The credits on "A Case Of U" has me a little confused. Could one of u clear this up 4 Me?


A Case Of U

am a lonely painter
live in a box of paints
used 2 b frightened by the devil
and drawn 2 those who weren't afraid
Remember when u told me
that love was touching souls?
Well, surely u touched mine
Part of u pours out of me from time 2 time in these lines
U're in my blood like holy wine...u're so bitter and so sweet
could drink a case of u darling
and still b on my feet...still b on my feet


(credits)
drums: John Blackwell
(c)1972 Crazy Crow Music
Administered by Sony/ATV Tunes, LLC.
on behalf of Joni Mitchell Publishing

---

My questions:

Was this recorded b4 by another artist?
Did Joni write this?
Sony "owns" this?? (very unlike Prince!!)
Copywrite 1972!!!?

Also, on the cover, it reads: "A Case Of U" is dedicated 2 the memory of JOHN L. (and) Special thanx 2 JONI MITCHELL

I know Prince has much respect 4 Joni, did she give him this song?

Thanx in advance 4 ur time...

"A Case Of You" is from Joni's album BLUE. She's the author.

It was a Joni Mitchell song... she recorded it a long time ago.

The song has been on the following Joni Mitchell albums:

"Miles Of Aisles"
"Blue"
"Misses"
"Both Sides Now"


...
[This message was edited Wed Jul 10 10:52:58 PDT 2002 by IceNine]

YEAH ITS HER SONG FROM 1972 ?


HE'S COVERED IT.


WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT TO KNOW?


JOHN L. WAS HIS DAD WHO DIED RECENTLY

WOW! Thanx 4 that ever so quick response! Now I gotta check out Joni's version!

yeah, I know 'bout John L.

I find it interesting that Prince would choose a song from another artist 2 honor his dad. That speaks volumes 4 Joni. I wonder, has he written anything 4 his parents since their demise?

If you haven't heard Joni's version you must go out and get it now!. It is far superior to the lame cover found on "One Night Alone".

I love Prince, but he has not been very successful with his covers. Then when he ravishes one of my favorite songs...

Prince only covered about half the song anyway cutting out the best verses. Very sad.

June7 said:

...

"Oh, my favorite song," she said
And it was Joni singing, "Help me, I think I'm falling"

I just happen to go thru some old cd's and noticed on Prince's album "Chickengrease", there is another version of this song as well.

Yeah, the original version is on Joni's album 'Blue'.
Strangely, my copy of it is copyrighted 1971 not 1972
(maybe Prince made a mistake,
or maybe the album actually got released in '72,
I don't know)

Joni's original also had more lyrics than Prince's
Here's the full version...

Just before our love got lost you said
"I am as constant as the northern star"
And I said "Constantly in the darkness
Where's that at?
If you want me I'll be at the bar"
On the back of a cartoon coaster
In the blue TV screen light
I drew a map of Canada
Oh Canada
With your face sketched on it twice

Oh you are in my blood like holy wine
You taste so bitter and so sweet
Oh I could drink a case of you, darling
And I would still be on my feet
Oh I would still be on my feet

Oh I am a lonely painter
I live in a box of paints
I'm frightened by the devil
And I'm drawn to those ones that ain't afraid
I remember that last time you told me, you said,
"Love is touching souls"
Surely you touched mine
'Cause part of you pours out of me
In these lines from time to time

Oh you are in my blood like holy wine
You taste so bitter and so sweet
Oh I could drink a case of you, darling
Still I'd be on my feet
I would still be on my feet

I met a woman
She had a mouth like yours
She knew your life
She knew your devils and your deeds
And she said,
"Go to him, stay with him if you can
But be prepared to bleed"

Oh but you are in my blood
You're my holy wine
You're so bitter, bitter and so sweet
Oh I could drink a case of you, darling
Still I'd be on my feet
I would still be on my feet

Thank you for posting the complete lyrics. Maybe you should have e-mailed them to Prince so he could have properly attempted the song.

In comparing the 2, I think he took "artistic license" and made it more fitting in honor of his father, since it's dedicated 2 him. Obviously, Joni approved.

Thanx BorisFishpaw

IrishEcho said:

bullshit...

I quite like Tori Amos' version of 'A Case Of You'. Piano based and not unlike Prince's version.

Well, I guess it's back 2 KaZaA 4 the Joni Mitchell download...

Notice that the biggest difference is on the line:
"I'm frightened by the devil.." - J.Mitchell
"I used to be frightened by the devil" - Prince

So it seems he's not frightened anymore?

Anyway, I don't like P's version, he changed the melody so that it didn't sound the same.
I appreciate the effort, but he could have done a better job.

Some lines of another beautiful Mitchell's song:
(from the same album)

My old man, he's a singer in the park
He's a walker in the rain, he's a dancer in the dark

We don't need no piece of paper from the city hall
Keeping us tied and true,
My old man keeping away my blues

He's my sunshine in the morning
He's my farewell at the end of the day
He's the warmest chord I've ever heard
Play that warm chord, play, stay baby

We don't need no piece of paper from the city hall...

I like Prince´s version a lot. He sings it with real emotion and taste. I agree he should have sung the whole thing but I like it anyways

Albator said:

Care to elaborate, moron? One verse does not a good cover make, even if it's your precious Prince on vocals.

after listening to BLUE I understand why Prince adores Joni that much. she's really an underestimated songwriter. THE LAST TIME I SAW RICHARD... maybe the most beautiful lyric I've ever read...

Albator said:

Not bullshit. Just whinning.

Classic album.
The Last Time I Saw Richard is my favorite Joni song.

The last time I saw Richard was Detroit in '68,
And he told me all romantics meet the same fate someday
Cynical and drunk and boring someone in some dark cafe
You laugh, he said you think you're immune, go look at your eyes
They're full of moon
You like roses and kisses and pretty men to tell you
All those pretty lies, pretty lies
When you gonna realise they're only pretty lies
Only pretty lies, just pretty lies

He put a quarter in the Wurlitzer, and he pushed
Three buttons and the thing began to whirr
And a bar maid came by in fishnet stockings and a bow tie
And she said "Drink up now it's gettin' on time to close."
"Richard, you haven't really changed," I said
It's just that now you're romanticizing some pain that's in your head
You got tombs in your eyes, but the songs
You punched are dreaming
Listen, they sing of love so sweet, love so sweet
When you gonna get yourself back on your feet?
Oh and love can be so sweet, love so sweet

Richard got married to a figure skater
And he bought her a dishwasher and a Coffee percolator
And he drinks at home now most nights with the TV on
And all the house lights left up bright
I'm gonna blow this damn candle out
I don't want Nobody comin' over to my table
I got nothing to talk to anybody about
All good dreamers pass this way some day
Hidin' behind bottles in dark cafes
Dark cafes
Only a dark cocoon before I get my gorgeous wings
And fly away
Only a phase, these dark cafe days

chickenskin!

In my opinion, the best version Prince did of "A Case of U" was back in '83 when he performed at 1st Ave. The lyrics were still cut down and the song was brief but his guitar and Lisa's keyboard arrangement sounded really great.

I completely agree with cntrvrsy's statement. Prince's 1983 live rendition of 'A Case Of You' was far, far superior to the meandering, watered-down studio version that ended up on ONA... My, he does love throwing a spanner in the works, doesn't he???