Both Sides Now

by Joni Mitchell, Alan Baker (Illustrator)

An illustrated version of the Joni Mitchell song, in which clouds, love, and life itself appear differently when viewed from different perspectives

Genres: Music, Picture Books, Childrens

Hardcover

First published October 1, 1992

About the author

Joni Mitchell, CC is a reknowned Canadian musician, songwriter, and painter.

Reviews

[Adriana Scarpin]

Ambos Os Lados Agora
Both Sides Now

Mechas de cabelos de anjos que dançam
Rows and flows of angel hair

E castelos de sorvete no ar
And ice cream castles in the air

E cânions de penas em todo lugar
And feather canyons everywhere

Eu olhava as nuvens desse jeito
I've looked at clouds that way


Mas agora elas só bloqueiam o Sol
But now they only block the sun

Elas trazem chuva e neve sobre todos
They rain and snow on everyone

Tantas coisas eu teria feito
So many things I would have done

Mas as nuvens ficaram no meu caminho
But clouds got in my way


Olho as nuvens de ambos os lados agora
I've looked at clouds from both sides now

De cima e de baixo, e ainda assim
From up and down, and still somehow

São das ilusões das nuvens que eu me recordo
It's cloud illusions I recall

Eu realmente não sei nada sobre as nuvens
I really don't know clouds at all


Luas, junhos e rodas gigantes
Moons and Junes and ferris wheels

O jeito confuso e dançante que você sente
The dizzy dancing way you feel

Como se os contos de fadas se tornassem reais
As every fairy tale comes real

Eu olhava para o amor desse jeito
I've looked at love that way


Mas agora isso é só mais uma encenação
But now it's just another show

Você os deixa rindo quando vai embora
You leave 'em laughing when you go

E se você se importa, não os deixe saber
And if you care, don't let them know

Não se entregue
Don't give yourself away


Olho o amor de ambos os lados agora
I've looked at love from both sides now

Do dar e do receber, e ainda de alguma forma
From give and take, and still somehow

É das ilusões do amor que eu me recordo
It's love's illusions I recall

Eu realmente não sei nada sobre o amor
I really don't know love at all


Lágrimas e medos e o sentimento de orgulho
Tears and fears and feeling proud

De dizer que te amo, em voz alta
To say, I love you, right out loud

Sonhos e planos e plateias de circos
Dreams and schemes and circus crowds

Eu olhava para a vida desse jeito
I've looked at life that way


Mas agora velhos amigos agem de maneira estranha
But now old friends are acting strange

Eles balançam a cabeça, dizem que eu mudei
They shake their heads, they say I've changed

Bem, algo está perdido, mas algo está ganho
Well, something's lost, but something's gained

Em viver o dia a dia
In living every day


Olho a vida de ambos os lados agora
I've looked at life from both sides now

Do ganhar e perder, e ainda de alguma forma
From win and lose and still somehow

É das ilusões da vida que eu me recordo
It's life's illusions I recall

Eu realmente não sei nada sobre a vida
I really don't know life at all


Olho a vida de ambos os lados agora
I've looked at life from both sides now

Dos altos e baixos, e ainda de alguma forma
From up and down, and still somehow

É das ilusões da vida que eu me recordo
It's life's illusions I recall

Eu realmente não sei nada sobre a vida
I really don't know life at all

[Samantha]

Beautifully illustrated to the infamous Joni Mitchell's song BOTH SIDES NOW.

[Puri Kencana Putri]

It is a very poetic and lyrical book that is coming from Joni Mitchell's song Both Sides Now. The song has always occupied a sentimental spot in my heart, but I do not know that Mitchell would have a single thought to illustrate her minds and feelings into a simple yet deep artwork book like this. I am proud fan to found a story about life, with all joys, fears, tears, hopes, despairs, dreams, and all the bitter sweets in between through the book.

"I really don't know life at all," it is always lingering in my mind.

[Joan]

Lavish illustrations accompany the lyrics to Joni Mitchell’s quintessential “Both Sides Now,” evoking a sense of childlike wonder. The lyrics remain ethereal,

The picture book, with its targeted audience of young readers in second or third grade, is fanciful and, perhaps, magical when paired with the song’s lyrics. But this picture book may be more suited to adults who remember the song as they may be the ones who find the nostalgia most satisfying.

[David Anthony Sam]

The song is complex, a song about betrayals and loss, of hopes and love, and how we see the world through the filters of how we feel. A great dong

The illustrations are for some other song, cute, simplistic, pollyannish.

[Roger]

The artwork is interesting but didn't add anything to the song for me.

[Heather]

Beautifully illustrated version of a lovely song.

[Srinidhi.R Srinidhi.R]

the author is a genius..these are not ordinary poetry pieces..