Ethiopia
Joni Mitchell · The Complete Geffen Recordings [2007]
Flies in your babies' eyes--Ethiopia
Walking sticks on burning plains
Betrayed by politics
Abandoned by the rains
On and on--the human need
On and on--the human greed profanes
Ethiopia--Ethiopia--Ethiopia
Your top soil flies away--Ethiopia
We pump ours full of poison spray--Ethiopia
Between the brown skies and sprinkling lawns
I hear the whine of chain saws
Hacking rain forests down
On and on--insanities
On and on--Short sighted greed abounds
Ethiopia--Ethiopia--Ethiopia
Little garden planet-oasis in space
Some hearts hurt--they can hardly stand it
Famine phantoms at the garden gates
Ethiopia--Ethiopia--Ethiopia
Every Sunday on T.V.--Ethiopia
You suffer with such dignity--Ethiopia
A T.V. star with a P.R. smile
Calls your baby "it" while strolling
Through your tragic trials
On and on--stupidity
On and on--the basic needs are defiled
Good air--good water--good earth
Ethiopia--Ethiopia--Ethiopia
Little garden planet--oasis in space
Some hearts hurt--they can hardly stand the waste
Ethiopia--Ethiopia--Ethiopia
Š 1985 Crazy Crow Music BMI
Ethiopia
Ethiopia stands as a poignant song in Joni Mitchell's expansive discography, capturing her signature blend of introspective lyricism and sophisticated harmonic structures. Recorded during her tenure with Geffen Records, the track reflects the artist's continued evolution beyond her folk-rock origins into more complex, jazz-inflected territories. The song showcases Mitchell's distinctive vocal delivery and her ability to weave personal narrative with broader thematic resonance. As part of a celebrated body of work, this recording highlights her enduring influence on singer-songwriters and her mastery of the studio as an instrument. The piece remains a testament to her artistic depth, offering listeners a moment of quiet reflection within a career defined by constant reinvention and emotional honesty.