I really think this is one of the best poems to come out of popular music.
I suspect this song was inspired by the newfound sexual and general freedom experienced by women in the USA from the early 60's through effective contraception becoming available and onset of more liberal attitudes. This young woman now has the freedom to experience multiple relationships without being tied down to marriage "for eternity". The poor guys did not get it: they long for a more permanent (posessive?) relationship, and they suffer. This dichotomy of expectations make this lyric so haunting and emotive. The conclusive metaphor of her heart being "full and hollow like the cactus tree" can be interpreted variously: e.g. (1) (positively) she had a full social/sexual life, but not static; in fact fluid and mobile (2) (negative) her life seems full, but ultimately without substance.
@jakiewiet The "Hollow" line always bothered me as it seems negative to me. If she was a man, no one would care. But in 1968, she's HOLLOW and BUSY....negative images. Joni fell in love a lot.
@jakiewiet The "Hollow" line always bothered me as it seems negative to me. If she was a man, no one would care. But in 1968, she's HOLLOW and BUSY....negative images. Joni fell in love a lot.
I really think this is one of the best poems to come out of popular music. I suspect this song was inspired by the newfound sexual and general freedom experienced by women in the USA from the early 60's through effective contraception becoming available and onset of more liberal attitudes. This young woman now has the freedom to experience multiple relationships without being tied down to marriage "for eternity". The poor guys did not get it: they long for a more permanent (posessive?) relationship, and they suffer. This dichotomy of expectations make this lyric so haunting and emotive. The conclusive metaphor of her heart being "full and hollow like the cactus tree" can be interpreted variously: e.g. (1) (positively) she had a full social/sexual life, but not static; in fact fluid and mobile (2) (negative) her life seems full, but ultimately without substance.
@jakiewiet The "Hollow" line always bothered me as it seems negative to me. If she was a man, no one would care. But in 1968, she's HOLLOW and BUSY....negative images. Joni fell in love a lot.
@jakiewiet The "Hollow" line always bothered me as it seems negative to me. If she was a man, no one would care. But in 1968, she's HOLLOW and BUSY....negative images. Joni fell in love a lot.