Another poet, the great singer/songwriter, Joni Mitchell, writes poignantly about loving the other person’s calling as the natural order of things in her song, Urge For Going:
Urge For Going
by Joni Mitchell
I awoke today and found
the frost perched on the town
It hovered in a frozen sky
then it gobbled summer down
When the sun turns traitor cold
and all the trees are shivering in a naked row
I get the urge for going
But I never seem to go
I get the urge for going
When the meadow grass is turning brown
Summertime is falling down and winter is closing in
I had me a man in summertime
He had summer-colored skin
And not another girl in town
My darling’s heart could win
But when the leaves fell on the ground
Bully winds came around
Pushed them face down in the snow
He got the urge for going
And I had to let him go
He got the urge for going
When the meadow grass was turning brown
Summertime was falling down and winter was closing in
Now the warriors of winter
They gave a cold triumphant shout
And all that stays is dying
And all that lives is gettin’ out
See the geese in chevron flight
Flapping and racing on before the snow
They got the urge for going
And they got the wings so they can go
They get the urge for going
When the meadow grass is turning brown
Summertime is falling down and winter is closing in
I’ll ply the fire with kindling now
I’ll pull the blankets up to my chin
I’ll lock the vagrant winter out and
I’ll bolt my wanderings in
I’d like to call back summertime
Have her stay for just another month or so
But she’s got the urge for going
So I guess she’ll have to go
She gets the urge for going
When the meadow grass is turning brown
All her empire’s falling down
And winter’s closing in.
And I get the urge for going
When the meadow grass is turning brown
And summertime is falling down.
© 1966; Siquomb Publishing Company
Love to you all,
Jeane
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Grace says
So Beautiful. I love her voice and the lovely melody…the lyrics seem to speak to my earth grounded traits of the Taurus I am :). Spring can come any time for me now:)
I watched the interview with her also telling of her first love to be a painter…You can hear in her voice the smoking since the age of 9! Thank for posting, I am now watching her interview with Charlie Rose:) Just LOVE her.
HighRoadArtist says
She is a remarkable poet who puts her poetry to music. I can’t even imagine doing such a thing, but I’m so grateful for songwriters. She is responsible for some of the most beautiful songs ever written, I think. Glad you enjoyed hearing this one. Yes, in looking for a video for the post I ended up listening to many of her beautiful, old songs.
Snyderdonald says
Incredible
HighRoadArtist says
Yes, beautiful, isn’t it?
Kaiharper says
Funny up until a couple of weeks ago I kept silently remarking to myself how I felt like I was sailing through winter…no problem. None of that I can’t stand it any more, it’s too cold, it’s too grey…depressing. And then…quickly, when I wasn’t even looking, like a smooth handed fist…I got grabbed from behind…now I have the urge for going. My excuse…too cold, too grey, depressing. Funny how there is just sometime in the winter here where you can’t hold back that cold any longer, that bleakness…it just sort of seeps in.
HighRoadArtist says
Well, Kai, I hope your urge for going gets answered. Nothing like a little time away to lift the spirits. I was raised in the Pacific NW where it drizzles at least 9 months out of the year, so all this sun and blue sky, between the gray, is manna to me. Wishing you a little vacation.
TCampbell says
WOW!!! thank you!
HighRoadArtist says
Beautiful, isn’t it? Glad you liked it.