Little Green

Joni Mitchell's 'Little Green' encases an emotional journey that resonates with the colors of hope, melancholy, and redemption. Starting with the selection of a name, 'Little Green', Joni imbues the child with the vibrancy of life and nature, creating an image of innocence and growth. The mention of 'green' symbolizes not just the name given to her daughter but also the early signs of spring, a metaphor for new beginnings and the potential for life to renew.

Throughout the song, as Joni reflects on her daughter's father moving to California, hinting at broken relationships and distance, the canvas of emotions expands to include the deep blues of longing and the starkness of loss. The letters and the unwritten poems untold stories weave a tapestry of missed connections and unfulfilled wishes. In these verses, the listener can almost feel the weight of the unspoken, the space between the lines filled with Joni's private sorrows.

The chorus punctuates the narrative with its gentle repetition of 'just a little green'. It's both a lullaby and a lament, a gentle caress that tries to soothe the ache of absence. The references to crocuses and icicles, juxtaposed against the ephemeral beauty of the Northern lights, suggest that joy and sorrow are intertwined, and that life's most profound moments often come with a recognition of their fleeting nature.

In the final verse, the weight of reality comes crashing down as ‘Child with a child pretending’ hints at Joni's young age and the facades she had to maintain. The act of signing the adoption papers is conveyed with a heavy heart, but also with a clear sense that this act, though heartbreaking, is borne out of love and hope for her daughter's future. It reveals a narrative of resilience and the strength to choose a different path, one that might lead to a happier ending for the child she had to leave behind.