Joni Mitchells klassiker “Chelsea Morning” har kørt rundt i mit hoved de sidste to dage. Og så måtte jeg hen til reolen og hive hendes gamle plader frem fra hylderne.” Og den første jeg fik fat i var “For the Roses” fra 1972. Billedet ovenfor er fra coverets opslag, og viser Joni som naturen har skabt hende. Den slags uskyldigheder kunne man tillade sig i 1972, hvor hippiedrømmene endnu ikke helt var udslukt – og selv om virkeligheden slet ikke var så uskyldig endda. Men “Chelsea Morning” var slet ikke fra “For the Roses” men den to år ældre “Clouds”, hvor Joni kigger på en med en blomst i hånden. Siden dengang er Peace, Love and Understanding blevet et slogan, der er henvist til historiebøgerne og nostalgien. Men sangene, de holder endnu.

Woke up, it was a Chelsea morning, and the first thing that I heard
Was a song outside my window, and the traffic wrote the words
It came a-reeling up like
Christmas bells, and rapping up like pipes and drums

Oh, won’t you stay
We’ll put on the day
And we’ll wear it ’till the night comes

Woke up, it was a Chelsea morning, and the first thing that I saw
Was the sun through yellow curtains, and a rainbow on the wall
Blue, red, green and gold to welcome you, crimson crystal beads to beckon

Oh, won’t you stay
We’ll put on the day
There’s a sun show every second

Now the curtain opens on a portrait of today
And the streets are paved with passersby
And pigeons fly
And papers lie
Waiting to blow away

Woke up, it was a Chelsea morning, and the first thing that I knew
There was milk and toast and honey and a bowl of oranges, too
And the sun poured in like butterscotch and stuck to all my senses
Oh, won’t you stay
We’ll put on the day
And we’ll talk in present tenses

When the curtain closes and the rainbow runs away
I will bring you incense owls by night
By candlelight
By jewel-light
If only you will stay
Pretty baby, won’t you
Wake up, it’s a Chelsea morning