If, I say *IF* Neil was inspired to write "Stupid Girl" by something or some
things :) he saw in Joni, it's important to bring some perspective.
Neil and Joan go back a long ways. Joni said that they both had childhood
polio, came up through the difficult (if not hostile) Canadian music biz of
the 60s. Joni has drawn Neil's face at least twice.
And they also come "up" a long ways. They participated together in the
David Forster-powered "Tears Are Not Enough", standing side by side for
relief for Africa. Joni said that at The Band's Last Waltz, she and Neil
huddled together to avoid feeling kinda lost among all those people. She
said that working out her (off-stage) backing vocal on "Helpless" was a
result of that. They have been close.
So if Neil was inspired by Joni to write SG, it may be something along the
lines of "How Do You Sleep?". The lore on this one was that ex-Beatle Paul
McCartney wrote this one about his disappointments with ex-Beatle John
Lennon. (After the Beatles, John just hung out with Yoko. The McCartney
fans say that John persistently turned down Lennon/McCartney picnic, dinner,
& jam invitations.
Both songs then represent transitory disappointments, not blanket, permanent
condemnations.
Lama
