Down to You
Down to You

Joni Mitchell - Down to You Lyrics

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Feb 12, 2013
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Down to You Music Video

Down to You Lyrics

Everything comes and goes
Marked by lovers and styles of clothes
Things that you held high
And told yourself were true
Lost or changing as the days come down to you
Down to you
Constant stranger
You're a kind person
You're a cold person too
It's down to you

You go down to the pick up station
Craving warmth and beauty
You settle for less than fascination
A few drinks later you're not so choosy
When the closing lights strip off the shadows
On this strange new flesh you've found
Clutching the night to you like a fig leaf
You hurry
To the blackness
And the blankets
To lay down an impression
And your loneliness

In the morning there are lovers in the street
They look so high
You brush against a stranger
And you both apologize
Old friends seem indifferent
You must have brought that on
Old bonds have broken down
Love is gone
Ooh, love is gone
Written on your spirit this sad song
Love is gone

Everything comes and goes
Pleasure moves on too early
And trouble leaves too slow
Just when you're thinking
You've finally got it made
Bad news comes knocking
At your garden gate
Knocking for you
Constant stranger
You're a brute, you're an angel
You can crawl, you can fly too
It's down to you
It all comes down to you

Writer(s): Joni Mitchell
Copyright(s): Lyrics © Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What is the structure of 'Down to You'?

    'Down to You' uses a verse-bridge structure. The verses provide philosophical reflections on life's transience and love's impermanence, while the bridge offers more detailed specifics of the themes explored.

  2. In which keys is 'Down to You' composed?

    The song 'Down to You' is composed in the keys of D major and E major. These keys contribute to the complex and evocative arrangement, which includes a variety of chord types.

  3. What musical elements are prominent in 'Down to You'?

    The song prominently features an orchestral interlude, where instruments and Joni Mitchell's piano dialogue with the musical theme. Mitchell's piano incorporates different chords such as major, minor, diminished, and augmented, adding a jazz-like solo quality to her style.

  4. What awards did 'Down to You' receive?

    At the 1975 Grammy Awards, Joni Mitchell and Tom Scott won the Grammy Award for Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s) for 'Down to You.' The arrangement's stunning complexity has been praised by critics.

  5. Who contributed vocals to 'Down to You'?

    In addition to Joni Mitchell, David Crosby and Susan Webb contributed vocals to emphasize the realization of love's absence during the line 'love is gone' in the song.

  6. How are the lyrics structured in 'Down to You'?

    The lyrics in 'Down to You' are known for their terseness, generality, and suggestiveness. They are cleverly rhymed, blending philosophical musings with specific narrative details, providing depth and ambiguity regarding the addressed person’s identity and gender.

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