There are so many quality sandy beach songs out there. I almost went with The Beach Boys’ “Kokomo” but didn’t. (Hope someone else picks it!)
Song to a Seagull (also known as Joni Mitchell) is the eponymous debut studio album by the Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell. It was produced by David Crosby and released in March 1968.
The album was recorded at Sunset Sound in Hollywood, California. David Crosby was assigned as producer as part of the deal with Reprise Records, following meeting Mitchell in October 1967. Crosby wanted Mitchell to sound pure and natural, so he asked her to sing into the studio grand piano, and set up extra microphones to capture her voice reverberating off the strings; unfortunately the set-up captured too much ambient noise, resulting in excessive tape hiss, which could only be removed post-production at the cost of the high sounds in the audio range, which gives the album a flat feel.
Mitchell had written songs that were hits for other artists (e.g., “Both Sides Now” and “Chelsea Morning” by Judy Collins and Dave Van Ronk, “Eastern Rain” by Fairport Convention, “Urge for Going” and “The Circle Game” by Tom Rush), but none of these songs were selected for inclusion on Song to a Seagull. — from wikipedia
OK, before we go any farther, let’s put on the brakes for a moment. David Crosby did what!? How is singing into a piano supposed to sound pure and natural?
I know that some of the readers are audiophiles and sound is a science to you when you place the platter on the turntable and lay back in the e-z-boy bare-eared or headphoned. I just happened across an article that speaks your language about Song to a Seagull.
The Skeptical Audiophile writes:
We’ve been trying to get this album to sound good for more years than we care to remember. If you own a copy you know what we’re talking about — the sound is typically drenched in echo, with Joni sounding like she’s standing at the back of a cave. Harmonically-challenged acoustic guitars. Vocals with no breathy texture (much like practically all the heavy vinyl reissues we’ve suffered through over the course of the last few decades.)
and
Joni will never sound like she’s in the room with you the way she can on Blue or For the Roses. David Crosby’s production didn’t want her there or know how to put her there. (You’ll have to take that up with him.) Be that as it may, on the best copies she can have lovely presence to her voice and guitar; the intimacy and emotion of these songs is communicated beautifully. This is late night listening at its best, especially on side one…
Read the rest of the essay here.
Unfortunately, “Song to a Seagull” is on side two, next to the last song, just before “Cactus Tree.”
Here is the video, with lyrics following. After video and lyrics, I’ve pulled the lyrics apart and give my perspective on them. Looking deep into Joni’s lyrics, it is clear to see why she is one of the greatest songwriters and composers of all time. She has her pulse on what it takes to keep the wild soul’s spirit alive. Anyone who is alive understands how challenging that can be.
Song to a Seagull
Fly, silly seabird, no dreams can possess you
No voices can blame you for sun on your wings
My gentle relations have names they must call me
For loving the freedom of all flying things
My dreams with the seagulls fly
Out of reach, out of cry
I came to the city and lived like old Crusoe
On an island of noise in a cobblestone sea
And the beaches were concrete, and the stars paid a light bill
And the blossoms hung false on their store window trees
My dreams with the seagulls fly
Out of reach, out of cry
Out of the city and down to the seaside
To sun on my shoulders and wind in my hair
But sandcastles crumble and hunger is human
And humans are hungry for worlds they can’t share
My dreams with the seagulls fly
Out of reach, out of cry
I call to the seagull who dives to the waters
And catches his silver-fine dinner alone
Crying, “Where are the footprints that danced on these beaches
And the hands that cast wishes that sunk like a stone?”
My dreams with the seagulls fly
Out of reach, out of cry
Written by: Joni Mitchell
Album: Song to a Seagull
Released: 1968
Song to a Seagull, deconstructed
Fly, silly seabird, no dreams can possess you
She envies what she sees as the carefree nature of the “silly seabird”
No voices can blame you for sun on your wings
No one questions the nature of being a free seagull, sun on its wings.
My gentle relations have names they must call me
For loving the freedom of all flying things
Unlike the seagull, she is considered an eccentric by those who love her best,
judged as one who goes against cultural constraints in her sensitivity.
My dreams with the seagulls fly
Out of reach, out of cry
She rises away silently, carrying her dreams away from judgments that constrain.
I came to the city and lived like old Crusoe
On an island of noise in a cobblestone sea
And the beaches were concrete, and the stars paid a light bill
And the blossoms hung false on their store window trees
She finds herself in a literal place that also serves as powerful metaphor.
She’s an isolated stranger in an uncomfortable utilitarian cacophony
where everything is a commodity and nothing is free.
My dreams with the seagulls fly
Out of reach, out of cry
Even in the harsh place that doesn’t suit her, she finds a way to escape.
Out of the city and down to the seaside
To sun on my shoulders and wind in my hair
But sandcastles crumble and hunger is human
And humans are hungry for worlds they can’t share
She realizes that even when she is in her idealized place
that there is no perfect place, except in fantasy.
My dreams with the seagulls fly
Out of reach, out of cry
She escapes the reality of it, into the fantasy.
I call to the seagull who dives to the waters
And catches his silver-fine dinner alone
Crying, “Where are the footprints that danced on these beaches
And the hands that cast wishes that sunk like a stone?”
In her escape she questions if anything from the past is real.
My dreams with the seagulls fly
Out of reach, out of cry
I have to wonder if she will ever return…
Jim Adams is the host of Song Lyric Sunday.
This week, Jim wants us to share a song that celebrates sandy beaches.
Tao-Talk 
great choice Li a great song! 🙌💕
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Thanks, CA!
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A beautiful song, and the beginning of a stellar career. Excellent write up 👏
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Clive thanks. We’ll never know what was really going on with Crosby’s decision to mess with her work, but she did not let him stop her.
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With Crosby’s history there were probably chemicals involved. She did well to overcome him.
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Now I have to wonder if this song had anything to do with their relationship…
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It’s possible, though she had several other lovers in those years, including Graham Nash and, a little later, Stephen Stills. She passed on Neil Young, though, so didn’t get the full set!
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LMAO! Back in the days of free love, I’m sure there was a lot of swapping going on.
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I think hers were sequential rather than concurrent! She was a free spirit. James Taylor was in her collection too, briefly.
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What a great write-up, Li, and thanks for your efforts in deconstructing the lyrics. That was really insightful.
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Fandango, thanks very much <3
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🙌 wonderful choice she is my hero and this song demonstrates what a talent she is especially as a poet ‘My dreams with the seagulls fly
Out of reach, out of cry’
A great write up Lisa thanks so much for choosing this one (and in passing the album cover is epic too!) 🤩
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Most appreciative of your comment, Ange. Thank you and you’re welcome <3
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💕
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Insightful what you did, Lisa. Her voice is indisputably hers. I’ve always been a fan. Thanks for sharing.
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Selma, thanks so much. My pleasure.
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Lisa, an aside: moons & moons ago you swelled my heart when you said something about a post of mine would be good to music. Or something like that. I valued your words. I want to show you your words came to be. A different poem but it happened. Please read. And thanks dearly dear Lisa. I bless you.
https://selmamartin.com/believe-it-or-not-the-world-is-incredible/
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Selma, consider me AGOG with delight for you. Cannot imagine how your heart soars hearing your words put to music. Congratulations and I adore what you say on your post about people caring about what we do. {{{HUGS}}}
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Lisa. Thanks you 😆 Consider me agog with gratitude! It was you who gave the universe that idea. So I’m indebted to you for that. Really. I just needed to share this joy with you. I will remain in Joy and grateful. Again, thanks.
And it’s true what I say about someone noticing. Even if it takes 7 years… blessings.
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You are welcome. It’s a beautiful composition that you have released into the wild that increases light in the world.
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New song for me and a good one! It’s funny how many of us thought of Kokomo!!
I’m not sure I could write such a beautiful song to a seagull. They always swoop down after my lunch when I’m at the beach! lol
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Keith I bought a box set of Joni’s first so many albums, so I have it but it isn’t one I listen to much, unfortunately. No time, and I know you understand.
Kokomo was a song that showed up at the right time and hit a chord with many. It was/is my (former) bff and her bf’s song after he took her on a vacay to Costa Rica.
The gulls around here like to loiter around beachgoers on blankets but they don’t get pushy. I’ve heard horror tales about them aplenty though.
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Nice choice, Lisa and I am far from being an audiophile, so I don’t mind hearing Joni’s voice reverberating off piano strings, as anything Joni is fine with me. I wonder why David Crosby didn’t listen to the recordings and say that they needed to do another take, because the sound was not right, but I guess it is possible he could have been stoned out of his mind, and he actually liked this noise. I know this song, but I have never read a lyric analysis of it before, and I appreciate you doing that, because it makes the song much more relatable to me now. how did your day at the beach go when you went with your sons?
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Jim, I didn’t think of Crosby’s druggie aspect as a factor, but now that you mention it, it very well could be in his stoned mind it seemed like a good idea. Somebody needed to step up and speak the truth about it when they listened — but maybe they were all stoned out of their minds? I have to believe the record company wanted a quality recording; but then why assign druggie Crosby? So many unanswered questions.
Happy you enjoyed the lyric analysis. These impressions live in my head so kind of different to put them out on a screen for others to see.
The beach was fantastic. There is a small channel that runs between the inland lake and Lake MI. It has a slight current but nothing too bad. It’s about 3 feet deep, perfect for granddaughter to test out her new boogie board (older son’s gift to her at Christmas) and she also had a new alligator inflatable. We all languished in the channel, except older son went boogie boarding bigger waves in the big lake. Thanks for asking!
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There is nothing like floating around on an inflatable alligator, as having fun riding on a giant, goofy reptile makes everything feel like an adventure.
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:)
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Nice pick, Lisa. I’ll admit Joni Mitchell’s early folkie period and yours truly took a while to become friends. To my ears, Joni’s sometimes sky-high vocals could sound a bit pitchy. As such, I tended to prefer her later work where that typically no longer is the case. That said, I’ve gotten used to her early music. Perhaps it’s also the progression of high frequency hearing loss or combo! 🤣
Now, I’m going to share something with you, but let’s keep it our little secret. When it comes to The Beach Boys, I know fans of that group, who are into albums like “Pet Sounds” and “Surf’s Up,” aren’t particularly fond of “Kokomo.” Wanna know what? I love that little song, but let’s keep it between us! 😉
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Christian, I appreciate you sharing your thoughts on Joni’s music. I started with the early stuff as a late teen and it has spoken to me due to all of the teenage angst at the time. Not all that long ago I bought a box set of the reprise years and have listened to some more than others. This one wasn’t one of them, but glad for the prompt to remember this song.
lol on hearing loss making her early stuff more listenable to you. This muffled album should be pleasant in your ear canals ;)
I would like to get to know some of her later, more jazzy/experimental albums. I have Chalk Mark in a Rainstorm, but listening to it now it feels a little dated.
You know I looked up lyrics on Kokomo last night, and the site didn’t even list any of the Wilson boys!? That can’t be right can it?
Thanks for listening and your comments, Christian. Always nice to hear your impressions.
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Have you listened to Joni’s 1976 album “Hejira”? :-)
Of those I’ve heard to date, this one is my favorite.
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I have and remember liking it. I think Mangus wrote a post on it.
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Loved this, thanks for sharing!
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<3 You are welcome, Heather.
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Lovely post, Lisa. Sorry to see the end of another summer.
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Thanks, Nancy. I’m enjoying the weather right now, hope it is nice there.
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It’s trying to be nice! Most welcome,, Lisa.
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Beautiful song, Lisa. I really like the interpretation of the lyrics here. Odd backstory on the recording of the album, isn’t it? There’s thinking of “outside-of-the-box” approaches, and then there’s not thinking at all. One of our finest singer-songwriters, who I was happy to see at the 2024 Grammy Awards performing Both Sides Now with Brandi Carlile.
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Bruce, I understand about the experimentation, as innovation is important in all fields, but once they played it back and realized it didn’t work, please re-do it right. I remember Brandon Flowers talking about their first (?) album Hot Fuzz and the producers having him use some kind of device like a vocaloid. They need to re-record the album properly (and maybe already have?)
About Joni and her stroke (?) it could have finished her musical career, but she’s one tough and brilliant creative whose flame would not be so easily dimmed.
Thanks for your seasoned and thoughtful comment.
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Lovely song
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Glyn, yes indeed.
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I really love the artwork on that album! I have heard this one quite a few times but I can’t say that about all of her songs. She is one on my list to explore more…her voice can go anywhere.
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I like how you gave insights on the lyrics. The lyrics I liked a lot. I just have never cared for hearing her sing, but the lyrics are always good. Interesting about the piano strings vibrating experiment. Sounds like it would be a fun thing to try if it worked. :)
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Thanks, Barbara. I agree it would be a fun try.
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I love this album, and I’ve never had a problem with the way it sounds. Each one she did has a different atmosphere, as it should.
This is the song of someone young. “Black Crow” is the song of someone who has been around for awhile…(K)
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K, I value your insights. Love the Seagull v Black Crow as young v old perspectives.
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The way we see the world does change a we age.
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I love your write up especially your thoughts on the lyrics… to my untrained and ignorant ears she sounds as amazing as always… I am amazed she is still going …she’s ten years older than me so there’s hope for me yet 💜
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Willow, I never thought the album sounded off either — until I read what others told me to think. That is food for thought. Yes, I’m amazed she was able to recover from her stroke and keep on keepin on. Of course there is hope for us! :) <3
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Yes we always have hope 💜💜💜
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Hi, Li. Boy, you got a lot of thoughts on this one! As said above, your analysis was on target (in that I agree) and insightful. Weird to hear about the Crosby stuff but glad Joni was strong. I’m SO glad I didn’t come of age back then, ’cause I KNOW I would have gotten into SO much trouble. Or, who knows. Maybe I needed more trouble in my life! Being a quiet reader hasn’t really gotten me anywhere, lol!!
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Hey Stacey! I am starting to think of Song Lyric Sunday as my church, as I can do a little digging and a little thinking about a song, and I can listen and learn about so many others each week.
I was at the tail-end of it and saw my fair share of trouble. Stacey I don’t think of you as a quiet anything, and you sure have gotten somewhere.
I know I *still* owe you an email, but my mind is mostly a five and dime bazaar/bizarre, and time goes so much faster these days.
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Haha. Thanks, Li. And no pressure! Whenever the muse moves you, shoot an email off to me, not a moment before. Have a great rest of your week!
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Thanks for your understanding, my friend. You also!
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