Aus der Reihe CDs, die in keiner Sammlung fehlen sollten, heute: Blue von Joni Mitchell. Auf diesem Meisterwerk von 1971 findet man nicht nur das für mich wichtigste Weihnachtslied aller Zeiten “River”, sondern eine Songperle nach der anderen. Viele Kritiker behaupten, dass Joni vielleicht nach 1971 mit ihren CDs schon mal erfolgreicher war, aber nie besser.

RIVER

It’s coming on Christmas
They’re cutting down trees
They’re putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace
Oh I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
But it don’t snow here
It stays pretty green
I’m going to make a lot of money
Then I’m going to quit this crazy scene
I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to fly
Oh I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I made my baby cry

He tried hard to help me
You know, he put me at ease
And he loved me so naughty
Made me weak in the knees
Oh I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I’m so hard to handle
I’m selfish and I’m sad
Now I’ve gone and lost the best baby
That I ever had
Oh I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to fly
Oh I wish I had a river
I made my baby say goodbye

It’s coming on Christmas
They’re cutting down trees
They’re putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace
I wish I had a river
I could skate away on