Cara's Castle
Joni Mitchell · Other Songs - Joni Mitchell
On a carousel crusade
And you're tired of fighting windmills with a nail
Cross the fence and join the dragons
Who have never made the grade
Cara?s castle and the keepers of a most unholy grail
Oh Cara
Queen of the losers, ruler of the weak
Give the poet what he chooses
Till he's too dumb to speak
There's a clock upon the mantle
But its hands forget the time
And the windows turn their backs upon the day
And the people in the shadows
Could be all lost friends of mine
Cara?s courtiers need no light, need no light to lose their way
Oh Cara
Queen of the losers, ruler of the weak
Give the poet what he chooses
Till he's too dumb to speak
From the end to the beginning
Crippled minds retrace the steps
From the burial to the birth they do retreat
Wonderin? where and when and why
Their souls were slaughtered while they slept
Cara?s courtiers know no victory, know no victory just defeat
Oh Cara
Queen of the losers, ruler of the weak
Give the poet what he chooses
Till he's too dumb to speak
One by one the battered soldiers
Go slowly cross the moat
One by one they seek new castles somewhere else
With their crutches and the cravens
And I wonder is there hope
Is there hope for Cara?s courtiers and the wars against themselves
Oh Cara
Queen of the losers, ruler of the weak
Give the poet what he chooses
Till he's too dumb to speak
Cara's Castle
Cara's Castle stands as a poignant song in Joni Mitchell's expansive discography, capturing her signature blend of introspective lyricism and sophisticated harmonic structures. The track reflects the artist's ability to weave personal narrative with broader emotional landscapes, a hallmark of her songwriting throughout her career. While often associated with her early folk and jazz-inflected periods, the song showcases Mitchell's evolving approach to melody and arrangement. It remains a cherished piece for listeners exploring her body of work, offering a glimpse into her unique perspective on love and memory. The recording exemplifies the depth and nuance that have defined her influential presence in popular music, inviting audiences to engage with the subtle complexities of her artistry without relying on explicit biographical details.