Fiddle and the Drum
A Perfect Circle
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And so once again, My dear Johnny, my dear friend, And so once again you are fighting us all, And when I ask you why, You raise your sticks and cry, and I fall, Oh, my friend, How did you come?, To trade the fiddle for the drum, You say I have turned, Like the enemies you've earned, But I can remember, All the good things you are, And so I ask you please, Can I help you find the peace and the star?, Oh, my friend, What time is this?, To trade the handshake for the fist And so once again, Oh, America my friend, And so once again, You are fighting us all, And when we ask you why, You raise your sticks and cry and we fall, Oh, my friend, How did you come, To trade the fiddle for the drum You say we have turned, Like the enemies you've earned, But we can remember, All the good things you are, And so we ask you please, Can we help you find the peace and the star?, Oh my friend, We have all come, To fear the beating of your drum
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Written by: JONI MITCHELL
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Song GenreFiddle and the Drum is classified under the rock genre with a mix of alternative metal for A Perfect Circle's version, while Joni Mitchell's version is classified under folk and pop.
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Original CompositionFiddle and the Drum is originally a protest song written and performed by Joni Mitchell in 1969.
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Joni Mitchell's versionThe song is written in a unique format of a conversation with America, depicting it as a dear old friend, a symbolic method to express her dismay over the country’s involvement in the Vietnam War.
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A Perfect Circle's versionMore than 35 years after Joni Mitchell first released the song, the American rock band A Perfect Circle released a cover version of the song in 2004.
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A Perfect Circle's InterpretationAlthough A Perfect Circle kept the lyrics the same, they performed the song in a different style. The band added their own unique rock touch with powerful instrumentals, combining them with Maynard James Keenan's strong and emotive vocals.
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Album InclusionsThe song debuts as the 10th track in Joni Mitchell's second album, "Clouds". In contrast, A Perfect Circle included their version as the ninth track of their second album "Emotive".
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Song ReceptionThe song has been considered as a masterclass of anti-war songwriting, praised for its emotional depth and symbolic depiction.
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Live PerformancesJoni Mitchell often performed this song at peace rallies and anti-war demonstrations during the Vietnam era, while A Perfect Circle debuted their version live at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
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Music VideoA Perfect Circle released an animated music video for their rendition of "Fiddle and the Drum" which further emphasizes their anti-war stance.
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Song Structure and StyleThe song does not follow the conventional verse-chorus structure. It is performed acapella (no instrumental accompaniment) in Joni Mitchell's version, where her voice plays the part of the 'fiddle' in the song's metaphor, likening a war drumbeat. A Perfect Circle, however, used a variety of instruments to create an atmospheric, almost haunting, version of the song.
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Citation
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"Fiddle and the Drum Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 2 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/30190552/A+Perfect+Circle/Fiddle+and+the+Drum>.
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