both sides now

If there were a soundtrack to my life, this classic song by Joni Mitchell would be one of the theme songs.

This is going out to all of you who've ever thought that the song is fundamentally pessimistic. You've only to watch Joni's performance in this video to see that it is anything but that. In the first place, the strings and trumpet soar with hope, not despair; and Joni's open-armed, jaunty smile at 'Something's lost and something's gained in living every day' is the final word on the invalidity (is there such a word?) of the pessimistic interpretation.

The song is a celebration of life, in the same way that the book of Ecclesiastes is a celebration of life, a humble admission that we cannot know it all, that ultimately, clouds and love and life remain a mystery to us, and that this is OK, that we don't need knowledge to celebrate with love, joy and gratitude all that we are given in life, and all that is taken from us too.
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