rossio, Carol  (from "Pardon My French" - 2011)
• Scattergood, Liz (- )
• Scott, Jennifer  (from "Emotional Girl" - 2005)
• Sessoms, Vivian (from "The Songs of Joni Mitchell: A Soulful Tribute" - 2017)
• Slean, Sarah (- 2007)
• Space Of A Day (from "Digital Single" - 2018)
• Steve Shapiro/Pat Bergeson (from "Backward Compatible" - 2008)
• Stevens, Sufjan (from "A Tribute To Joni Mitchell" - 2007)
• Susan Cowsill Band (from "Live at Carrollton Station Covered in Vinyl Series Vol. 1" - 2007)
• Sutton, Tierney  (from "After Blue" - 2013)
• The Acoustic Guitar Troubadours (from "Acoustic Instrumental Memories" - 2009)
• The Big Wu (- )
• The Cardinal Sinners (from "Live From Crowell!" - 1992)
• The Mighty Avalanche Choir (from "Great Wizard version 2" - 1976)
• The Rhythm Method (from "Immaculate Contraception" - )
• The Sound Effects (from "Autumn '74" - 1974)
• Thorpe, Billy (from "Solo (The Last Recordings)" - 2007)
• Tincher, Jeff (from "All I Want" - 2015)
• Tom Lum Forest (from "The Roots of Happiness" - 2014)
• Venice (from "Brunch Buffet" - 2016)
• Vrony & Support (- )
• White, Jay (from "Beautiful Noise (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)" - 2011)
• Winchell, Jimmy (from "Jimmy Winchell Gives You The Business" - 2000)
• Young, Adrienne (from "Room to Grow" - 2007)
• [more information on recordings by other artists]