Hi there all,
Bob M. made me think a bit about the Midnight Cowboy Song (by the way,
on the album by Donal Leace it is just titled "Midnight Cowboy") but I
realize that the web site has it as "The Midnight Cowboy Song" which may
well be true, as I discovered in the past that Joni had once or twice
changed the name of a song. Marcie, for instance I believe was first
called "Portrait In Red And Green" according to the copyright office. I
am guessing it's the same song since there are obvious red/green
references in Marcie. And it's just like Joni to mix art and music, as
in "Portrait....In Red And Green." Just another thing I love about her
imagery.
I'm not sure there is necessarily a deep, dark, story in "Cowboy" though
there might be. Still there are just lines that I love about it,
especially the Joniesque, "You were walking kind of faded, from the
Netherlands Hotel..." and "There's a soldier in the depot, he's a
fighting nightingale..." but regardless, one can get whatever one might
identify with from the song. Interestingly, "There's a soldier, in the
the depot", fits perfectly as a line for "Cactus Tree."
I think that's why I love Joni' music so much. Some of you know that I
will be moving back to Los Angeles soon, (from Detroit). Even with a
song of Joni's written around 1972 or so, that I hear the first time in
the year 2001, and sung by someone else, I find I can still identify
with some of the lyrics and they pierce me at the right time. I could
always relate personally to every new work she put out. This one,
rather ironic, I identified with as I listened, at that moment. "Hey
Joe, why don't you go back home? Really hate to see you falling down,
get out of town."
I need a change in my life right now. I identifed. That's what I think
many of us love about Joni's music. We can identify so personally with
so many things she says, and it seems she finds us with these songs at
the right time in our lives.
Any-who, this is hardly a plumb the depths kind of examination of
"Cowboy" obviously. But I thought I'd take a plunge, and share
something for a change, for what it's worth.
Best to you all,
Gary
P.S. I am forwarding the song on to Bob M., so you can all have
a listen on a future covers CD.
