Both Sides Now is a song written by Joni Mitchell that looks at love, life, and the world from different perspectives, using clouds as a metaphor for changing views. Mitchell was inspired by a line in Saul Bellow's Henderson the Rain King, and the piece reflects how perception can shift with time. The tune became widely known through early recordings and is best remembered from Mitchell's 1969 folk rock album Clouds.
Key facts:
- Written by Joni Mitchell; earliest commercial release in June 1967 by Dave Van Ronk and the Hudson Dusters under the title Clouds; Judy Collins released a charting version in fall 1968; Mitchell included it on Clouds in 1969.
- Genre: Folk rock; original length about 4 minutes 32 seconds; tuned in F-sharp major with a guitar setup of D-A-D-F#-A-D and a capo on the fourth fret.
- A 2000 orchestral re-recording on the album Both Sides Now earned arranger Vince Mendoza a Grammy; the 2000 version appeared in the films Love Actually and Life as a House.
- Legacy: Ranked number 170 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs list; the song has been covered by many artists and remains a staple in Mitchell's catalog.
