People's Parties

Joni Mitchell · Court and Spark [2004]

All the people at this party

They've got a lot of style

They've got stamps of many countries

They've got passport smiles

Some are friendly

Some are cutting

Some are watching it from the wings

Some are standing in the center

Giving to get something



Photo beauty gets attention

Then her eye paint's running down

She's got a rose in her teeth

And a lampshade crown

One minute she's so happy

Then she's crying on someone's knee

Saying laughing and crying

You know it's the same release



I told you when I met you

I was crazy

Cry for us all, beauty

Cry for Eddie in the corner

Thinking he's nobody

And Jack behind his joker

And stonecold Grace behind her fan

And me in my frightened silence

Thinking I don't understand



I feel like I'm sleeping

Can you wake me

You seem to have a broader sense of unity

I'm just living on nerves and feelings

With a weak and a lazy mind

And coming to peoples parties

Fumbling deaf dumb & blind



I wish I had more sense of humour

Keeping the sadness at bay

Throwing the lightness on these things



Laughing it all away x 4