The Joni Mitchell song James Taylor wishes was written about him
When Joni Mitchell wrote Blue, she encountered several life-changing events. Created just after an intense break-up with Graham Nash and the start of a new romantic endeavour with James Taylor, Blue masterfully carries Mitchell’s fusion of music and heartbreak. Even after 50 years, the album echoes of love’s demise with an enduring allure, evoking a bittersweet celebration of life’s melancholic symphony.
When the album emerged in 1971, it seemed that Mitchell’s relationship with Nash had already concluded, and the poignant narrative of heartbreak within the album would deliver the same sentiments for countless listeners as her intimate, heartfelt ballads had done for Nash four years earlier. “I watched her write some of those songs, and I believe that one or two of them were about me, but who really knows?” Nash wrote in 101 Essential Rock Records.
Adding: “Blue is by far, my most favourite solo album, and the thought that I spent much time with this fine woman and genius of a writer is incredible to me.”
However, for Mitchell, the album encapsulates more than just the conclusion of a romantic relationship; it signifies the start of a new era. In Michelle Mercer’s book, Will You Take Me As I Am, Mitchell reflects on the period when many were struggling, yet she felt determined to navigate through the turmoil. “There were so many sinking, but I had to keep thinking I could make it through the waves. Right after Woodstock, then we went through a decade of basic apathy where my generation sucked its thumb and then just decided to be greedy and pornographic.”
In various parts of the album, Mitchell included subtle yet direct hints and references to her budding relationship with Taylor, whom she encountered backstage at a performance in Los Angeles. The song ‘All I Want’, for instance, addresses their romance: “I want to have fun, I want to shine like the sun / Want to be the one that you want to see / I want to knit you a sweater / Want to write you a love letter”. Incidentally, Mitchell had also knitted Taylor a sweater vest, which he wore with pride.
Discussing the meaning behind the lyrics within her songs, Mitchell told the LA Times in 1996: “It’s funny how people keep looking between the lines of songs to see what is hidden there. Well, I’m not an evasive writer. You don’t have to dig under the words for the meaning. The meaning is all there. It’s very plain-speak. When someone asks what a song like ‘Sex Kills’ is about, I want to say, ‘Well, did you listen to the words?'”
However, speaking to Uncut in 2018, Taylor denied there being any truth in the song being about him at all. He said: “I don’t think that song was written about me. Joni already had that song when we met. I did back her up on guitar when she recorded it. I thought it was a beautiful song… I wished it was about me!”
Despite this, Mitchell has reportedly alluded to its connection with Taylor on multiple occasions, specifically its explicit references to their relationship, not just in terms of the mention of the sweater but also his struggle with heroin addiction. Throughout the creation of Blue, their love and involvement were evident. However, by March, Taylor’s burgeoning fame had caused tension between them.