Joni Mitchell and Graham Nash

Simple Man
by Graham Nash (for Joni Mitchell)

I am a simple man
So I sing a simple song
Never been so much in love
And never hurt so bad at the same time.
I am a simple man
And I play a simple tune
I wish that I could see you once again
Across the room like the first time.
I just want to hold you I don’t want to hold you down
I hear what you’re saying and you’re spinning my head around
And I can’t make it alone.
The ending of the tale
Is the singing of the song
Make me proud to be your man only you can make me strong
Like the last time.
I just want to hold you I don’t want to hold you down
I hear what you’re saying and you’re spinning my head around
And I can’t make it alone.

In the spring of 1970, Joni Mitchell was hoping to blend in with the crowd. She was looking for an escape, as well as a little fun. She was in crisis. She had announced a break from touring, cancelling appearances at Carnegie and Constitutions halls. She played a final show at Royal Festival Hall in London and returned home to finish Ladies of the Canyon. She thought she’d retreat in Laurel Canon, her leafy eucalyptus haven rising into the hillside, home to her friends, who happened to be some of rock’s strongest talents, including her lover, Graham Nash.

Joni Mitchell also needed a break from her own love life: her life with Graham Nash had certainly seemed idyllic in his 1969 song, “Our House”, but she had turned down Graham’s marriage proposal, realizing she couldn’t settle down with him.

Joni Mitchell and Graham Nash lived together unmarried for a while (unmarried shack-ups were common in the 60s), and the song, “Our House” came to Nash in only 20 minutes. Joni was around to witness the writing of the song. According to Nash, “By the time she got the flowers in the vase, the song was done.”

In retrospect, Nash believes his insecurity about Mitchell’s brilliance unraveled the relationship as much as her ambivalence toward commitment. He felt he was holding her back. Nash wrote “Simple Man”, his please-take-me-back song, and he sang it alone at the piano, without Crosby, Stills, and Young, at the Fillmore East in New York City, with Joni in the audience to hear.

Joni didn’t go back to Graham, instead finding a quick rebound in a liaison with James Taylor in July 1970, who would become her new lover and songwriting partner for the following fall and winter of that year.

Nash would go on to send Joni flowers for her birthday every year after that.

In a song she wrote for Nash, “My Old Man”, she especially struggled with her fundamental need to be an unbound creative spirit in a world that did not appreciate that quality in women. Her songs surpassed Nash’s in their expression and evocation of feeling, and in their advanced use of metaphor, born of Mitchell’s lyrical ability to elevate feelings into the universal sentiments of poetry.

Source: Portions of the above text were taken from Joni Mitchell’s new biography entitled, “Will You Take Me As I Am”, by Michelle Mercer”. It is available at all libraries and bookstores.

[mp3j track=”simpleman.mp3″]

Link back to the Poetry Wednesday tour on Laurita’s page

deletereply caffeinatedjo wrote on Aug 17, ’09 lauritasita said I wish that I could see you once again Across the room like the first time. Those have always been my favorite lines from that song. Man, I love both their music. They put meaning into their songs, unlike many today that seem to go more for mass appeal than something a bit more substantial.

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Aug 17, ’09, edited on Aug 18, ’09 caffeinatedjo said They put meaning into their songs, unlike many today that seem to go more for mass appeal than something a bit more substantial. Graham’s music was not really considered as poetic as Joni Mitchell’s, but yes, I agree that the music of that time was considered to be more substantial and meaningful. I used Graham’s music as a continuation of the biography of Joni Mitchell.

deletereply notjay wrote on Aug 17, ’09 Wow! I didn’t follow this story at all. I love these songs, always have. She was quite a creative entity though.

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Aug 17, ’09 notjay said Wow! I didn’t follow this story at all. I love these songs, always have Jay, I had no idea that these songs had a story like this behind them until I read Joni Mitchell’s new biography. It’s very interesting.

deletereply kwika wrote on Aug 17, ’09 Joni Mitchel, part of my early teens.

deletereply sanssouciblogs wrote on Aug 18, ’09 I never knew they were an item or what the muse was behind the songs. She certainly is an independent woman. They were music masters of the 60s, certainly. What an incredible love story. Wonderful people and wonderful stuff. Great post!!!

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Aug 18, ’09 sanssouciblogs said I never knew they were an item or what the muse was behind the songs. She certainly knew how to get those creative juices going in people, LOL! They were so young and talented, too.

deletereply sugarpiehuny wrote on Aug 19, ’09 I didn’t realize she was with James Taylor.. maybe I did and forgot. Thanks for a great informative post. Love the music. 😉 http://sugarpiehuny.multiply.com/journal/item/210/Beautiful_Thoughts

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Aug 19, ’09 sugarpiehuny said I didn’t realize she was with James Taylor.. Sugar, she had an influence on a lot of guys, LOL!

deletereply fluffyj wrote on Aug 19, ’09 Thank you so much for your comment! I’m off to check out the other posts. My Internet is moving slow, but it’s moving! I added a link back here in my comment area because I’m afraid to open the entry and lose the connection during my editing. -jd

deletereply sweetpotatoqueen wrote on Aug 20, ’09 Such an interesting “behind the scenes” story of these lyrics set to music.All these years later Joni still is going strong and remains her own woman and her music still is radiant…now that’s a classic!!. I feel like I had a great history lesson on an American music icons! Just wondering…did Joni ever find everlasting love?