Coyote - Joni Mitchell & The Band.wmv

A clip from Martin Scorsese's film "The last waltz" (1978).
Coyote
by Joni Mitchell
No regrets Coyote
We just come from such different sets of circumstance
I'm up all night in the studios
And you're up early on your ranch
You'll be brushing out a brood mare's tail
While the sun is ascending
And I'll just be getting home with my reel to reel
There's no comprehending
Just how close to the bone and the skin and the eyes
And the lips you can get
And still feel so alone
And still feel related
Like stations in some relay
You're not a hit and run driver no no
Racing away
You just picked up a hitcher
A prisoner of the white lines on the freeway
We saw a farmhouse burning down
In the middle of nowhere
In the middle of the night
And we rolled right past that tragedy
Till we turned into some road house lights
Where a local band was playing
Locals were up kicking and shaking on the floor
And the next thing I know
That coyote's at my door
He pins me in a corner and he won't take no
He drags me out on the dance floor
And we're dancing close and slow
Now he's got a woman at home
He's got another woman down the hall
He seems to want me anyway
Why'd you have to get so drunk
And lead me on that way
You just picked up a hitcher
A prisoner of the white lines on the freeway
I looked a coyote right in the face
On the road to Baljennie near my old home town
He went running thru the whisker wheat
Chasing some prize down
And a hawk was playing with him
Coyote was jumping straight up and making passes
He had those same eyes just like yours
Under your dark glasses
Privately probing the public rooms
And peeking thru keyholes in numbered doors
Where the players lick their wounds
And take their temporary lovers
And their pills and powders to get them thru this passion play
No regrets Coyote
I just get off up aways
You just picked up a hitcher
A prisoner of the white lines on the freeway
Coyote's in the coffee shop
He's staring a hole in his scrambled eggs
He picks up my scent on his fingers
While he's watching the waitresses' legs
He's too far from the Bay of Fundy
From appaloosas and eagles and tides
And the air conditioned cubicles
And the carbon ribbon rides
Are spelling it out so clear
Either he's going to have to stand and fight
Or take off out of here
I tried to run away myself
To run away and wrestle with my ego
And with this flame
You put here in this Eskimo
In this hitcher
In this prisoner
Of the fine white lines
Of the white lines on the free free way

[@Albo96286]

There's only one Joni Mitchell ❤

[@timford3599]

@0:35 when Rick Danko says; "You know what happens when you have too much fun?" It's clear that he speaks from a long history of first hand experience! RIP Rick Danko.

[@davetessaro3599]

Watching this just gave me Canadian Goose bumps.

[@ellenolenska9141]

The whole performance gives me goosebumps - all the way through.

[@pandjnewton]

Recorded in '76. Now 40 years on. Her performance has held up perfectly. The awe with which the other players regard her is almost as much fun to watch.

[@lisamoroney3036]

Of course

[@irvy78]

Dam straight

[@Nudiescorner]

She takes you right there with her....the coyote and all his antics....

[@johnmalenchek6597]

Still in love with her 50 years on. How beautiful, what a voice, lyrics to die for. All hail Joni!

[@nrich5127]

It's such an unconventional song - I'm amazed The Band just nailed the accompaniment.

[@archibaldchimpin]

Joni , pure class, nothing to match her since.

[@RADLADRICK]

I feel asleep ion the couch - I was watching the movie "the last waltz". When I heard this song-it woke me up. Incredible performance and style she has. What a voice! it amazed me how she can tell a story in a song and sing it with such charisma . It mesmerized me. I had to search on KZbin to hear it again. Wow.

[@meganmorgan8039]

This is just immaculate..

[@steves672]

A golden song and a diamond performance. What an artist! My God!

[@stellamaris1419]

I was surprised to find no comments here, 'til i realised - I couldn't find any words myself..

[@martinjames9250]

One of my 'ALL TIME' favourite songs.

[@michaeldonovan4793]

always ahead of the game flying somewhere way up above the crowd...such class...a true individualist...even here...the only woman headliner in the whole show...

[@Cristobels-Green-Boots]

The SOUND on this is SO GOOD! Thank you! 🙏🏽🌹🙏🏻

[@dickschlitz1360]

Cheers to the band to be able to adjust to Joni’s unique jazzy style This ain’t no bar room stomp type of a song but they all as musicians surround her n let her do her brilliant thing

[@BroscoWankston]

they were a highly competent backup band who were employed by several high profile artists ranging froms everal styles. I'm not surprised they murdered this tune for her

[@lauratanner8475]

They were an incredible backing band aside from being an incredible band in their own right. Rick Danko in particular does a hell of job filling Jaco's big shoes here. Really their all Killin' it here!

[@jonathanbirch2022]

The Band were no slouches to unusual time signatures and tempo changes

[@vghart955]

The genius of Joni M.

[@poetcomic1]

'Coyote' is Sam Shepard the playwright and actor with whom she had a fling in the early 70's. She says it, so I'm not just making it up.

[@conandan]

PBS televised "The Last Waltz" as part of their pledge drives. Even after having this show on vinyl and seeing the film before over the years (going on 40! Encroyable!) The cut that I can not listen to enough is "Coyote". I am not sure if the sheer poetry blows me away or if it is her guitar playing! Wonderfully awesome! My respect for Joni is increased again!

[@BroscoWankston]

who do you love and helpless are also contenders for top track off the cut

[@Staylogical]

I love the way she touches Robbie's face and kisses him at the start.

[@Ami483]

Who wouldn't😂

[@chuckgicker659]

She is great ☺️

[@NagoyaHouseHead]

Was gonna say its better than the original but I just check and nah, the original is pure magic. This is also incredible.

[@karmenjazbec7743]

you were beautiful joni

[@Rick-or2kq]

Joni Beautiful and brilliant.

[@franklanger3848]

auch Joni Mitchel war eine großartige Sängerin

[@david8157]

Outstanding song and performance

[@maureenhorrigan7151]

Look at Rick Danko face looking at Joni Mitchell

[@Stefan-ht3tv]

Good stuff.

[@johnfitz-gerald5816]

Danko is sublime.

[@cryptobradley2006]

Lord have mercy !!!

[@Michael-xj6qt]

Just awesome ,LOVE it 🎸🎵🎸🎶😊

[@dspf68]

Few singer/songwriters in her class.

[@frank2778]

None.

[@palacerevolution2000]

I can see how several LA rockers went nuts for her. That moment at 3:55 is very cool.

[@johnleonard3806]

The players all knew her well. I was a teenager in those parts in the mid 70's. The vibe was wonderful, great music in the colleges and clubs everywhere.

[@marcmanis2970]

She had the voice of an angel

[@lankydude]

Very hard to not fall in love with her

[@karmenjazbec7743]

yeah boys you are the best band

[@bitcoinrat5656]

Classic ... wonderful Joni ..... Ratty is in Love

[@karmenjazbec7743]

YOU WERE BEAUTIFUL JONI AND I AM IN LOVE WITH BOB DYLAN YES

[@patrickflanagan4603]

Music of my life.

[@tabithamoriconi4478]

a queen.

[@jameskenneally5644]

I just want to break even !!

[@jovonj4010]

The Bass is everything

[@deepcosmiclove]

She's the best act in the whole show.

[@pigroll]

yeah the rest of the musicians kind of ruin this song.

[@zabellehuss737]

versus the BAND? SHE is the BEST? YIKES!

[@zabellehuss737]

darn, just listened...I'm a huge BAND fan but you're right...she's amazing on this one!

[@stevewilson5402]

I respect your opinion. But personally, I like muddy Waters "rolling Stone"

[@namcat53]

I was there. Van Morrison blew the roof off the joint..."Turn it up!" Those kicks.."One more time!"...the place went nuts. VERY tough act to follow. What a night.

[@dfghdfghuytiu8207]

Prisoner of the white lines...

[@liammcooper]

Probably the best song written in the 1970s, and that's with all of immaculate Dylan's divorce songs considered.

[@thomasrender]

What can you say?Just great.

[@tims.2834]

amazing

[@RichardMcConte-lw4go]

My reel dad give me freedom, good & solid Italian manners, a law firm and a jazz legacy to defend

[@frank2778]

Prairie gold.

[@DenisOhAichir]

Pure class

[@teecee3866]

Different circles but I always think of John Perry Barlow when I hear this song.

[@hannejeppesen1809]

I recognize that name, he wrote for lyrics for The Grateful Dead I believe. I remember he was a close friend of John F. Kennedy Jr. and was interviewed when JFK. Jr. died.

[@karmenjazbec7743]

yes joni

[@Albo96286]

See Joni with Jaco and Pat 🔥

[@gbru]

@greed & don’t sleep on Don Alias’s (r.i.p.) brilliant percussion on that version.

[@davidrauh8118]

Joni is fantastic. And The Band can play any type of music you want. Danko has to fill Jaco's shoes and does an admirable job, while Robbie does some nice licks throughout. Too much.

[@karmenjazbec7743]

yeah joni

[@lesliechandler1605]

Flabbergasted

[@bobe3250]

Why did you have to get so drunk and lead me on that way... :-)

[@cornpop88]

Listening in 2020 👍🏻

[@donnarogers7732]

God Almighty was I ever that Young? Shit! Where fid 54 years go? LooseingvFriends ,a lover ,A brother. . AllnyoubyoungvPeople Itsvupbro zyou ,learn from actime when We hadvthe WorldcByvthecTsil and knew it all. But You, Youvdo know It All. Take carevofvYour Now. Its imporysnt. Much love ,"An Old Hippi"! Amen Joni💙🙏✌️

[@jaymack4515]

He smelled your goodness!!

[@martinhall932]

Privately probing the public rooms And peeking thru keyholes in numbered doors Where the players lick their wounds And take their temporary lovers And their pills and powders to get them thru this passion play

[@gregggreasley407]

I am off the opinion, that it's Rick who was the cayote 🎶🎶

[@soaringvulture]

And every note she sings is perfect. And every phrase is perfectly timed. But no one else can sing those notes. And no one else can sing those phrases. What planet was she from?

[@dnmurphy48]

Plenty of singers can manage the notes and phrases.

[@karmenjazbec7743]

yeah joni how pretty woman you were and you are still

[@mclosterman]

Can't top it

[@jeffreyfeinstein5525]

' can you name all here, pls? 🙏

[@pjohnstone504]

Rivetting performance...

[@ZedP]

It was not a small feat for The Band to play song already played by such giants as Jaco Pastorius and Pat Metheny. It's a decent performance, the song still sounds great. Joni was really unique.

[@tomlampros7122]

The comparison definitely survives nicely. Incredibly talented musicians all. Note: Metheny played with Joni on Shadows and Light, in 1980. This version, and the original, were released in 1976.

[@thomaskline]

Do not dis a great band that has sold exponentially more records than Metheny and Pastorious combined. Not to dis those guys, but!

[@ZedP]

@@thomaskline We don't dis them, on contrary. The Band was really great band, talented musicians, not virtuoso players (except Hudson). And they knew how to play this.

[@kimnelson9910]

my nickname in college was coyote colorado

[@irvy78]

Who did jodi marry? Or did she ?

[@RichardMcConte-lw4go]

The finer French Stuff

[@sylvialapinski5416]

I seem to think this is joni"s drummer

[@bobpearson1617]

I am a coyote..

[@thereducedemissions6858]

Good for you

[@RichardMcConte-lw4go]

We both prefer Tarentellas

[@robertmaynard4265]

confederate flag in the back what does that mean, where's Bob?

[@thomasjene8530]

Never saw this before...I guess its time to burn all my Dylan and The Band albums...not to mention all the song Levon wrote and played on..I hope you will TOO!!!! Lets go full tilt here....I mean how the hell can they so nonchalantly talk about abuse of women while standing infront of a Rebel flag!! Have they not even considered the meaning of that flag? No excuses right?

[@miket.220]

Typical snowflake revisionist. Robbie has talked numerous times about what "The Night They Drove Ol Dixie Down" is about. And the Confederate flag is just a symbol of Southern pride, it wasn't even the official flag of The Confederacy.

[@brovold72]

Wow I am surprised how much I can't stand this. Huh.

[@JimA-pp2nu]

they are so wasted