Joni Mitchell: Willy; For Free, 1969.08.19

Joni Mitchell, 1969.08.19
• Willy
• For Free
Dick Cavett Show
jonimitchell.co...
jonimitchell.co...
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[@frvchti]

I'm 21 and discovered her music relatively recently, like a few years ago and she basically has me in a chokehold by this point. She's so captivating in the best way possible.

[@jonka1]

Yes I remember when I discovered her in 1980s. Nothing musical was ever quite the same again.

[@MirthMama]

Crosby said she is the greatest of all time especially her time & I concur

[@sh230968]

​​@@MirthMama I don't concur with the "especially her time" part. To me, she is the greatest. Someone has to hold the absolute top slot and nobody else deserves the place more than Joni Mitchell (a trillion times more than the likes of Dylan or Cohen, in my imperfect world).

[@kirkwatson1442]

Glad your on board...

[@kirkwatson1442]

River...nought said...

[@billderinbaja3883]

Possibly the best songwriter of our times (for those who grew up in the 60s and 70s), and transcendent as a musician...

[@sh230968]

Your comment has one extra word; that is, possibly.

[@dsthorp]

Agreed!

[@jfhm1991]

She's incredible. You can hear on a lot of the end of notes she sustains, particularly in 'For Free', She's about to run out of breath but somehow still keeps her vibrato consistent and tone unblemished, with no cracking out sound, which is normally what happens when you're about to run out of a breath. It's almost physically impossible how she sang it but she did it, and put so much energy into making it beautiful

[@leanhquoc3109]

Even though her way of singing I think is very unique and some people would say that it's natural and not technical. I still think that her breath management is incredible, she can sing in a very long head voice phrase effortlessly, sounding real loud and smooth, with a beautiful vibrato. And that definitely took a lot of training, I think she did trained her voice herself, really.

[@paco5503]

@@leanhquoc3109 & smoked

[@kateye70]

I had the privilege of hearing her sing on tour in the mid-70's, and it was the most memorable concert I attended--and I went to a lot of concerts that decade. My throat was aching from wanting to sing with her and just being physically unable, like most people, to hit those notes.

[@swinde]

Joni Mitchell is an absolute treasure. No one like her today.

[@chrissymac9174]

And never will be.

[@Spiderboyish]

Often imitated but never duplicated. There are a few recent artists who sound a bit like Joni or were influenced by her ; like Julie Byrne, Danielle Haim, Weyes Blood, Florence Welch, Maggie Rogers, etc...

[@tarnopol]

Joni Mitchell is a bit like Joni Mitchell. :) I kid: she was and is a true original: no one like her, by definition.

[@mysteradio]

i would nominate John Frusciante as Joni's spiritual kin.

[@Nikkithedog-t6b]

no one like her ever, the best of all time.

[@elizabethhann4028]

"For Free": dear God, what an incredible song. An ode to an artist who does it for love, not for money. At once terribly sad and inspiring. A lot of performers and artists admit to wanting a large amount of success - I sure do - but at the same time, people say if you do it for money and not for love, it corrupts you and you lose your talent. Balance is so hard to find.

[@swinde]

This is one of my favorites from Joni among MANY other songs. She is a true artist. Beautiful piano, and voice and on top of that she is a painter, and did the artwork on many of her albums. One of her best albums is "Blue" and the one this song (For Free) came from is "Ladies of the Canyon"

[@stevekaspar1396]

David Crosby loves this song and it's on his 2021 album..

[@g-girl9867]

That's why she dropped out.

[@barbararenton8009]

You are so correct here, Elizabeth! A hard balance to find...

[@davidparnell1893]

Joni could "feel" life...there is a resonant heartbeat in her lyrics and music. She could describe people, human scenes and arrays of individuals like some God given muse...yes I think she was an angel, a gift from God to humanity..

[@manitou1954]

What on God's Green Earth could compel anyone to put a thumbs down on this video? We are witness to greatness here that only passes by once in a generation, if then. Thank you so much for this video.

[@johntatum1951]

some folks are tone deaf..ha!

[@dotrezniam8475]

Just trolls

[@stanleyklein524]

Answer = see Americans who voted for runner up in last presidential election. Explain that!

[@robertwoodpa6463]

@@stanleyklein524 We don't like senile socialists. Proud of that Biden vote are ya?

[@TheScotthutch]

Mistakes do happen sometimes. No conspiracy is alleged. LOL

[@novakingood3788]

What's this! No autotuning!! How is this possible?? Oh yeah, I remember..it's called talent.

[@vwtch]

This is the famous Woodstock show. The members of the Jefferson Airplane also performed and are all sitting there with Dick Cavett. Grace, Marty & Skip stand to give her an ovation even before she begins these two songs. She had earlier performed Chelsea Morning on her guitar. Crosby & Stills were there; Steven Stills performed 4 and 20. All these other performances are on KZbin.

[@toevlugsoord]

She'd just literally finished Chelsea Morning - seconds before. That's what the standing ovation from Grace Slick etc. was for.

[@micaaaaaaaaaaa]

yep

[@ColleenW2019]

Nobody writes lyrics like this anymore. Her voice was so pure.

[@ulpana]

Nobody ever wrote like Joan Roberta Anderson. One of a kind, although influenced by all those she met with her open senses and heart. Her curiosity's scope and granular attention to detail, often above ego as she doesn't always come off so admirably in her confessional narratives or even in her more oblique songs where she targets someone whose life resembles her own shows her commitment to using song to get at the mysteries of life on this spinning ball of mysteries... Thanks to Flushing 'hoodie and now published poet Tone Gloeggler of the jocks at the schoolyard who was brave enough to keep pushing me to get over my yootful lack of attention to Joni's lyrics and impervious to how uncool listening to Joni Mitchell records was back in them thar staring up my own arsehole 70's could be, as lost in the provinces as we were. Also much gratitude to Dave Van Ronk, Z"L (why call him late, he ain't showin' up no mo') who I often went to hear in the Greenwich Village cafes then bars of my well-spent yoot. Before Dave would stop by my Berkeley flat after Bay Area gigs and sip pear liquor locally distilled while sharing stories and politics and songs until the sun came up and we had to pile Dave and the few remaining empty eau de vie bottles as souvenirs into the cab that would drive him back to his hotel for a few hours of sleep before he'd bus on to the next stop on his Pacific Coast tours. Big Dave had a very early admiration and tender insights into Joni's unique writerly\painterly gifts and was interpreting her songs and singing her praises for decades before anybody in serious jazz or blues or chanson or theater worlds would take Joni Mitchell's stuff and tunings seriously. Eric Andersen always did and made sure the folkies knew. Eric taught Joni some of those whack tunings... Health and balance Joni Anderson Mitchell and Eric Andersen too Keep on doing Rephuah Shelemah, Joni Mitch Ritter\Paradigm Sifters, Code Shifters and Song Chasers Lay-Low Studios, Ore-Wa (Refuge of Atonement Seekers) Media Discussion List and Looksee

[@joemarshall4226]

Joey Dugan does.

[@OneOfUsHere]

@@joemarshall4226 I doubt that but I will investigate his music on your opinion. I'll get back to you after.

[@joemarshall4226]

@@OneOfUsHere Well....I realize I am not quite correct. He doesn't right lyrics LIKE hers. But he is a great lyricist. I love Joni's best stuff. Both Sides Now is a legit candidate for Song of the Century, IMHO.

[@mattwc4394]

She missed Woodstock so she could give this performance, if I remember correctly. I'm glad.

[@lisasoles1562]

yep, she sure did

[@michaelbaker3920]

well. jeff air is sitting next to dick and THEY played woodstock

[@michaelbaker3920]

woodstock started the 15th. she had plenty of time to drive 35 miles south!

[@lisasoles1562]

@@michaelbaker3920 Many of those who made the Dick Cavett show played in the earlier days of the festival. Joni didn't arrive in NY until the eve of the last day. The worry was she would have great difficulty getting out of Woodstock amidst the great departure of attendees.

[@ahwien]

@@michaelbaker3920 as did Crosby & Stills who were there later.

[@34hedgehog]

The finest singer-songwriter ever, bar none.

[@willshaw6405]

Andy Northall Well, gotta say that Bob Dylan and Gordon Lightfoot were pretty good too, but if you put "woman" into that claim, I'd be inclined to agree with you.

[@georgefowler3027]

Joni better than Dylan . The BEST

[@johnerikson828]

@@georgefowler3027 Bob Dylan lived in Woodstock at that time.

[@nadiazayman779]

Completely agree. Once in a lifetime genius.

[@chrispritchett2946]

dont forget Carole King, Every bit just as good as Joni.

[@nickbigd]

I basically stole my sister’s copy of Ladies of the Canyon when I was in grade school and fell in love with Joni right away. I cannot count the number of times I played these songs.

[@allencrider]

She was only 25 years old.

[@krobk1953]

Thank you Joni, for being a part of my life.

[@captainnice9698]

Just like the Beatles, Joni laid the ground work for so many who came after her. She is truly a musical genius

[@Nikkithedog-t6b]

And just to add another brick, a brilliant artist. Crosby called her the alien and all the legends of their time knew that she was on another level.

[@charleeruppel1820]

how anyone could "thumb down" this recording- its just crazy to me. For free is one of my favorite songs ever. And this performance is tops---- I was named after Joni and today is my birthday. Long live the queen of song

[@uncatila]

There are a lot of satan possessed people who hate music.

[@Dougdenslowe714]

Any idea why she changed the lyric from ,”2 gentlemen “ to ,”two white men”?I think for this performance only.

[@sh230968]

​@@Dougdenslowe714 No idea; I can only make a few guesses. But she also sang "if it's wrong or real" instead of "if it's wrong or if it's real" in Willy.

[@TylerMusicBoi]

She looks so young here. She was certainly wise beyond her years!

[@gwyllem]

She's partially descended from Sami Indigenous people of Norway; partly on her dad's side.

[@kennewicksheri]

But the one man band, by the quick lunch stand, He was playing real good for free Nobody stoped to hear him, though he played so sweet and high

[@The333Wanderer]

The only person that could give this video a thumbs down is someone who is blind, deaf and mad in his/her heart. Joni is a heaven sent angel.

[@willshaw6405]

If I create one TENTH of the joy and beauty that Joni has in her art, I will consider my life a success...imagine waking in the morning, and and hearing her sing in the shower or while making breakfast, or placing flowers in the vase she bought today.

[@pomcourier6352]

Hi I wanted to marry her in 1983.

[@squirrelbutler2119]

@@pomcourier6352 well, with a name that almost reads 'porncourier', you never stood a chance....

[@andreaengel6562]

Of course you did, understandable!

[@alberto-os1bx]

This woman could play and sing, write and paint. A real artist 360 degrees.

[@linebacker365]

I think this is the gig she did instead of going to Woodstock. Ironically, wrote the song about the festival.

[@1stGeorgiaGirl]

Yep. Contractually obligated.

[@uncatila]

It was gods providence that she missed that Dianisian Orgy of hedenism.

[@ogroncholmondeley1207]

She even sounds great on an out-of-tune piano.

[@sidilicious11]

Ogron Cholmondeley no easy feat.

[@carolmares8215]

Thé piano is out of tune?

[@ogroncholmondeley1207]

@@carolmares8215 It sounds like they borrowed it from the local school.

[@jimscanoe]

@@carolmares8215 No it isn't out of tune.

[@davisworth5114]

It sounds warm

[@chrispritchett2946]

one of the finest female songwriter singers ever, along with Carole King.

[@daviddishman7491]

This is genius at work!! She is pure class! And so modest and unassuming - not full of herself like some artistes whom shall go unnamed. There isn't a Joniwood! Love you Joni ❤❤

[@twinoak1706]

This is real great for free.

[@petemavus2948]

Two of my earliest favorites. I cannot imagine my life without Joni's music growing and changing along with me.

[@artmoss6889]

Why they didn't get a grand piano, or at least a baby grand, for this performance I'll never understand. Joni plays great, but the piano's tone is muddy and the individual notes are indistinct. She deserved a much better instrument.

[@twinoak1706]

No human has ever sounded so sweet.

[@kirkbaddley7439]

Sweet, yes, but in my opinion not sappy.

[@elizabethhann4028]

OF COURSE not sappy; much too cold and Canadian (in the best way) for that. Besides, sap in pop music is too often a product of overwrought production (too many backup singers hamming it up; syrupy soaring strings, honking horns, et. cetera) and the spare piano-and-vocal treatment here neatly circumvents that. Beautiful, just plain beautiful.

[@kirkbaddley7439]

Elizabeth Hann I agree totally.

[@elizabethhann4028]

Well, thank you.

[@rogermurray8553]

Come on now, sweet human sounds are perpetual in this world, woven into the fabric of life, if you'll allow me the elitist sounding claptrap of that lst bit.

[@markdouglas668]

I knew him. I think his name was Richie. He played on 8th St across the street from Electric Lady Studios. He played horn, and was a very dear soul. I hope he's still among us.

[@VictorHageman]

+Mark Douglas Oh, i thought it was Moondog

[@pauledelsteinstudiogallery6397]

Do you have any photos of him???

[@martinharrison1504]

Reduces me to tears everytime.

[@billr2375]

Willy---written for "her man, her child, her father"---Graham Nash.

[@endlesshore]

OMG, thank you so much for sharing this video! My heart is bursting with joy right now! :')

[@archive880]

+endlesshore You're welcome! I know the feeling.. glad you like it :)

[@hemi969]

The biggest talent in the room.

[@gwyllem]

Yeah, who were those guys? The camera panned too fast to make them out. 1910 Fruitgum Company?

[@ulpana]

@@gwyllem The Chapin Brothers were Tom Chapin (schoolteacher and terrific recording artist best known for kids' songs), Harry Chapin who passed away so young in a car crash on the Long Island Expressway after he made it big beyond the folk club and taxi cab driving life (ironic!) with his FM hit song "Taxi" and a bigger AM hit song with "Cat's In the Cradle" and some wondrous albums. Harry Chapin was also a ranconteur of the first order who could take the few minutes between commercials on the Johnny Carson show or the hours between early and late sets at a Greenwich Village or North Beach cafe or bar and make every eye and ear in the neighborhood hang on his every storytelling word, accent and syllable. He also did the most for the least once he made a living in music by founding and sustaining these: www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/harry-chapin Harry Chapin was always getting celebrities and stars from every style and sphere to participate in benefit shows that put a dent in the unnecessary food insecurity in this the wealthiest nation on this wealth concentrating planet and in solidarity with other just causes around the globe. The third Chapin brother, Steve, I do not know much about. Also, Crosby, Stills and Nash with Buffalo Springfield's Richie Furay and Neil Young.... Keep on listening and doing Health and Balance Mitch Ritter\Paradigm Sifters, Code Shifters and Song Chasers Lay-Low Studios, Ore-Wa (Refuge of Atonement Seekers) Media Discussion List and Looksee

[@gwyllem]

Oh, that was Harry Chapin? Have to look more closely next time. Thanks Ulpana!

[@ulpana]

@@gwyllem Dear Gwyllem, I may have screwed up by switching between this clip of Joni on Cavett Show with earlier clips of her as Joanie Anderson on Canadian TV show called Let's Sing Out. She was on the show being televised from University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, a coupla years before she married Chuck Mitchell and became Joni Mitchell. The Chapins (all 3 brothers Tom, Harry, Steve) were on this show with Dave Van Ronk's fellow Greenwich Village outspoken outcast Patrick Sky. They got Dave his first gigs in Canada doing this television show that filmed from different Canadian college campuses weekly on blessed CBC. Here is one such clip: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z529pHZmjKuqjKc Sorry if I thought I saw Harry Chapin in the crowd in the live studio audience for Cavett's show. I grew up not far from where Harry died driving home on the Long Island Expressway and something about the way Harry lived his life has haunted me ever since. Another song of Harry's that got onto some hipper FM radio stations was W-O-L-D about a community radio station with those call letters: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h4fLZ5SFrL5jbsk Health and balance keep on doing! Mitch Ritter\Paradigm Sifters, Code Shifters and Song Chasers Lay-Low Studios, Ore-Wa (Refuge of Atonement Seekers) Media Discussion List and Looksee

[@gwyllem]

@@ulpana I saw Dave Von Ronk in Newport in 1968

[@twinoak1706]

Simply the best ever. I love her so much.

[@34hedgehog]

Kind of ironic that 'Willy' is about Graham Nash, who couldn't be on the Dick Cavett show that night because of work permit problems.

[@stevea.7218]

One of the best things my X wife ever did for me was playin Joni Mitchell around the house all day. (43 years ago, she was a pretty good wife lookin back).This song is just beyond beautiful. And she sings it so effortlessly. She is definitely a music icon, she just doesn't seek the limelight like some. Choosing privacy instead.Talent and class, you don't see that enough. I'm making a playlist of Joni Mitchell songs right now, I think I'll send my X wife a copy. 🎶🍽👣

[@tarp11z]

I'm sorry it didn't work out with your ex-wife.

[@victoriabennett3789]

Awesomely groovy! That crowd loves her to pieces! I got the warm fuzzys.

[@neilpiper9889]

Grace Slik in standing ovation. Respect.

[@pattyhurley7966]

51 years ago Joni mesmerized this LUCKY audience with these beautiful songs....Would have loved being there as she is a legend and a muse to me.

[@91Kingscrib84]

Happy 75th Joni. We who've been there since the earliest days, salute your unique and ultimately phenomenal talent. Music across generations & musical genres has grown the numbers of those who appreciate your diversity. Imagine! You really just wanted to be a painter! 😊 Words paint your pictures as effortlessly as your paintbox & canvas. ~Keep working at healing.

[@Mr05Chuck]

The greatest singer songwriter of the past 2000 years.

[@42tomasz]

The psalms remastered.

[@ghandirubberneck519]

As a big Kate Bush fan I used to wonder where her originality came from ; then I heard Joni Mitchell.

[@burlingtonpark4136]

..and counting all the cars up the hill, and the stars on my windowsill..there are still more reasons why I love him.no one speaks to heart and mind in song like joni mitchell.i hope these posts on you tube of join singing before young people are always here "for free".God bless us all.

[@captainnice9698]

She's a genius

[@VoicesofMusic]

yes.

[@DD-hy1nl]

Joni wrote songs like stories that she saw or lived through...Every time I'm in the New York City and I see one of those people playing "For Free" on any corner in N.Y.C. I think of this song Joni wrote..I put a few dollars in their pan, because they are singing for me and everyone else for Free.

[@samlewis7878]

Joni is a breath of fresh air. So deep. so sophisticated.

[@joeschmoe373]

WOW...."and counting all the cars up the hill and the stars on my window sill" there are still more reasons (then that) why i love him. HOLY MOLY!!!! who writes like that? who thinks like that?

[@archive880]

Indeed, what a song writer & composer!

[@paulheffron7557]

People who have imagination, heart and soul are the only ones who could write such stirring music.

[@willshaw6405]

Exactly...a mind to match her soul--is there anyone who loves music that isn't IN love with Joni Mitchell? ??

[@houstoncloer1876]

And she considered herself a painter over a musician.

[@stevenjgw9]

no

[@lisamoroney3036]

Not even lip gloss. A real beautiful lady .

[@bearrkcat]

Joni ditched Woodstock for this show. A magnificent performance and an audience far beyond the three day festival. Thanks Joni.

[@barbarascott3350]

And then wrote Woodstock...as she said ‘so I wrote this little song’ that became the anthem for a generation

[@swinde]

@@barbarascott3350 I think she was dating David Crosby at the time which was a great source of information as she was composing "Woodstock".

[@lorislayton835]

She did not ditch Woodstock. Her manager wouldn't allow her to go and potentially not get out in time for her performance the next day on the Dick Cavett show.

[@dencairns2228]

I’ve just realised after 40 years that this is my favourite JM song and why she puts Kate Bush into 2nd place. And I bloody adore the Bush.

[@garypeatling7927]

I think we all adore the Bush , but Joni has so much genius work kick in side being a close album to blue all wonderful stuff

[@dragonflysutra3232]

no competition really. i wouldn't put bush anywhere near joni

[@garypeatling7927]

Kick inside ground braking strange vocals now accepted to make strange tones

[@hansbass5028]

My heart is a harp whose strings are pulled softly,beutifully,by her mesmerizing voice which lays bare her soul.I dont have to wait to see what an angel is like.

[@bigbandsrock1]

Joni performed here on Dick Cavett & skipped Woodstock. They didn’t think she could do both as Woodstock was so crowded they didn’t think she’d have time to get out for this national top TV program. This is awesome to see! A historic moment! Love Joni! ❤️

[@giles422]

they are chuckling because she's so freaking amazing, I think. Just hard to believe what they are hearing.

[@nabonidusscorpio6090]

Agree. I think they're joking something like " Wow, Joni put us to shame, made us sound like crap" ;-)

[@VictorHageman]

I really don't think so. I think she's too cheesy for them. I still love her songs.

[@VictorHageman]

that makes sense.

[@DD-hy1nl]

@@shreemhreemkleem that could be, we will never know for sure..But laughing like that was a bit rude.

[@gwyllem]

@forgetittwb Who are those guys?

[@crimsonrush]

Joni Mitchell and Graham Nash - a meeting of one great talent...

[@34hedgehog]

She was so far ahead of the rest, it's almost ridiculous.

[@Revolution1117]

"Willie", meaning Graham Nash (his nickname / middle name William).

[@peterfriend8084]

It wasn’t too long before she dumped “Willie” for “Carey”......

[@bubbathebulldog]

Too Much-Online works both ways

[@lisasoles1562]

@Too Much-Online yeah, and men can go through women like beer

[@lisasoles1562]

@Too Much-Online have a look at the percentage of American women who are battered and abused

[@lisasoles1562]

@Too Much-Online and let's continue to let men off the hook for abandoning their bastard children and not paying support. And, yes, the numbers aren't as high as they were 10 years ago, but they're still pretty high.

[@robertmathewson7627]

She blows them all away. Most original and creative. Then take your choice - Dylan or Paul Simon.

[@tmac8892]

this was the day after Woodstock. a Tuesday. she said she wrote Woodstock real quick while watching coverage on tv. so she'd already written it. awesome.

[@vinadamswood586]

In one of her first ever airings of her brand new song Willy, listen out for the line "he stood looking through the lace at the face of the conquered Moon", and then check the date of this performance: 19th August, 1969. Less than a month earlier - on 20th July 1969 - mankind, with "one giant leap" had incredibly planted its flag on the Moon's surface. So Joni's choice of word perfectly captured the feeling of most of us alive, that incredible time to be a human being...we had conquered not just the Moon, but our own doubts as to our capacity to do the seemingly "impossible".

[@BobStein]

Yes! And she also dedicated this song to the moon. 0:27 The conquered moon.

[@metaphysicalmidwife]

I love Joni but they filmed that hoax in Roswell, New Mexico. 👽

[@markproctor8857]

The day after Woodstock as I recall

[@NoelAndersonhere]

An insanely great singer/songwriter--I wonder when we'll see this level of talent again

[@nadiazayman779]

Noel Anderson probably never! She lives on a higher plane than we ordinary mortals do.

[@maureenmaher2371]

Today we have such luminaries as Lady Gaga, Cardi B, Arianna Grande. They stink! Nobody can compare to Joni!

[@34hedgehog]

@@maureenmaher2371 Gaga is a good singer who chooses to act like a prat to attract attention, when she should just shut up and sing, if you get what I mean.

[@jamiewilson657]

Noel Anderson lana del rey

[@gwyllem]

@@34hedgehog I don't think Gaga's voice is that great but she's a show person.

[@elizabethlinsay9193]

This is music in its purest form: the song, the instrument and the voice. Especially Joni Mitchell's.

[@cityzen2717]

Is that the Jefferson Airplane in the audience?

[@cityzen2717]

It is.

[@kimvrungos2901]

I grew up with her music. Literally. A coming of age. So grateful to have had her music in my lifetime. Thank You, Joni Mitchell.

[@faramund9865]

1:49 this guy is so deep into it. He's just sitting there and thinking: "Wow........ I.... love her?" and already imagining the wedding and the farm they'll grow their children great on. I just realized that's the presentor.

[@Kate1Chopin]

Astonishing talent! I first heard her voice when I was 17 years old, fell in love with it and am still now in awe of her gifts. 💕

[@Fuff63]

We really miss this kind of introspective artistry. And OMG that sweet voice.

[@jayborn2610]

"and I feel like I'm just bein born, like a shining light breakin in a storm......"....oookkkayy...........soooo thats what a song sounds like........

[@ElectrixSlapper]

Umm ok, so you can sing, write lyrics, play piano and guitar but what else can you do? ;)

[@jaychip1]

Paint?

[@rhodastorch8187]

commenting publicly as Debra Katz This is beautiful footage of Joni Mitchell singing two of my many favorite songs

[@2flight]

Awesome talent. My favorite songwriter back in those days. I can't go back there anymore. You know my keys don't fit the door. Deep respect though.

[@roberts1924]

Even Cavett recognizes that he's experiencing something special.

[@gwyllem]

He kept her from Woodstock.

[@jacobtorres6098]

@@gwyllem I feel like she was always bummed that she didn’t go or that was like her biggest regret

[@squirrelbutler2119]

@@gwyllem No. He didn't. She wasn't a slave, she chose to do the show.

[@carlsandburg7444]

Just look at how the audience is reacting. She is a Priestess. For Free. She changed the words to be Politically Correct and put in a jibe against White people. It was "two Gentlemen" not "two White men."

[@ericroutman9969]

No, it is just color contrast imagery: Black limousine-White men

[@pputnam100]

good lord, it looks like Cavett is realizing he's listening to a genius

[@Ant1498]

What a treasure

[@sunshinerain2907]

One of the creators best representatives, imho.

[@stephenstephen1505]

Wonderful. A true poet. I hope someone found that guy and gave him some money on that street corner

[@evegaige3455]

Thank you for opening my heart and my eyes Joni. Your heart and music improves the quality of my life.

[@bloodhound9638]

Next to the word Perfection in the dictionary is a reference to Joni Mitchell

[@jimrebr]

My absolute favorite singer songwriter ever. I was so afraid we were going to lose her, but thanks to Brandi Carlisle, and Joni’s indomitable spirit, we still have her to play real good, for all of us. I remember my friends big sister made a dress just like the green velvet dress, for her HS graduation & I wanted that dress so much.❤

[@barbarabaldwin7120]

04mscentrum I hope she is healing, where-ever she is. Loves to paint, and enjoy her own home. God Bless her.

[@sarahc.toadvine6181]

One of God's gift to humanity

[@jimscanoe]

Yes, your stupid pretend *Sky Daddy* definitely should get all the credit-fucking insanity.

[@steely1neverwane]

Captivatingly beautiful.

[@pulsarcosmos7738]

Joni Mitchell is an incredible human being. Sometimes I really question whether she is real. Her splendid singing, her lyrics, her amazing beauty originate from somewhere, not the world that I know.

[@JohnDavid-ug6sv]

The thumbs down are probably from millennials who are confused by LIVE performance where the Live performer is not lip-syncing, and cannot quite understand people listening and feeling through out the performance, being brought into the story that builds common threads of the human experience.

[@michiganjfrog366]

What a fine Canadian. When Canada shares musicians, they're always amazing... I know, no accounting for "Snow"...lol

[@apocalypseplough8089]

Are you an American.? I know with the Joni videos I go on, most Americans don't like it when you mention that Joni is Canadian. She was living half the year in British Columbia, ready to build a house there, when she had her stroke. The landscape and weather of the Prairies informs a lot of her songs. And she will come back to the Prairies when she shuffles off this mortal coil.

[@michiganjfrog366]

@@apocalypseplough8089 yes I'm an American.. I was conceived in Detroit the same time she lived and married in Detroit.. She lived at the Verona Apartments on Cass Ave.

[@frederickcrisafulli8031]

There are STILL more reasons why I LOVE Joni!

[@vazmo14850]

stunning version of For Free !

[@justintime42000]

“They knew he had never been on their TV So they passed his music by” That is so true. Too many people think being famous makes people more talented or interesting and won’t take your talent seriously if you haven’t made a big splash in the media pond. It’s changing with the internet but even then it’s the numbers that impress a lot of people more than the content. Think of how Vincent Van Gogh never sold a painting in his lifetime and felt unvalued as an artist because he didn’t get the approval of the artist community. Are we really so shallow as to believe someone has to be liked by a lot of other people for us to like them? Or do we need to feel like we are part of a large collective fan base to think an artist of any type is actually worthy of our attention? I think everyone is affected by these things to some extent. It’s nice to feel like a passion is shared. The older I get the less I care what anyone thinks. I know what I like (to quote the band Genesis) and that’s all that matters. Joni is an absolute genius of lyrics and music. Not everyone’s cup of tea, which is fine, but she can make you feel things in her songs you didn’t even know you could feel until she sang about them.

[@rachelloven7867]

I love Joni and these are two of my favorite songs. I've listened to them so many times that it really struck me when she changed "two gentlemen" to "two white men". I've heard her change the number of gentlemen in another live performance, I think for it to be accurate as to the number of men escorting her that night, and it was funny because the number was so much higher, like 16 or something. But I don't really get why she would change it to white men here. Does anyone know? Just curious

[@rachelloven7867]

Could it be some sort of color imagery maybe? Black limousine, white men...?

[@rockman4699]

The audience was blown away. What a blessing to be so close to greatness.

[@moonlitme]

Can't help but smile....thank you Joni, for being ...

[@SecretAgentPaul]

Free Willy brought me here.

[@cbotten106]

Let that little guy go.

[@cinnamongirl7877]

Willy=Graham Nash

[@RussCampbell11]

Just found out that Nash nickname was Willie. Never heard this song before.

[@Stirling62]

Graham "Willy" Nash, for a brief moment in time, one of the luckiest guys on the planet!! Great name too! 🙂

[@archive880]

Hi Reality777 - glad you appreciate it. :) I'm not sure - is it stifled laughter? or genuine appreciation? It seems everyone gets a renewed enthusiasm when Grace Slick stands up to give a standing ovation..

[@douglynch8954]

+Terra Sanctum I think there is the possibility that some of the members of Jefferson Airplane were stoned silly. A little uncontrolled laughter is to be expected.

[@Broonzied]

My time machine will be finished soon and my first trip will be to see this live.

[@josephinebennington7247]

Maybe you finished it before you started it, or finished it before you finished it, or started it before you started it. Did you get there?

[@Broonzied]

@@josephinebennington7247 I finished it 3 months before I started way back in 2096. Unfortunately I forgot to de-activate the single century restrictor. Fortunately, however, I landed here two years before I was due to leave on my first trip. kzbin.info/www/bejne/romlf593pdybZsU

[@josephinebennington7247]

@@Broonzied You were still late for the original. (If, indeed, it was the original! Who knows?). Or early for the replay. Just stay there in the parallel holding stack for an eon, we’ll call you when you can cross over.

[@Broonzied]

@@josephinebennington7247 Just got back to where I didn't start from, so will stay here while I move on. I hope you enjoyed good fortune tomorrow.

[@josephinebennington7247]

@@Broonzied Thank you, I did have good fortune while waiting for it. Right, I’m off to go and warp some space time. Tara.

[@AdjustableWaistband]

Makes me cry, she’s amazing

[@ladykfilmartproductions273]

I study this woman's chords of inquiry and playing style as she inspires my own songwriting and playing. This video is making me cry.....so beautiful, thanks for posting it.