Interpreting The Third Verse Of Joni Mitchell's Little Green



Massive (fun) argument today with my daughter Lainie on this verse from Little Green, third track on Joni Mitchell's Blue:


...He went to California
Hearing that everything's warmeru there
So you write him a letter, say, "her eyes are blue"
He sends you a poem and she's lost to you
Little, green, he's a non-comformer...


My reading: she gives up her daughter due the call of art.


Hers: she loses her daughter when her daughter's father won't support his daughter, responding to a plea for his help--"her eyes are blue"--with something unrelated and non responsive--"He sends you a poem"--which makes her understand no help is coming and she can't raise her daughter alone.


My further thought: Maybe the two views merge in this: if she weren't personally sacrificing so much for her art she could get a normal job and raise her child as a single mother. But the thing she can't do is all three of: pursue her art; work ow when she has to; and raise her daughter alone. So she gives up her daughter for adoption. And what does she do right after: she continues pursuing her art. In that how different is she than the kid's father.


All the lyrics:


Born with the moon in Cancer
Choose her a name she'll answer too
Call her green and the winters can not fade her
Call her green for the children who have made her little, green
Be a gypsy dancer


He went to California
Hearing that everything's warmer there
So you write him a letter, say, "her eyes are blue"
He sends you a poem and she's lost to you
Little, green, he's a non-comformer


Just a little green
Like the color when the spring is born
There'll be crocuses to bring to school tomorrow
Just a little green
Like the night's when the Northern lights perform
There'll be icicles and birthday clothes and sometimes
There'll be sorrow


Child with a child pretending
Weary of lies you're sending home
So you sign all the papers in the family name
You're sad and you're sorry but you're not ashamed, little green
Have a happy ending


Just a little green
Like the color when the spring is born
There'll be crocuses to bring to school tomorrow
Just a little green
Like the night's when the Northern lights perform
There'll be icicles and birthday clothes
And sometimes there'll be sorrow


The song as sung: 


https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQzMt0M8fRc