Mitchell, Joni - People's Parties Lyrics






All the people at this party
They've got a lot of style
They've got stamps of many countries
They've got passport smiles
Some are friendly
Some are cutting
Some are watching it from the wings
Some are standing in the center
Giving to get something

Photo beauty gets attention
Then her eye paint's running down
She's got a rose in her teeth
And a lampshade crown
One minute she's so happy
Then she's crying on someone's knee
Saying laughing and crying
You know it's the same release

I told you when I met you
I was crazy
Cry for us all, beauty
Cry for Eddie in the corner
Thinking he's nobody
And Jack behind his joker
And stonecold Grace behind her fan
And me in my frightened silence
Thinking I don't understand

I feel like I'm sleeping
Can you wake me
You seem to have a broader sensibility
I'm just living on nerves and feelings
With a weak and a lazy mind
And coming to peoples parties
Fumbling deaf dumb & blind

I wish I had more sense of humour
Keeping the sadness at bay
Throwing the lightness on these things

Laughing it all away x 4





Other Lyrics by Artist

Rand Lyrics

Last Posts

Mitchell, Joni People's Parties Comments
  1. L.... R....

    Minhas duas músicas favoritas deste álbum. Fecho os olhos e flutuo.

  2. R.... L....

    The voice of angels..

  3. T.... O....

    These two songs paint such an acutely poignant portrait of life as I know it, stumbling deaf, dumb and blind in my search for ... ... ...

  4. D.... C....

    Joni is my all-time favorite singer

  5. G.... E....

    As an LA native, this song and "Babylon Sisters" by Steely Dan, are the quintessential LA songs. Just perfect.

  6. E.... M....

    All the people at this party
    They've got a lot of style
    They've got stamps of many countries
    They've got passport smiles
    Some are friendly
    Some are cutting
    Some are watching it from the wings
    Some are standing in the centre
    Giving to get something
    Photo Beauty gets attention
    Then her eye paint's running down
    She's got a rose in her teeth
    And a lampshade crown
    One minute she's so happy
    Then she's crying on someone's knee
    Saying, laughing and crying
    You know it's the same release
    I told you when I met you
    I was crazy
    Cry for us all, Beauty
    Cry for Eddie in the corner
    Thinking he's nobody
    And Jack behind his joker
    And stone-cold Grace behind her fan
    And me in my frightened silence
    Thinking I don't understand
    I feel like I'm sleeping
    Can you wake me?
    You seem to have a broader sensibility
    I'm just living on nerves and feelings
    With a weak and a lazy mind
    And coming to people's parties
    Fumbling deaf dumb and blind
    I wish I had more sense of humor
    Keeping the sadness at bay
    Throwing the lightness on these things
    Laughing it all away
    Laughing it all away
    Laughing it all away

  7. A.... ....

    still brilliant

  8. G.... S....

    Oh how I miss my youth...

  9. C.... H....

    How Joni cuts through the BS with her light sabre and SO many in this 'business ' would do well to learn from this. That is, if anyone in this rotted, commercial musical world today could even hold a candle to her GENIUS !!!!

  10. J.... B....

    My favourite Mitchell album. I heard excerpts from this album flying to Alberta in the mid 1970s. Bought the album when I returned home to Newfoundland.

  11. D.... ....

    She was a genius!

  12. m.... p....

    it s just amazing music - it s transcendent - i m not given to hyperbole - but joni has got the ability - to get to the bottom of things - they re not many people like that

  13. T.... ....

    Joni Mitchell has been called the most influential female composer / artist of the 20th century ... *And Deservedly So!*

  14. A.... P....

    As a fan of punk, I heard Hejira for the first time in Rome, around 1982...checked out the lyrics in the inner-sleeve and ...my jaw dropped. THIS was the most seamless wedding of mind and musical talent I'd encountered to date! I've been hooked to date.

  15. M.... E....

    I said, send me somebody who’s strong and somewhat sincere...

  16. M.... E....

    Ain’t nobody, and I said nobody, like Joni! Absolute genius without question!

  17. N.... R....

    Does any other musician come close...?

  18. M.... L....

    God... the beauty.

  19. k.... ....

    "Still I sent up my prayers, wondering who was there to hear. I said, send me somebody, who's strong, and somewhat sincere."  Oh man, who in the world hasn't felt this?

  20. L.... S....

    So I sent up my prayer wondering where it had to go, who's there to hear..... with heaven full of astronauts and the Lord on death row :-( ...... Amazing lyrics in these two, always among my favourites of all Joni's songs.

  21. M.... R....

    The "B" side to "Free Man In Paris". This 45 single should have been released as a double-sided hit.

  22. m.... p....

    send me some body whos totally different

  23. m.... p....

    it s like hearing time

  24. S.... G....

    well my brother and i still quote lyrics from this song to help us cope with todays shite, plus i love how she tuned her instrument to the cord of A , i get stuck on the fifth, one day i will get it, thank the universe for you Joni,,, tear,,,

  25. t.... s....

    Canada's great musical/lyrical gifts to America: Joni Mitchell & Gordon Lightfoot

  26. A.... ....

    My siren.

  27. T.... ....

    Bought this in the dead of winter 1974. Soon that will be 45 years! I didn't appreciate how brilliant it was, but I do now.

  28. m.... t....

    A very special song with a special construction - People's Parties is a non-stop song that never rests or returns to a base, it moves onward throughout to the end. Same Situation is more conventional, but still a brilliant song.

  29. H.... S....

    This is such soulful wonderful music. She is my favorite

  30. C.... M....

    We who grew up listening to her newest songs were so lucky. We had no idea she was the best that ever was.

  31. D.... A....

    Doesn't get much better than this..

  32. l.... i....

    Joni thank you for sharing your wonderful talent and your compassion with us I love you with all my heart ....your like a friend and Mom and mentor rolled into one ,many hugs and much Love .... from someone who followed your lead enough to use my head and heart the best I knew how ....thank you

  33. C.... R....

    Masterpiece.

  34. A.... C....

    A teacher in junior high transcribed the lyrics to this song and showed them to us students.  I can't recall why.

  35. G.... D....

    Joni, thanks for the Greatest Ride of my life with all of your songs.

  36. r.... ....

    I can hardly listen to it without a deep sadness and nostalgia coming over me. God, this is good. 1974 and we thought things were bad then.

    r.... ....

    ditto. ditto. ditto. people's parties is one of my most beloved of hers. & then it wraps up with "i said send me somebody who's strong & somewhat sincere." oh my g-d.

  37. A.... B....

    The open D tuning drives me crazy with joy! Lovelovelove open D!

  38. M.... S....

    People's Parties
    Joni Mitchell
    All the people at this party
    They've got a lot of style
    They've got stamps of many countries
    They've got passport smiles
    Some are friendly
    Some are cutting
    Some are watching it from the wings
    Some are standing in the centre
    Giving to get something
    Photo Beauty gets attention
    Then her eye paint's running down
    She's got a rose in her teeth
    And a lampshade crown
    One minute she's so happy
    Then she's crying on someone's knee
    Saying, laughing and crying
    You know it's the same release
    I told you when I met you
    I was crazy
    Cry for us all, Beauty
    Cry for Eddie in the corner
    Thinking he's nobody
    And Jack behind his joker
    And stone-cold Grace behind her fan
    And me in my frightened silence
    Thinking I don't understand
    I feel like I'm sleeping
    Can you wake me?
    You…

    M.... S....

    Almost every line shows her genius

    M.... S....

    Ms. Smith seem to have a broader sensibility. I’m just living on nerves and feelings with a weak and lazy mind, coming to people’s parties fumbling deaf, dumb, and blind. I wish I had more sense of humor, keeping the sadness at bay.... some of these things laughing it all awayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy laughing it all awayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy laughing it alll awayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy laughing it allll awayyyyyyyyyyyyyy

  39. N.... C....

    Lovely music

  40. H.... M....

    I am a Joni Mitchell addict, and I don't want any part of recovery. She is brilliant, her voice, her poetry just delight me.

    H.... M....

    She's the queen

  41. c.... b....

    It seems a shame that Ms Mitchell doesn't consider this to be an important lyrical anthem which should be repeated at all of her performances, let alone some of the lines written in the sky.

  42. T.... S....

    These songs are a fitting end of probably on of he best sides to an album. Every song a masterpiece.

  43. S.... D....

    laughing it all away

  44. D.... C....

    Without a doubt my favorite song by Joni, she's incredible! I wish she'd change her mind about smoking cigarettes, I'd like to see her around for some time to come! We love you Joni 😉💕😉

  45. M.... N....

    You were my court and spark for so many years...

  46. N.... C....

    Wonderful music!

  47. K.... L....

    1974; what a time for a year.

  48. S.... M....

    Joni Mitchell describes such an understanding in such poetically beautiful detail, in her songs and music, but sometimes it  seemed  I needed a genius to explain it. ( I felt that way, lol) Her music, and voice are mesmerizing I think.

  49. m.... ....

    joni mitchell is , despite her critical acclaim, is the most unheralded vocalist and poetic lyricist of her era

    m.... ....

    absolutely..when I m feeling somewhat alone..come hear for Joni. and find you..my fellow admirers..
    and although we will never meet..
    Im reminded of kindred spirits

    m.... ....

    Peerless.

    m.... ....

    It is because she is a woman. Women don't get the acclaim that male artists do.

    m.... ....

    Or any era !!!

  50. w.... ....

    I love this album....have had it since the '70's....

    w.... ....

    grew up with it and Renaissance Ashes Are Burning and my mother's Charles Aznavour and Frida Boccara

  51. S.... D....

    I awoke this morning with this small suite of very big and beautiful songs in my head and just had to hear them. It's like a craving. I chalk it up to being a songwriter myself, but does anyone else do this?

    S.... D....

    Yes I have had the same spontaneous desire to listen to the full recording. Its like a sonic balm for my soul.

    S.... D....

    Lol just like you every morning, & all day long. Then I wake up in the middle of nite with a song in my head. Life is good. 😎

    S.... D....

    Yes. I am a poet and songwriter and Joni's songs are in my head on a constant loop 90% of the time. I truly never tire of her.

    S.... D....

    Yep yep yepppppp

    S.... D....

    Steven DuVall doing it right now

  52. J.... W....

    Charming picture of Joni & Tom Scott admiring the first copies of her new release. They looked pleased as punch.... It's on the website.

  53. C.... M....

    Joni still brings me to tears, after all these years...

    C.... M....

    +Catherine Meyers ..joni mitchell is the single most UNDERRATED lyricist of her time- if bob dylan had penned these words it would have been big news. i was there i lived it . there was a gender bias back then.

    C.... M....

    +maxdingotm In Canada Joni is cherished beyond words especially by fellow artists. Woman my age adore her because we lived it. Sadly there still exists that gender bias, then some and more. She said in an interview a year back, Bob Dylan had a stick I laughed at that, but she was right. Don't get me wrong I love Dylan but he ain't never gona be half the writer, singer, musician and artist Joni is. Never.

    C.... M....

    +maxdingotm The Lord's on death row.

    C.... M....

    Catherine Meyers

    C.... M....

    Cuts through and defines.

  54. H.... ....

    "Still I sent up my prayers, wondering who was there to hear. I said, send me somebody, who's strong, and somewhat sincere." such brilliance................

    H.... ....

    amen...

  55. s.... ....

    Goodness, I love the transition from the first song to the next.

  56. a.... s....

    "I feel like I'm sleeping, can you wake me?" Love this song... love you Joni~~

  57. R.... T....

    Divin !

  58. A.... V....

    what can we say. Joni  Mitchell-all time great at the top of the pile.

  59. h.... ....

    Looking out a window at abundant greenery on a rainy day, I realize Joni Mitchell's art attaches to and enhances life.

  60. K.... R....

    laughing and crying, you know it's the same release...........Still I sent up my prayer, where am Ito go, who's there to hear.

  61. F.... ....

    ... laughing it all away ........

  62. K.... L....

    I love you Joni!!!

  63. O.... ....

    ...a votre sante Joni!

  64. 2.... ....

    This is my favorite song from this album.

  65. G.... D....

    I think I've been at those parties

  66. S.... B....

    lovely, lovely, lovely Joni Mitchell

    S.... B....

    +Steve Beck, goodness, she is lovely. How can someone resist loving her?

  67. J.... T....

    Perfection...beauty

  68. J.... S....

    I was told her expertise arose from a type of Robert Johnson arrangement-spiritual in nature..if you stop and think for a minute..her lyrics...light years beyond her contemporaries..Arrangement--a little too perfect..well--think about it..

  69. b.... a....

    A masterpiece. A perfect antidote to the empty shallow values that were emerging from the ashes of the hippy movement in 1974 and which have dominated society ever since. Prophetic song!

    b.... a....

    Couldnt agree more!

    b.... a....

    The problem we have now is not enough hippie values...not too much of it! Those values being... an effort to consider the equality of all, treating people as individuals not pre judging on race, gender or money...to reduce polluting the environment.. to celebrate creativity... freedom from oppressive economic and religious systems, etc. Sounds pretty good to me. What Joni expressed disappointment about around that period was the real hippie values not being accepted enough.

    b.... a....

    @Sean Michael Wilson "It was just a dream some of us had."

  70. L.... A....

    She has a few good songs but generally not into it. 

  71. P.... B....

    I'm just living on nerves and feelings...with a weak and a lazy mind....

  72. f.... ....

    The way she approaches her art, her compositions, her lyrics, her singing. Genius.

    f.... ....

    We are ALL disciples of Joni, connected by her sensitivity, connecting to life’s myriad directions of emotional crises and joyful wonderment.

  73. s.... ....

    The lady sings with such magic in her voice!  She is a star for the ages!

  74. f.... ....

    I so love her work!

  75. d.... ....

    Joni is the SHIT!  "I told when I met you I was crazy."  Just blessed to be able to listen to stuff like this..... thanks for posting this song.  

  76. P.... K....

    don't i know it

  77. g.... g....

    gawd  I luvs J

  78. K.... D....

    She's the musician/poet of our age.

  79. M.... ....

    nice cat

  80. T.... M....

    She's a beautiful "trip"!! Her music is so "different"; it's indescribably beautiful! (just to
    begin to describe her talent...!!)

  81. D.... T....

    Joni is amazing and so tied to her conscious ness and ability to turn over new material what a great artist
    I thank Creator for her

  82. D.... T....

    I just took a course at Banff Center and I was amazed at the contacts I met and the great Artists
    going through the program I did was so gooood
    I loved it and there was no age discrimination amazing experience not like the business world and the sharks in the Music world
    I am so glad I grew up in 2 era s and came into my own at the beginning
    of 2000

    D.... T....

    Banff????

    D.... T....

    @Giovanni Bellini yes

  83. T.... H....

    all her best stuff is never on air...

  84. G.... S....

    Thank you Joni, for helping us see the light!!!

  85. I.... ....

    Laughing and crying you know its the same release. Laughing it all away

  86. M.... L....

    For a woman who seems to be concerned about her social ineptitude at parties, she displays much savoir-faire in her interviews. love Joni <3

  87. D.... F....

    Pretty new to Joni - she's the best but she makes me sad.

  88. G.... C....

    COULD RELATE. It was all about middle class angst

  89. G.... C....

    It took a year for me to read your comments; Yet better late than never. Shes' kept me alive through a many crisis and dramas. It's great to hear from a kindred spirit. Stay healthy my friend ! ! !

  90. r.... ....

    Instrumentally, lyrically, intellectually - "Court and Spark" was, and still is, simply phenomenal. No matter how many times I listen, I still love it, and these tracks in particular are a delight to the ear and soothing to the soul. What a great gift Joni and her music are!

  91. C.... ....

    You said it all.

  92. S.... M....

    still listening to Joni some 40+ years now...she is the ultimate songstress

  93. w.... ....

    Everything I know about women I learned from Joni Mitchell albums.

  94. D.... ....

    Joni....thanks!!

  95. a.... ....

    kept me alive in the army.from her 1st album till hiss of summer lawns. couldn't relate. but the music i liked, hasn't worn thin in any respect. for the roses

  96. R.... W....

    "Comin' to people's parties fumblin' deaf, dumb and blind"...that be me! Lol! Never have been much of a social butterfly. Wow, can I relate to this song!

  97. D.... L....

    I told you when i met you I was crazy xx

  98. D.... L....

    Friday night in with Joni xxxx <3 xx