This, That, and the Other

For this week’s Song Lyric Sunday, Jim Adams has asked us to find a song that includes the lyrics “cold,” “frozen,” “frigid,” or “icy,”  suggested, once again, by Nancy, aka The Sicilian Storyteller. The song I’m going with this week is a beautiful, touching song from Joni Mitchell, “Come In From the Cold.”

Interestingly, there is nothing on either Wikipedia or Songfacts about this specific song. Released as a single from her 1991 Album, Night Ride Home, “Come In From the Cold” was a modest hit in Mitchell’s native Canada, but it didn’t do nearly as well in the States. The song runs some seven and a half minutes, which probably affected how much airplay it got, even on Album Oriented Rock stations.

In this song, the singer reflects on the dreams of the Fifties and how they compare to the realities of middle age. The track, which features folk elements, opens with the lines “We had hope/The world held promise,” but later reveals that “But then absurdity came over me/And I longed to lose control.” Mitchell acknowledges the challenge of being a middle-aged woman in the music industry, stating, “if you don’t evoke wet dreams, you’re in trouble.” Despite this, her slightly throatier voice and the sinuous melody of “Come In From the Cold” showcase Mitchell’s musical prowess.

At its essence, the song delves into the complexities of relationships and the quest for genuine connection amid societal pressures and personal growth. It captures a nostalgic longing for warmth and understanding, symbolized by the desire to escape from emotional coldness. Through vivid imagery and introspective lyrics, Mitchell explores the evolution of intimacy from the restrained dances of youth to the profound interludes of adulthood. Each verse delves into different facets of human connection, from physical touch to emotional vulnerability, from idealistic aspirations to harsh realities. The repeated plea to “come in from the cold” serves as a poignant reminder of the universal desire for acceptance, love, and authenticity.

Here are the lyrics to “Cone In From the Cold.”

Back in 1957
We had to dance a foot apart
And they hawk-eyed us from the sidelines
Holding their rulers without a heart
And so with just a touch of our fingers
oh we could make our circuitry explode
All we ever wanted
Was just to come in from the cold 

Come in
Come in from the cold
(we were so young)
Oh come in
Come in from the cold

We really thought we had a purpose
We were so anxious to achieve
We had hope
The world held promise
For a slave to liberty
Freely I slaved away for something better
And I was bought and sold
And all I ever wanted
Was to come in from the cold

Come in
Come in from the cold
(we were so sure)
Oh come in
Come in from the cold

I feel your leg under the table
Leaning into mine
I feel renewed
I feel disabled
By these bonfires in my spine
I don't know who the arsonist was
Which incendiary soul
But all I ever wanted
Was just to come in from the cold 

Come in
Come in from the cold
(you were so warm)
Oh come in
Come in from the cold

I am not some stone commission
Like a statue in a park
I am flesh and blood and vision
I am howling in the dark
Long blue shadows of the jackals
Are falling on a pay phone by the road
Oh, all they ever wanted
Was just to come in from the cold

Come in
Come in from the cold
(I was so low)
Oh come in
Come in from the cold

Is this just vulgar electricity
Is this the edifying fire
(it was so pure)
Does your smile's covert complicity
Debase as it admires
(just a flu with a temperature)
Are you just checking out your mojo
Or am I just fighting off growing old
(just a high fever)
All I ever wanted
Was just to come in from the cold

Come in
Come in from the cold
(it was so pure)
Oh come in
Come in from the cold

I know we never will be perfect
Never entirely clear
(when the moon shines)
We get hurt and we just panic
And we strike out
Out of fear
(you were only being kind)
I fear the sentence of this solitude
200 years on hold
(for my loving crime)
Oh and all we ever wanted
Was just to come in from the cold 

Come in
Come in from the cold
(when the moon shines)
Oh come in
Come in from the cold

When I thought life had some meaning
Then I thought I had some choice
(I was running blind)
And I made some value judgments
In a self-important voice
(I was outa line)
But then absurdity came over me
And I longed to lose control
(into no mind)
Oh all I ever wanted
Was just to come in from the cold 

Come in
Come in from the cold
(you were so kind)
Please come in
(I was so low)
Come in from the cold
Come in come in
Come in from the cold