David Crosby and Joni Mitchell by virtualDavis

“I think we’re all holding our breath and thinking of goodbye… hoping it’s gonna turn out ok.” ~ David Crosby

There’s so much beauty and sadness and wisdom and music in this clutter of honest, unselfconscious words shared by David Crosby about singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell.

Crosby dated Mitchell in 1967 when he was still performing with the Byrds. The following year he helped line up her first album, Song to a Seagull (Reprise Records). There close friendship spans half a century.

My more modest affection for Joni Mitchell dates to the mid-80s. I remember explaining my interest to perplexed teenage buddies who weren’t straying far from the Rolling Stones, CSN&Y, The Clash, etc. But I was haunted, hooked, beguiled by her siren call and candid narratives. She seemed like a lonely anthem to freedom and curiosity and rebellion and sometimes sadness. She still does.

Here’s hoping that her song is not over yet. I’m not ready to say goodbye.

I close with the full context of David Crosby’s quotation above which I read in the BBC story, “David Crosby: Joni Mitchell unable to speak after aneurysm“:

“[Joni Mitchell is] a tough girl and very smart,” he said. “I love her. She’s probably the best of us — probably the greatest living singer-songwriter. [But] I think we’re all holding our breath and thinking of goodbye, you know? And hoping it’s gonna turn out ok.” (BBC.com)