There's a man who's been out sailing In a decade full of dreams And he takes her to a schooner And he treats her like a queen Bearing beads from California With their amber stones and green He has called her from the harbor He has kissed her with his freedom He has heard her off to starboard In the breaking and the breathing Of the water weeds While she was busy being free
My parents told me I'd point to a bed of flowers and say 'Pink. Pretty,' before I knew any other words.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects the innocence and simplicity of childhood appreciation for beauty, as nurtured by parental guidance.
In this quote, Joni Mitchell recalls her early childhood experiences and the influence of her parents in shaping her aesthetic sense. The simplicity of her words at that young age, 'Pink. Pretty,' illustrates how children express their emotions and perceptions in direct and honest ways. It also highlights the foundational role that caregivers play in fostering curiosity and an appreciation for the world around us, emphasizing the importance of family in the development of our identities.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
During a family gathering, to emphasize the importance of appreciating the little things in life.
More from Joni Mitchell
All quotes βUnlike some of my peers, I haven't really hit a writer's block. When I hit a block I just paint, which is an old crop rotation trick.
This is a nation that has lost the ability to be self-critical, and that makes a lie out of the freedoms.
You wake up one day and suddenly realize that your youth is behind you, even though you're still young at heart.
I have an aversion to being mislabeled. Here's a label I'd accept: I'm an 'individual.' I'm someone who can't follow, and doesn't want to lead.
What I do is unusual: chordal movements that have never been used before, changing keys and modalities mid-song.
Similar quotes
People have to understand how important it is for kids to be nurtured by their mom and dad and get the great role modeling when they are young.
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Contention in our families drives the Spirit of the Lord away. It also drives many of our family members away. Contention ranges from a hostile spoken word to worldwide conflicts. The scriptures tell us that "Only by pride cometh contention".
For this my mother wrapped me warm,_x000D_ _x000D_ And called me home against the storm,_x000D_ _x000D_ And coaxed my infant nights to quiet,_x000D_ _x000D_ And gave me roughage in my diet,_x000D_ _x000D_ And tucked me in my bed at eight,_x000D_ _x000D_ And clipped my hair, and marked my weight,_x000D_ _x000D_ And watched me as I sat and stood:_x000D_ _x000D_ That I might grow to womanhood_x000D_ _x000D_ To hear a whistle and drop my wits_x000D_ _x000D_ And break my heart to clattering bits.
A mother experiences more than one death, even though she herself will only die once. She fears for her husband; she fears for her children; again she fears for the women and children who belong to her children. ... For each of these-whether for loss of possessions, bodily illness, or undesired misfortune-she mourns and grieves no less than those who suffer.
The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.