Oh, you’re a mean old Daddy, but I like you.

Joni Mitchell’s “Carey” is a fun song about a friendship between two women. While Joni Mitchell gets recognition for her agonizing love songs, she does not get enough credit for her ability to create fun folk-rock songs like Carey and Big Yellow Taxi. Mitchell is taking a vacation at Carey’s house.

Carey seems to live in a vibrant community down by the beach—but it is not extravagant. Mitchell clearly adores the place, the experience, and her time with Carey. But it is time to go home to her fresh sheets.

“Carey”—like most in the Mitchell catalog—are played on a non-standard tuned guitar. That is why you hear several muted-sounded strings as she strums. It helps create her unique sound. Her vocal range is on clear display here: she runs several octaves, but not in a pretentious way; it seems to fit the song. The hand drum is the only other instrument on this song. It helps to give the song that beach/island vibe.

Carey Lyrics

The wind is in from Africa
Last night I couldn’t sleep
Oh, you know it sure is hard to leave here, Carey
But it’s really not my home
My fingernails are filthy
I’ve got beach tar on my feet
And I miss my clean white linen and my fancy French cologne

Oh Carey, get out your cane (Carey, get out your cane)
And I’ll put on some silver (I’ll put on some silver)
Oh, you’re a mean old Daddy, but I like you fine

Come on down to the Mermaid Café
And I will buy you a bottle of wine
And we’ll laugh and toast to nothing and
Smash our empty glasses down
Let’s have a round for these freaks and these soldiers
A round for these friends of mine
Let’s have another round for the bright red devil, who
Keeps me in this tourist town

Come on, Carey, get out your cane (Carey, get out your cane)
And I’ll put on some silver (I’ll put on some silver)
Oh, you’re a mean old Daddy, but I like you
I like you, I like you, I like you

Maybe I’ll go to Amsterdam
Or maybe I’ll go to Rome
And rent me a grand piano and put some flowers ’round my room
But let’s not talk about fare-thee-wells now
The night is a starry dome
And they’re playin’ that scratchy rock and roll
Beneath the Matala Moon

Come on, Carey, get out your cane (Carey, get out your cane)
And I’ll put on some silver (I’ll put on some silver)
You’re a mean old Daddy, but I like you

The wind is in from Africa
Last night I couldn’t sleep
Oh, you know it sure is hard to leave here, but it’s
Really not my home
Maybe it’s been too long a time since I was
Scramblin’ down in the street
Now they got me used to that clean white linen and that
Fancy French cologne

Oh Carey, get out your cane (Carey, get out your cane)
I’ll put on my finest silver (I’ll put on some silver)
We’ll go to the Mermaid Café, have fun tonight
I said, oh, you’re a mean old Daddy, but you’re out of sight

written by Joni Mitchell