4. Urge For Going

Lyrics & music: Joni Mitchell
© Sony/ATV Tunes LLC OBO Siquomb Publishing

Mike Agranoff: vocals & guitar
Recorded live at Bound for Glory, Ithaca, NY, October 5, 2014

I never heard Joni Mitchell's version of this song when it first came out. It was originally released on the flip side of the single of "You Turn Me On, You're a Radio" (What a terrible thing to do to a song gorgeous as that!). It never appeared on an album until she released a "Best Of" compilation long after I had learned the song. I knew it from the singing of Tom Rush and Dave Van Ronk, and from my friend Mark Wolkoff, from whom I learned it. Just recently I ran across a YouTube video of Joni performing it sometime in the 60s, and was surprised to discover that she had stolen one of my guitar licks. I do it in standard tuning capoed up 4 frets.

1.
And I awoke today, and found the frost perched on the town.
It hovered in a frozen sky, and gobbled Summer down.
And when the wind turns traitor cold,
And shivering trees are standing in a naked row,
I get the urge for going. Never seem to go.

2.
I had a girl [originally "man". Other gender-specific words also changed accordingly] in summertime. She had summer-colored skin.
And not another man in town, my darling's heart could win.
But then the leaves came tumbling down,
And bully winds did push them face-down in the snow.
She got the urge for going. Had to let her go.

Chorus 1
And she got the urge for going when
The meadow grass was turning brown,
And summertime is falling down.
Winter's closing in.

3.
The warriors of Winter breathe a cold triumphant shout.
All that stays is dying. All that lives is getting out.
See the geese in chevron flight
Flapping and racing on before the snow.
They've got the urge for going. Got the wings to go.

Chorus 2
And they get the urge for going when
The meadow grass is turning brown,
And summertime is falling down.
Winter's closing in.

4.
So I'll ply the fire with kindling. Pull the blankets to my chin.
Lock the vagrant winter out. Bolt all my wand'rings in.
I'd like to call back Summertime,
And have her stay, if only for a month or so.
But she's got the urge for going, and I guess she'll have to go.

Chorus 3
And she gets the urge for going when
The meadow grass is turning brown,
And all her empires falling down.
Winter's closing in.

Chorus 4
And she gets the urge for going when
The meadow grass is turning brown,
And summertime is falling down.
Winter's closing in.