Friday, September 08, 2006

Joni Mitchell And King George #2: An Epistemology Of Empowerment

No one much listens to King George these days

but back in the 70s she put out

two albums that many people include

as possible best-album-of-all-times:

“For the Roses” and also “Court And Spark.”

Songs aren’t alive, not like humans or

hierarchies, but songs somehow persist.

If corporations for some reason stopped

releasing her DVDs and removed

her MP3 download files from on-line

the songs of King George would not disappear.

Having heard her, I can grab my guitar

and strum and sing a big-note, easy-play

harmonization that is all mine of,

for instance, “Cold Blue Steel And Sweet Fire,” or

“People’s Parties.” Having heard is knowing.

Listening to is like ambrosia to things

we hear. Knowing is lifetime admission

to a bandshell with perfect acoustics.

No one much listens to King George these days

but to my ears all the songs of King George

are worth hearing. Especially these days.







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