Mitchell, Joni - Come In From The Cold Lyrics






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
I 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 just 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
(so kind)
Come in from the cold
Come in come in
Come in from the cold





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Mitchell, Joni Come In From The Cold Comments
  1. C.... C....

    I swear this is a genius song wow.

  2. K.... F....

    Never heard this song . . . beautyfull!!!!

  3. R.... ....

    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
    I 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 just 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
    (oohoo)
    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
    (so kind)
    Come in from the cold
    Come in come in
    Come in from the cold, etc.

    R.... ....

    The perfect night to listen to this timeless song. Thank you for your time reflecting on Joni's work of art.I 🎼🎵🎶🔥

    R.... ....

    @sherrylynn70 aka Sentimental Journey Productions Most welcome. And thank YOU for posting this timeless, marvelous song!

    R.... ....

    Thank you for ears that hear!😊🎵🎶🎼

  4. S.... S....

    Joni Mitchell does not need a medal from a bomb maker, she is beyond that. She has devoted fans who love her not because of her voice or her body-they love what she does to their soul, for their soul and THAT is what makes a LEGEND! Jesus of Nazareth never got a Nobel Prize.

    S.... S....

    Beautifully expressed. Thank you

  5. P.... H....

    A breathtaking performance of a remarkable song. Thank you, Joni.

  6. R.... M....

    Check out the original video edited by Joni herself. The production meeting was very very interesting. Both are on YouTube. She said there were SMPTE match problems - hence its in B$W.

  7. m.... p....

    I wonder why refuge of the roads comments are disabled - you know how into freedom of speech joni is - althought i can t say or speak for her of course - i think we are going into more worrying times - do we want to remain on this earth or are we dedicated to moving into space - where only a select few (i m sure theyve got their bunkers) - we are crazy - we just want to go on on and on - if we haven t woken up now to the link between population and death - - no we haven t made it yet - it 's pitiful

  8. J.... R....

    Just love you so much Joni ,thank you

  9. S.... H....

    Great song from a great and thoughtful album.
    sttgaegoaktd

  10. m.... p....

    it s really interesting - don t get me wrong - i adore and i don t use that word alot - i adore joni - to me she s a genius and i think that she s actually been recognised as such - she reminds me of a rattlesnake a jaguar a coyote

  11. R.... B....

    so beautiful

  12. C.... M....

    I'm sorry what was your problem Sergey brin, Eric Schmidt , Barack Obama ?

  13. C.... L....

    "I feel your legs under the table leaning into mine, I feel renewed I feel disabled by these bonfires in my spine". Powerful imagery and her voice is so vulnerable when she sings that. We've all felt that.

  14. J.... D....

    A true genius

  15. H.... ....

    My favorite all time Singer/Songwriter and Artist!

  16. J.... M....

    Oh, the product of over education lol

  17. m.... p....

    when i thought life had some meaning

  18. m.... p....

    come in from the cold come on come on sing it

  19. m.... p....

    never forget the beauty of joni - heartbreaking because of the endless lies of

  20. J.... N....

    I love her voice and her beautiful way with words. When I hear her songs I am reminded of my young years and how life had such hope and how I could be anything I put my mind too. And just a warm loving feeling comes over me. Thanks for posting this.

  21. R.... B....

    And thought I knew Joni Mitchell,but this song cut me short.She is totally awesome,I love this simple music.and vocal's just show she is all natural,just like joni and kara ,peace,rebcargo

  22. R.... P....

    beautifully said, thank you Sherrylynn70

  23. A.... R....

    I have loved her music since I first heard it in 1972. What a lyricist. What a voice. What a heart.

  24. s.... k....

    I am revisiting Joni tonight and falling in love with her and her talent. mmmmmm.

  25. K.... C....

    I had this song in my library for ages and never discovered it.  Maybe it was a moment of "People hearing without listening.
    People writing songs that voices never share"  Joni deserves a Nobel for lyrics like this.  So that we mere mortals can hear again.

  26. J.... M....

    This song takes me back to when my wife and I were teenagers. True, melocholy warm memories. I told my wife to play this at my funeral. Make sure everyone cries and feels good.😙

  27. T.... M....

    So glad I got to hear this again today...for the first time.

  28. W.... T....

    Floods my heart. Spills out my eyes.Thanks SherryLynn (My goodness.You're pretty).

  29. B.... D....

    Beyond beautiful - thank you Joni and Sherrylyn70

  30. D.... D....

    Preciosa canción de la preciosa Joni, como es usual

  31. t.... t....

    call me joni

  32. D.... W....

    good wedding song where has it been all my life

  33. T.... M....

    this rules

  34. M.... M....

    The good ole days of music. We need the youngins to learn what true music is; organic and pure. A classic

  35. u.... ....

    How utterly beautiful. Life is the ultimate gift... it will flaw you when you realise.

  36. J.... P....

    LOVE YOU

  37. M.... E....

    Beautiful, beautiful song, written by one of the greatest artists ever! I do love Joni Mitchell

  38. A.... ....

    She's been an incredible influence for us, and her music has hugged us tight through the years of struggle! An artist undescribably touching!

  39. S.... I....

    Were's the fuckin' lyrics?!

    S.... I....

    Are you being serious or just a dick? I would be happy to post the lyrics if you would ask nicely.

    S.... I....

    You can effing google them Mr. Ionescu

    S.... I....

    I just fed that troll, too ;)

  40. o.... ....

    The lady does not need awards she has awarded us with a lifetime of music that stirs emotion and memories which are personal to all.

  41. B.... A....

    3rd greatest song ever.

  42. T.... P....

    Joni, and not Dylan, should have been awarded the Nobel. There has never, ever been a person who has been a deeper and more pragmatic analyser of the human heart or the human condition. She makes Bob look like a composer of dogerel.

    T.... P....

    Both geniuses !

    T.... P....

    Elliott Power Dylan, Joni and Cohen are on Mount Rushmore lyrically, but Joni was lightyears beyond them musically, both in terms of the songs ( melodically, harmonically, etc) and musicianship( she was an all time great guitarist, invented over 40 chords and open tunings, etc). She’s an unrivaled talent

    T.... P....

    Well said. Completely agree.

  43. t.... ....

    this song is so deep and seems to speak of a different scenario with each verse. so much so that I want to talk to Joni and ask her what person is she's speaking as in each verse (if that makes sense. lol)

  44. A.... ....

    As for the video, if Joni had done it herself,could it have been any better? Captures the mood perfectly.

  45. D.... B....

    Makes me cry everytime😢🎶🎶🎶

  46. A.... ....

    Certainly my favorite song from "Night Ride Home". This song just soars.

  47. C.... P....

    I don't care what you say, I love you...Queenie

  48. S.... O....

    she creates a mood and a song

  49. S.... M....

    Brilliant song and video. Thank you. Made my day

    S.... M....

    song from the 60s it could be easier to take the cold from the snow

  50. s.... ....

    "Back in 1957 we had to dance a foot apart..." This song is from 1991, and so she referred to 34 years back. 34 years ago from today would put us in 1982... Incredible. The culture had and has changed so much!

  51. m.... f....

    its scary thinking that now riding a bike, listening to music and reading a book can be seen as counter-culture revolutionary acts. I pray my generation can break our cell phones and get back to the Earth with the same love that Joni sings for in this moving song

    m.... f....

    max finger Amen!

  52. w.... r....

    Beautiful, Beautiful, Beautiful

  53. H.... H....

    Beautiful Lovely so very...niceThank you❤

  54. P.... p....

    uma das maiores poetisas que já conheci

    P.... p....

    +Paulo procultura amo essa mulher

  55. g.... k....

    something about this...keeps coming back to me...repeat again and again...just the simple swing beat and pauses maybe...but also the story of our generation...

    g.... k....

    Have you read the words? They say it all!

    g.... k....

    Yes! EXACTLY.

  56. G.... W....

    Thank You...so beautiful and flowing.

  57. d.... b....

    Thank you 1960's hippie generation, for screwing up the world for the rest of us. (Not you Joni, you always had a brain)

    d.... b....

    @jake b fix it

    d.... b....

    +jake b Protesting the war saved lives...'twas not the kids who ensnared us in so many other countries...positive vibrations.

    d.... b....

    dumb ass. And your generation? bunch of entitled little assholes, consumed with instant gratification and your phones. We have FORGOTTEN more then your pea brain will ever know.

    d.... b....

    Tiger Lily. YES!! 👏👏

  58. J.... F....

    Very awe inspiring.

  59. j.... ....

    Anyone know the guitar tuning for this?

    j.... ....

    you can find it on joni mitchell's official website

  60. A.... T....

    This was 1991.  They had worked the bugs out in digital recording (and just experience) and some real fine sounding music was created then.  This is one great example.  Now they record in 192/24 lossy then reduce dynamic for ear buds.  We are lost.

    A.... T....

    +Alex Tahti The whole 1200-2400 band is compressed to a cottony faretheewell in this format. Fortunately, some of us still have the vinyl.

  61. f.... ....

    Joni, I love you and I love this song. My Series parallel circuit has exploded

  62. y.... i....

    I grew up with Joni Mitchell's music.  It is very dear to me...as is her voice.  This song was with me for a considerable time a few years after my divorce.  She is a talent that is considerable:  both poetic and musical.  With many thanks, Joni Mitchell...for being a voice in my 1970's "growing up generation".  Loved your Mingus work too.  Lots of love.

  63. L.... J....

    The incomparable Joni. If she sings about it, there's a good chance she lived it. Always an inspiration, I have loved her music gone 40 years. Thank you for your heartfelt words and beautiful video.

    L.... J....

    Linda Jones I don't think she's experienced EVERY scenario in this song, but yes several of them for sure, I think she has.

    L.... J....

    tall32guy......which is why I said "good chance". I think much of Joni's beautiful music was crafted from personal experience though. Cheers.

    L.... J....

    Linda Jones yeah. She’s an earthbound Angel. Seriously. This must be what it is.

  64. K.... S....

    Bonsoir 
    Y a-t-il une vidéo sur You Tube qui montre comment jouer "Come In From The Cold" ?
    Je n'ai rien trouvé
    Merci

  65. �.... �....

    ..she is the pillar of American music, feminine voice of our time.

    �.... �....

    +สมประสงค์ ช่างสมบุญ She's Canadian :)

    �.... �....

    +SoulStylistJukeBox joni is everyone's pure empathy in life has no borders

  66. r.... ....

    Thank you so much for this. Gave me solace.

  67. Y.... o....

    Gràcies per les teves paraules, Sherry Lynn. Comparteixo moltes de les coses que expliques. Jo sóc de Catalunya.  He estat mestre d'esquí alpí molts anys i, després dels meus éssers estimats, res m'estimo més que la neu, les muntanyes nevades i pentinar com una ploma la neu verge, fluint com per damunt d'un núvol blanc. De molt jove, sempre he volgut viatjar al Canadà i veure els Grans Llacs i el Gran Desert Blanc; però, no ho he fet.  Joni Mitchell és la meva cantant-cantautora (dona) preferida. Els seus cd's i dvd's estan al costat dels de Billie Holiday.  Al costat d' Elvis, Leonard Cohen i Bob Dylan.  ​I Sinatra,John Lennon, The Band, Joan Baez, Pink Floyd, Nina Simone ...  no estan lluny.  Totes les coses bones per a tu.  

  68. J.... A....

    Ya pueden pasar los años que siempre me gustará esta canción.  Gracias

  69. s.... a....

    What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us. 
    Helen Keller

    s.... a....

    sherrylynn70 Thank you sibling! From Kelly and Jason!

    s.... a....

    you're a sweetheart, yu izz +

    s.... a....

    Soooooo True.

    s.... a....

    but beautiful...... +

    s.... a....

    sherrylynn70 aka Sentimental Journey Productions thank you for that!

  70. J.... T....

    Freely I slaved away for something better, but I was bought and sold...

  71. P.... C....

    I love this so much.  Thank you to Joni Mitchell, and to you for creating this.  I can't express my gratitude enough for this tribute, nor could I ever adequately express my gratitude and love to Joni Mitchell for how much she has meant to  me, and how she has touched my life all these years.  Thank you forever.   

  72. L.... ....

    I Adore Joni... <3

  73. R.... K....

    Not sure why I am weeping while this video is playing. I think of my mother growing up Irish Catholic in the late 1950's. Met my Dad who went to Germany in the Army (Same platoon as Elvis but 1 year later). I thank you for this special gift. Very nice job.

    R.... K....

    You're sweet.

    R.... K....

    It’s because the song brings your life full circle. Beautiful.

  74. L.... D....

    It's a pop song more than some of her pure early stuff, but it's beautifully done.

    L.... D....

    It goes for 7 minutes and is beautifully intricate lyrically its not poppy at all. She was just evolving musically at the time, this song sounds like it could of been done even better on turbulent indigo.

  75. G.... D....

    Everytime I listen to You, JONI, you enlighten those memories of so long ago and the journey to come in from the cold didn't occur to me would happen til I was Old. I would chase the Moon from one end of the world to the other, JUST TO LIVE THOSE DAYS AGAIN

  76. Q.... ....

    Simply Beautiful!

  77. c.... n....

    me parte el alma esta cancion, es hermoso ^^ gracias por compartirlo. saludos

  78. S.... U....

    without peer from now until she comes back again

  79. A.... A....

    mine too Sherry !

  80. M.... P....

    what an amazing find, your work with this song, my daughter is a Sarah too, only we (everyone, even in school/college) call her Sarita, which is little Sarah in Spanish. Many nights when I started getting used to coming from the cold (as a Brazilian in London) Joni Mitchel was with me, in those days when we didn't have internet and I almost refused to go from records to cassettes and then to CDs but have to admit the net has given me so much love & beauty through people like you :)

  81. O.... ....

    Sherrylynn, your work is wondrous. Amazing that we can become used to the cold; feeling isolated from the warmth of friends, community, and the world at large. I've experienced that isolation...and it is cold....really..and the delusional point of view of ego. I feel what she's saying and the song is new to me. Thank you for posting it, affording me a moment to warm myself, and enhancing it with your vision.

  82. T.... M....

    Thank you Sherrylynn70 for this beautiful and personal tribute. So fitting. It is clear from the first that Joni set a burning spark in many of us and that fire continues to burn. Odd being so touched by someone we've never met, but the intimacy of human experience is nearly as strong as that from any lover.

  83. J.... L....

    so beautiful, always LOVED this song by Joni....your video is so gorgeous, thank you for sharing it.

  84. d.... b....

    I'm 24...just discovering Joni's music last year or so. It's like finding a hidden treasure, buried under a sea of mediocrity & style over substance. Her musicianship & lyrics are often lauded, but I think her gift for melody is not only unique, but just amazing.

  85. C.... C....

    I hope very much that her daughter understood the reason why she was given for adoption after birth.

  86. G.... G....

    THIS ANABELLA TYPING, ON GEORGES ACC. BUT I WANT TO SAY I HAVE HONOR OF KNOWING JOAN MITCHELL, AND OF COURSE SHARE SOME GREAT TIME WITH HER BACK N THE DAY IN HOLLYWOOD , SHE WOULD CALL ME GREEN CORN TAMALE... AGAIN I AM ANANBELLA WIRITING ON GEORGES G MY BISS PARTNER ACC. CANT SEEM TO LOGIN IN TO MINE...MERRY XMAS

  87. s.... a....

    What a wonderful message to find...means so much to me..It truly is a small world when it comes to the great connection of our hearts through a great song like this..Merry Christmas 2012.

  88. s.... a....

    One of my most faves, too. Merry Christmas

  89. s.... a....

    What a wonderful response..It truly is a small world when it comes to the great connection of our hearts through a great great song like this..Merry Christmas to you and yours 2012.

  90. s.... a....

    Me, too, Lawrence...Joni has a wealth of the stories of our lives..a wonderful thing to share them with someone who understands..

  91. A.... A....

    i live the Bonfire as many moments as i can ...

  92. A.... A....

    feeling a very special connection ...

    this song means so much to me ...

    i lived it

  93. C.... C....

    P.S.:
    sherrylynn - pardon the spelling mistake...

  94. C.... C....

    Thanks for sharing sherylyn70, very much appreciated.
    Halfway through the video I already dare say that your video is very beautiful, too.
    Best wishes from the NL

  95. s.... a....

    Thank you for taking time to appreciate.. :)

  96. s.... a....

    What a very kind thing to say..thank you, Lawrence Turner :) Much Love to you, too ☮

  97. A.... A....

    I LOVE YOU WITH ALL EVERY FIBER OF MY BEING SHERRYLYNN !!!!