- original music and arrangements -
Urge For Going

Urge For Going

Joni Mitchell

I awoke today and found the frost perched on the town
It hovered in a frozen sky and gobbled summer down
Oh when the sun turns traitor cold
And shivering trees are standing in a naked row
I get the urge for going but I never seem to go

And I get the urge for going when the meadow grass is turnin’ brown
Summertime is falling down... winter's closing in

I had a girl in summertime with summer colored skin
And not another man in town my darling's heart could win
But when the leaves fell trembling down
And bully winds did rub their face down in the snow
She got the urge for going and I had to let her go

Yes she got the urge for going when the meadow grass was turnin’ brown
Summertime was falling down and winter closing in

Now the warriors of winter give a cold triumphant shout
All that stays is dying all that lives is getting out
See the geese in chevron flight
Flapping and a-racin on before the snow
They got the urge for going and they've got the wings to go

And they get the urge for going when the meadow grass is turnin’ brown
Summertime is falling down... and winter's closing in

I'll ply the fire with kindling, pull the blankets to my chin
I'll lock the vagrant winter out and bolt my wandering in
I'd like to call back summertime
And have her stay for just another month or so

But she's got the urge for going I guess she'll have to go
A colder wind’s now blowing as autumn fades to snow
I got the urge for going but never seem to go…

Tom Rush

Music Arrangement, Additional Lyrics, Vocals: Rich Coffey
Recorded at Mistura Productions


Comments:
I have always loved this Tom Rush folk classic written by Joni Mitchell. Its wonderful lyrics, to me paint a vivid portrait of the often empty harshness of the approaching winter to some people.

Music:
The sus2 riff/sequence is obviously a departure from the original but nevertheless IMHO seems to fit. It serves as the foundation for the arrangement which features a new bridge inserted under the lyrics.

Its a lovely tune and I kept it in the same key as Tom Rush's version which anchors the vocal in the low register.