I first heard this song on the compilation album of songs chosen by Joni's friends and fellow musicians from Starbucks, long before I owned Night Ride Home. Then, right in the liner notes, I had Chaka Khan's (who selected the piece) interpretation of it to immediately bias me: "This song is so cerebral. It's an enigma. She's speaking of the left and right brain, and the 'window' she speaks of is the eyes. Just brilliant!"
Now, songfacts.com tells me: "Mitchell wrote the music for this song in 1982 and titled it 'Speechless.' It wasn't until 1989 that she put lyrics to the song, which were inspired by Max Fassbinder, a German silent film-era cinematographer who was left broken-hearted by his gay lover. The song describes a rich man who moves to a shabby apartment (with just 2 grey rooms) so he can watch his former lover walk to and from work."
I always sort of just agreed with Khan, imagined this was everything Joni Mitchell intended to say, and never really bothered to think that the song's actual meaning could be more literal. I think I'm going to continue to believe that the metaphor and the literal story can coexist in this song. It's funny how your view can become so clouded if you're completely focused on one idea!
take the despair of losing the love of your life and put it in a can like concentrated orange juice and call it 'two grey rooms'
devastating to watch the one that stole the heart out of your chest walk by your window.. with a view
take the despair of losing the love of your life and put it in a can like concentrated orange juice and call it 'two grey rooms'
devastating to watch the one that stole the heart out of your chest walk by your window.. with a view
I first heard this song on the compilation album of songs chosen by Joni's friends and fellow musicians from Starbucks, long before I owned Night Ride Home. Then, right in the liner notes, I had Chaka Khan's (who selected the piece) interpretation of it to immediately bias me: "This song is so cerebral. It's an enigma. She's speaking of the left and right brain, and the 'window' she speaks of is the eyes. Just brilliant!"
Now, songfacts.com tells me: "Mitchell wrote the music for this song in 1982 and titled it 'Speechless.' It wasn't until 1989 that she put lyrics to the song, which were inspired by Max Fassbinder, a German silent film-era cinematographer who was left broken-hearted by his gay lover. The song describes a rich man who moves to a shabby apartment (with just 2 grey rooms) so he can watch his former lover walk to and from work."
I always sort of just agreed with Khan, imagined this was everything Joni Mitchell intended to say, and never really bothered to think that the song's actual meaning could be more literal. I think I'm going to continue to believe that the metaphor and the literal story can coexist in this song. It's funny how your view can become so clouded if you're completely focused on one idea!
take the despair of losing the love of your life and put it in a can like concentrated orange juice and call it 'two grey rooms' devastating to watch the one that stole the heart out of your chest walk by your window.. with a view
take the despair of losing the love of your life and put it in a can like concentrated orange juice and call it 'two grey rooms' devastating to watch the one that stole the heart out of your chest walk by your window.. with a view