Another one of my songs

On one long-ago episode of Everybody Loves Raymond, Debra got to spend the afternoon alone, doing whatever she wanted to do. At one point during her day of freedom, she was sitting on the sofa, and what she'd chosen to do was cry, dabbing her smeared mascara away with a hanky. Her brother-in-law, the looming Robert, happened to stop by and see her through the front window; he left, shocked and worried, and immediately told Ray that something was wrong with Debra, otherwise, why would she be sitting there crying?

Raymond, in his usual, blustering, ham-handed way, questioned her later. "So why were you crying? What's wrong? Are you sick? Are you mad? What's wrong? What? What?"

Debra shrugged and said, embarrassed, "Well, nothing's wrong. It's just...well, you know how sometimes you feel like crying?"

"No," said Ray, looking at her like she'd snapped her twigs.

"Well, I do, Ray. Sometimes I just feel like crying. So I just cry. That's what I was doing. Just crying."

"What, you mean you can just make yourself cry?"

"Sure," she said. "I just make a cry face, like this [demonstrates a sad face, eyelids blinking rapidly, mouth pulled down, brow furrowed] and the tears just happen. I just cry for a while and then I'm okay. That's all there is to it."

Yep! That's all there is to it. When I feel like crying -- just because -- I pull out my old battered Joni Mitchell Blue cassette and listen to "A Case of You," which is possibly the saddest break up song ever written. Other than "Why?" by Annie Lennox, which is also good in a pinch.

Does the trick every time! I can hardly wait to get this song on my MP3 player. It is definitely One of My Songs.



A Case of You

Just before our love got lost you said
"I am as constant as the northern star"
And I said, "Constant in the darkness? Where's that at?
If you want me I'll be in the bar."

On the back of a cartoon coaster
in the blue TV screen light
I drew a map of Canada

Oh, Canada...

And your face sketched on it twice

Oh, you are in my blood like holy wine
You taste so bitter, but you taste so sweet
Oh, I could drink a case of you
I could drink a case of you, darling,
and I would still be on my feet
Oh, I'd still be on my feet

I am a lonely painter
I live in a box of paints
I'm frightened by the devil
Yet I'm drawn to those ones that ain't afraid

I remember that time that you told me,
you said that love is touching souls;
Surely you touched mine
'cause part of you pours out of me
in these lines from time to time

Oh, you are in my blood like holy wine
and you taste so bitter, but you taste so sweet
Oh, I could drink a case of you
Still I'd be on my feet
And still be on my feet

One day I met a woman
She had a mouth like yours
She knew your life
She knew your devils and your deeds
And she said, "Color go to him,
stay with him if you can,
oh, but be prepared to bleed."

And you are in my blood
you're my holy wine
You taste so bitter, bitter and so sweet
And I could drink a case of you, darling,
Still I'd be on my feet
I would still be on my feet


Joni, the lonely painter. Photo credit: Copyright (c) 2007
JoniMitchell.com