Free Man In Paris (Live) Lyrics
Joni Mitchell
Lyrics
FREE MAN IN PARIS
Joni Mitchell
"The way I see it," he said
"You just can't win it...
Everybody's in it for their own gain
You can't please 'em all
There's always somebody calling you down
I do my best
And I do good business
There's a lot of people asking for my time
They're trying to get ahead
They're trying to be a good friend of mine
I was a free man in Paris
I felt unfettered and alive
There was nobody calling me up for favors
And no one's future to decide
You know I'd go back there tomorrow
But for the work I've taken on
Stoking the star maker machinery
Behind the popular song
I deal in dreamers
And telephone screamers
Lately I wonder what I do it for
If l had my way
I'd just walk out those doors
And wander
Down the Champs Elysees
Going cafe to cabaret
Thinking how I'll feel when I find
That very good friend of mine
I was a free man in Paris
I felt unfettered and alive
Nobody was calling me up for favors
No one's future to decide
You know I'd go back there tomorrow
But for the work I've taken on
Stoking the star maker machinery
Behind the popular song.
Song & Lyrics Facts
"Free Man in Paris" is a song written by Joni Mitchell and included on her 1974 album Court and Spark. The live version of the song was released on Miles of Aisles, a two-disc compilation of live recordings from October 1974 concerts at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles.
The genre of this track is folk rock. The lyrics were written by Joni Mitchell, who also sang lead vocals and played guitar for the recording. Other members of the band included Robben Ford on guitar, Max Bennett on bass, John Guerin on drums, Larry Carlton on guitar, Tom Scott on saxophone, Victor Feldman on piano and Joe Sample on electric piano. This song has been covered by numerous artists, including James Taylor, K.D. Lang, Diana Krall, and more. An interesting fact about "Free Man in Paris" is that it was inspired by Mitchell's trip to France with Graham Nash.