Library of Articles

  • Library: Articles

Action Line Print-ready version

Long Beach Press-Telegram
November 28, 1970

Q: On Channel 13 October 18, there was a special with John Hartford, Joni Mitchell and Pete Seeger. Joni Mitchell composed the song Both Sides Now and on this special, Seeger sang a new verse to it which he composed. It began, Daughter, daughter. I would appreciate it if you would help me find the words to this verse. -K. K., Wilmington

A. Seeger wrote three new verses especially for Miss Mitchell. We got the words from a spokesman representing her Los Angeles manager. They are:

Daughter, daughter, don't you know,
you're not the first to feel just so?
But let me say before I go,
it's worth it anyway.

Someday we may all be surprised.
We'll wake and open up our eyes
and then we will realize
the whole world feels this way.

We've all been living upside down
and turned around with love unfound
until we turn and face the sun.
Yes, all of us, everyone.

Copyright protected material on this website is used in accordance with 'Fair Use', for the purpose of study, review or critical analysis, and will be removed at the request of the copyright owner(s). Please read Notice and Procedure for Making Claims of Copyright Infringement.

Added to Library on December 12, 2006. (7127)

Comments:

Log in to make a comment

puffin49 on

"Both Sides Now" is Joni's song that brought tears as a youngster, and they flow even more at 48...we're all on this journey, yet during so many different time periods...but one thing remains the same -- the elusiveness of a love that is true, and an understanding of "life" and what's most important in life. Pete Seeger, so simply and eloquently, wrote these verses for Joni with a lot of life under his belt, with the wisdom that age and experience brings. "...until we turn and face the sun": I envision standing barefoot on the Earth and absorbing the wisdom and warmth of the sun...notice how you can't feel bad when the rays are warming your face and whispering the message, "You are loved and you are love." Learn to love yourself first, for without self-love your heart can never truly be open to anyone else. There's a lot of wisdom in John Lennon's "All You Need Is Love." I think most of us struggle to find the precarious balance of having our autonomy, our self-identity, and also having a loving partner who allows us to be who we are. To me, Joni Mitchell exemplifies what it is to be "real"...her gift is her many ways of expressing herself, and no matter how challenging one's life is, we hope "it's worth it anyway." Life is a never-ending learning process, and like another Fab Four song says, it is "The Long and Winding Road." Not to beat a dead horse, but Jerry Garcia may have said it best -- "What a Long, Strange Trip It's Been." So, yes, I enjoyed this article very much! - Lisa, Santa Cruz Mountains, CA