Little Green
Joni Mitchell
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Born with the moon in Cancer Choose her a name she'll answer too Call her green and the winters can not fade her Call her green for the children who have made her little, green Be a gypsy dancer He went to California Hearing that everything's warmer there So you write him a letter, say, "her eyes are blue" He sends you a poem and she's lost to you Little, green, he's a non-comformer Just a little green Like the color when the spring is born There'll be crocuses to bring to school tomorrow Just a little green Like the night's when the Northern lights perform There'll be icicles and birthday clothes and sometimes There'll be sorrow Child with a child pretending Weary of lies you're sending home So you sign all the papers in the family name You're sad and you're sorry but you're not ashamed, little green Have a happy ending Just a little green Like the color when the spring is born There'll be crocuses to bring to school tomorrow Just a little green Like the night's when the Northern lights perform There'll be icicles and birthday clothes And sometimes there'll be sorrow
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Written by: Joni Mitchell
Lyrics © Crazy Crow Music / Siquomb Music Publishing
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Song Origin"Little Green" is a song from Joni Mitchell's third studio album, "Blue", which was released on 22 June 1971.
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Background InspirationThe song is about the heart-wrenching experience of Mitchell giving her daughter up for adoption in 1965. Mitchell bore her daughter, named Kelly Dale Anderson, in secret and as an impoverished young woman, she chose adoption for the well-being of the child.
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Song NameMitchell named the song's character, a little girl, ‘Little Green’ in reference to the Kelly green crayon in a box.
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RevelationThe song's true meaning wasn't publicly known until 1997 when Mitchell confirmed that she had a daughter, known as Kilauren Gibb after adoption, whom she had given up for adoption years before she became famous.
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LyricsMitchell's lyrics in "Little Green" carry intricate and layered meanings, speaking of cycles of life, love, and loss in her characteristic and expressive poetic style.
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ReunionJoni Mitchell and her daughter Kilauren Gibb reunited in 1997, more than 30 years after the song "Little Green" was written.
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Album Reception"Blue", the album "Little Green" features in, is widely regarded as one of the greatest albums of all time, and has been described as the pinnacle of Mitchell's songwriting work.
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Song ThemesThe song deals with themes of motherhood, despair, sacrifice, and hope, making it emblematic of the emotional honesty and deeply personal songwriting that Mitchell is known for.
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Style and Tone"Little Green" is emblematic of Mitchell's early work, centered on her voice with accompaniment by a single acoustic guitar. The tone of the song is somber and introspective.
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Contemporary RelevanceSince its release, "Little Green" remains as relevant as ever, often resonating with people who have undergone similar experiences, and continues to be celebrated as a profound piece of music art.
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Citation
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"Little Green Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 27 Sep. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/28051873/Joni+Mitchell/Little+Green>.
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