Mitchell, Joni - Ethiopia Lyrics

An Amazing Statement. This is Still Wonderful to go back and Experience.

This is utterly laughable crap :-D

Please explain why you feel that way about this song?

Did she invent virtue-signalling with this solemn garbage? :-D

@John F
well, joni has written quite a lot about her vices and moral deficits...
Besides, what is so virtuous about being horrified at watching extreme, needless human suffering?
Its basic.
What are you signaling, john?

The lyrical content of this song blow my mind. To portray such a scene successfully is something I could only dream of.

Great powerful, hypnotic song and performance....and the fretless bass fits perfectly

I gave this album a very thourough listening when it came out. this is the song that stays most promininantly in the song bank memory. I also remember the noteable graphics!

Hot winds and hunger cries--Ethiopia
Flies in your babies' eyes--Ethiopia
Walking sticks on burning plains
Betrayed by politics
Abandoned by the rains
On and on, the human need
On and on, the human greed profanes
Ethiopia, Ethiopia, Ethiopia
Your top soil flies away--Ethiopia
We pump ours full of poison spray--Ethiopia
Between the brown skies and sprinkling lawns
I hear the whine of chain saws
Hacking rain forests down
On and on, insanities
On and on, short sighted greed abounds
Ethiopia, Ethiopia, Ethiopia
Little garden planet-oasis in space
Some hearts hurt, they can hardly stand it
Famine phantoms at the garden gates
Ethiopia, Ethiopia, Ethiopia
Every Sunday on T.V. Ethiopia
You suffer with such dignity Ethiopia
A T.V. star with a P.R. smile
Calls your baby "it" while strolling
Through your tragic trials
On and on, stupidity
On and on, the basic needs are defiled
Good air, good water, good earth
Ethiopia, Ethiopia, Ethiopia
Little garden planet, oasis in space
Some hearts hurt, they can hardly stand the waste
Ethiopia, Ethiopia, Ethiopia
Songwriter: Joni Mitchell

Joni, come back and sing to us about Yemen, South Sudan, Somalia, Nigeria, and on and on. Famine and starvation afflict tens of thousands still. It is unnecessary and inhumane, but so so human.

My least favourite Joni album, but this song - Ethiopia - more than makes up for the rest of this 80s-saturated work.

A haunting and devastating musical statement, especially "lyrically", on that famine.
Seems like ancient history now. But this song still resonates deeply today.
A simple song structurally. But completely involved in its emotional message....As only Joni could do.
"Little garden planet"? Wonder for how much longer?
This was a great LP.

it is not ancient history.... look around you today

great song!

great track , it sounded really peter gabrielish

gabriel never reached this level

I love this recording. Ethiopia is one the most poignant and truthful songs I have ever heard. Joni hits the mark in every line. Sadly, nothing has changed in terms of the sorry and unequal state of humanity, and in the human destruction of our "little garden planet"
Since I first listened to Joni Mitchell in 1967, she has been my inspiration and my guiding light.

Ethiopia was run into the ground by communists; government-control and mismanagement cause famines. They don't happen when people are left free to take care of themselves.

@modifiedcontent
Yeah that right there is what joni meant!

"Fred Verrillo" I don't necessarily agree with the message though in certain ways, yes. However it is very poignant and has a haunting quality and the lyrics express the song-writer's thoughts well.

Will you vote for you by voting today?  Will GOP Military Coup/Police State/Non-prevent Terror Attack, Work In Week?  This is why, "...we(e),...", must secure the vote by voting early and helping others to do the same.  At least talk to people about voting on election day, set-up carpooling, or just going together to the polls to vote on Tuesday.  Your country needs you; vote as if your life depends on it because it does- please!  In not you, yes, you, then who, if not here, then where, if not now then when?  Please vote, and help others to do the same, everyone!  Today is the day!  find the time to vote today, please.   reality

Solidarity!

This was about the time that she & Larry were involved in a head-on accident with a DUI. She said that they walked away unscathed because they were driving a big car. It's in a Musician Magazine interview of the period.

@frank peter Now that is too bad

Oh shit... I was gonna edit my comment and i erased it!

Stevie nicks sounds like a goat.

Ah Jeez.....This song is from my very favorite album from her, "Dog Eat Dog". Mark my word, you will never hear a song or another singer that comes even close to resembling this song. This song defines unheard - of.

stillmessage does seem to be a classic

Dog Eat Dog..underrated and quite  an extraordinary recording. Brava! One of my favorite records by Joni.

the lyrics are a portrait.  the rhythms are majestic.  Joni reigns supreme.  This is mind manipulation at it's finest.  she takes us to Ethiopia.  She makes us feel the pain and lust for solutions.  I love Joni

Great words to describe this piece of breathtaking art.

@Agadore Lofton How relevant to this very day. "Little garden planet"?
Not so sure anymore.

The truest song, not just on the subject - the human greed profanes.

such a brilliant soul
thanks for sharing!

Thank you so much Christian for your time and effort in sharing so much of Joni.  She is the "Gold Standard!"

 suprised so few hits i remember this as a great song for its time

 a anthem for its need still a great message

I so loved this album ( way back in the day) thx awesome