"The Fiddle and the Drum" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriterJoni Mitchell; it was first recorded by Mitchell on her 1969 albumClouds. It was one of the songs performed by Mitchell onThe Dick Cavett Show on August 19, 1969, when Mitchell appeared with some of the performers fromWoodstock.[1]
| "The Fiddle and the Drum" | |
|---|---|
| Song byJoni Mitchell | |
| from the albumClouds | |
| Language | English |
| Released | 1969 (1969) |
| Recorded | A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA |
| Genre | Folk rock |
| Length | 2:50 |
| Label | Reprise |
| Songwriter(s) | Joni Mitchell |
| Producer(s) | Joni Mitchell,Paul A. Rothchild |
The song's lyrics lament, from the position of an outsider, that America is "fighting us all" and has "[traded] the fiddle for the drum"; however, the singer can "remember/All the good things you are" and asks "Can we help you find the peace and the star?" As an anti-war song, it was one of the songs that became associated with opposition to theIraq War; in particular, through the 2004 cover byA Perfect Circle.
The song provided the title for the 2007 balletThe Fiddle and the Drum which Mitchell authored with Jean Grand-Maître, the artistic director of theAlberta Ballet Company.[2] The ballet was filmed for an hour-long 2007 film with the same title.[3]
Covers
editThe song has been covered a number of times:
- 1983 -June Tabor on her albumAbyssinians.
- 2003 -Danilo Perez with lead vocals byLizz Wright on his album...Till Then.
- 2004 -A Perfect Circle on their albumeMOTIVe.
- 2007 -The Spooky Men's Chorale on their albumStop Scratching It.
- 2008 -Karan Casey on her albumShips in the Forest.
- 2008 -Maureen McGovern on her albumA Long and Winding Road.
- 2021 - Amanda Tosoff with vocals by Lydia Persaud on her albumEarth Voices.
- 2020 - Canadian rock singerLee Aaron covered the song for her holiday albumAlmost Christmas.