Is it the Illusions of the Past that we Recall?
By josefina
@josie_ (10035)
Philippines
July 3, 2024 7:07pm CST
Among the songs of my youth is Joni Mitchell's "Both sides now". The lyrics are a poignant reminder of the journey we undertook from innocence to maturity as we pass through life.
The song begins with a child imagining clouds as "ice cream castles in the air".
As she grows older, she realizes they only "block the sun" and are nothing magical.
Her idea of love, once a romantic fairy tale of "moons and Junes and Ferris wheels." and "dizzy dancing that you feel" gets a dose of reality.
As she goes through each relationship in her life she sees love as "just another show" where people hide their real feelings and you also "don't let them know, don't give yourself away".
People around her are disappointed, "acting strange and they shake their heads wondering how she's changed." Not realizing that as she gains more life experience, her perspective of the contradiction and complexities of life changes her.
Reality vs illusion
"Well, something's lost, but something's gained in living every day" suggest losing one's innocence in exchange for adulthood.
However, there is disappointment and disillusion, even a cynical view of life as nothing more than "Dreams and schemes and circus crowds".
The song concludes with how she now "looked at life from both sides now".
Yet, she is unwilling to let go of the past. "it's life's illusions that I recall".
Memories are often tainted with regrets. Especially not being able to relive the happy times.
That is because there is a distortion of perception when remembering the past.
It is merely the "illusion" that you recall.
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3 people like this
2 responses
@Ghostlady (1018)
• United States
4 Jul
Good explanation of that song. Always loved that song made me look at the clouds more. I love seeing what I can see in the clouds. One evening I was on my way to see a friend who lived down by the river, and going down the 2 lane country road, a deer loped across the road and jumped a fence. Then I looked up at the sky, and there was a Gargoyle just as plain as day...you could see the wings..they were dark and light purple, with silver lining, and orange internittent through the body shading it just perfect. Back then we had no cell phones with cameras, and I had no camera on me, but will never forget what I saw..wasn't scary looking...I was in awe how really beautiful God had painted him in the sky.
1 person likes this
@josie_ (10035)
• Philippines
4 Jul
I like watching clouds too but always make sure I'm in a safe area before looking up. Looking down while texting in a crowded area is no different from staring up at "ice cream castles". Thanks for sharing your "illusion". The deer probably saw it too, which explain it's loping across the road and jumping a fence.![](/Content/images/emotes/whistle.gif)
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@celticeagle (164045)
• Boise, Idaho
5 Jul
I love this song. What a nice explanation of it. We all have a bit of a distortion when it comes to the past. Because of the time involved.
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