The Last Time I Saw Richard

Joni Mitchell

About The Last Time I Saw Richard

"The Last Time I Saw Richard" is a song by Joni Mitchell from her 1971 album Blue. It is the last track on the album. The song could be a reference to Mitchell's first husband Chuck Mitchell and their brief marriage. According to Richard Flynn, as noted on the official Joni Mitchell website, biographer Karen O'Brien believes "Joni revisits her brief marriage to Chuck Mitchell in this song. O'Brien even refers to the protagonist of the song as Richard/Chuck. Joni and Chuck (who, unlike Joni, sang 'material ranging from simple ballads to Brecht theatre songs', according to Broadside magazine) lived in Detroit after their marriage in 1965 until their break up in 1967, when Joni moved to New York City". The song was covered by Brazilian rock band Legião Urbana in 1992 and released on their 1999 Acústico MTV album. This recording was certified Diamond by the Associação Brasileira dos Produtores de Discos, with more than 500,000 copies sold. 


Year:
2005
4:16
65 
#1

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The last time I saw Richard was Detroit in '68,
And he told me all romantics meet the same fate someday
Cynical and drunk and boring someone in some dark cafe
You laugh, he said you think you're immune, go look at your eyes
They're full of moon
You like roses and kisses and pretty men to tell you
All those pretty lies, pretty lies
When you gonna realize they're only pretty lies
Only pretty lies, just pretty lies

He put a quarter in the Wurlitzer, and he pushed
Three buttons and the thing began to whirr
And a bar maid came by in fishnet stockings and a bow tie
And she said drink up now it's gettin' on time to close
Richard, you haven't really changed, I said
It's just that now you're romanticizing some pain that's in your head
You got tombs in your eyes, but the songs
You punched are dreaming
Listen, they sing of love so sweet, love so sweet
When you gonna get yourself back on your feet?
Oh and love can be so sweet, love so sweet

Richard got married to a figure skater
And he bought her a dishwasher and a Coffee percolator
And he drinks at home now most nights with the TV on
And all the house lights left up bright
I'm gonna blow this damn candle out
I don't want Nobody comin' over to my table
I got nothing to talk to anybody about
All good dreamers pass this way some day
Hidin' behind bottles in dark cafes
Dark cafes
Only a dark cocoon before I get my gorgeous wings
And fly away
Only a phase, these dark cafe days

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Joni Mitchell

Joni Mitchell, CC (born Roberta Joan Anderson; November 7, 1943) is a Canadian musician, singer songwriter, and painter. Mitchell began singing in small nightclubs in Saskatchewan and Western Canada and then busking in the streets and dives of Toronto. In 1965 she moved to the United States and, touring constantly, began to be recognized when her original songs ("Urge for Going," "Chelsea Morning," "Both Sides, Now," "The Circle Game") were covered by notable folk singers, allowing her to sign with Reprise Records and record her own debut album in 1968. Settling in Southern California, Mitchell and her popular songs like "Big Yellow Taxi" and "Woodstock" helped define an era and a generation. Her more starkly personal 1971 recording Blue has been called one o… more »

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Written by: Joni Mitchell

Lyrics © Crazy Crow Music / Siquomb Music Publishing, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC

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2 facts about this song

Joni Mitchell
"The Last Time I Saw Richard" is a song from Mitchell's album "Blue", which was released in 1971. - It's the final track on the album and is one of Mitchell's lesser known songs. - "The Last Time I Saw Richard" is often regarded as one of Joni Mitchell's more autobiographical tracks as it tells a story about her encounter with a cynical fellow musician. - The song reportedly symbolises her skeptic viewpoint of love at the time and her struggle with isolation, reflecting the dark period she faced post-romantic relationship. - Mitchell often used alternate guitar tunings, and "The Last Time I Saw Richard" is no exception.
Legião Urbana
Impressively, "Legião Urbana" was a Brazilian rock band that was formed in 1982 and has achieved enormous success, despite disbanding in 1996 - just 14 years after being formed. - A curious fact is that a cover version of "The Last Time I Saw Richard" was recorded by this band and is included in their 1997 album named "Uma Outra Estação." - The band is known for its involvement in social issues in Brazil, often incorporating political, social, and existential themes into their lyrics, which may have influenced their take on "The Last Time I Saw Richard." - Renato Russo, the band's vocalist, is known to have been a huge fan of Joni Mitchell, which probably led to the cover of her song. - Although this cover is not the best-known work of the band, it is acknowledged among fans as a song that kept true to the band's distinct sound and Russo's unique vocal style.

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