Slouching Towards Bethlehem (Based On A Poem By W.
Joni Mitchell · Other Songs - Joni Mitchell
Within the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer
Things fall apart
The centre cannot hold
And a blood dimmed tide
Is loosed upon the world
Nothing is sacred
The ceremony sinks
Innocence is drowned
In anarchy
The best lack conviction
Given some time to think
And the worst are full of passion
Without mercy
Surely some revelation is at hand
Surely it's the second coming
And the wrath has finally taken form
For what is this rough beast
Its hour come at last
Slouching towards Bethlehem to be born
Slouching towards Bethlehem to be born
Hoping and hoping
As if with my weak faith
The spirit of this world
Would heal and rise
Vast are the shadows
That straddle and strafe
And struggle in the darkness
Troubling my eyes
Shaped like a lion
It has the head of a man
With a gaze as black
And pitiless as the sun
As it's moving its slow thigs
Across the desert sands
Through dark indignant
Reeling falcons
Surely some revelation is at hand
Surely it's the second coming
And the wrath has finally taken form
For what is this rough beast
Its hour come at last
Slouching towards Bethlehem to be born
Slouching towards Bethlehem to be born
(Head of a man, shape of a lion)
Raging and raging
It rises from the deep
Opening its eyes
After twenty centuries
Vexed to a nightmare
Out of a stony sleep
By a rocking cradle
By the Sea of Galilee
Surely some revelation is at hand
Surely it's the second coming
And the wrath has finally taken form
For what is this rough beast
Its hour come at last
Slouching towards Bethlehem to be born
Slouching towards Bethlehem to be born
(Head of a man, shape of a lion)
Slouching Towards Bethlehem (Based On A Poem By W.)
Joni Mitchell's "Slouching Towards Bethlehem" stands as a profound example of her ability to translate literary depth into musical form. Drawing inspiration from William Butler Yeats' famous poem, the track reflects Mitchell's signature folk-rock sensibility and her penchant for weaving complex social commentary into her songwriting. The recording captures her distinctive vocal delivery and intricate guitar work, hallmarks of her extensive discography. This piece highlights her capacity to explore themes of societal decay and spiritual longing, aligning with the introspective nature found throughout her body of work. As a significant song in her catalogue, the song demonstrates how Mitchell elevated folk music by integrating poetic structures, creating a lasting impact on listeners and fellow musicians alike.