Newsmakers: Bette Midler Sings Neil Young (with a hilarious introduction) and Joni Mitchell

Birds
(written by Neil Young)

“Oh, that’s so heavy.
We’re gonna do, a Neil Young song.
Neil is so heavy.
Neil is so mellow and laid back.
I’m trying my best to be mellow and laid back.
You know, I have even gone organic.
Last week I ate an Earth Shoe.
Oh, did I sing the ballad yet?
Was it wonderful? Oh, did I sing it?
I didn’t sing it, did I. Oh, so sorry.”

Lover, there will be another one
to hover over you beneath the sun.
Tomorrow, see the things that never come
today.

And you see me fly away without you.
My shadow on the things you know.
My feathers fall all around you,
they show you the way to go.
It’s over, baby. I say it’s over, baby.

Nestled in your wings my little one.
The special morning brings another sun.
Tomorrow, see the things that do not come
today.

And you see me fly away without you.
My shadow falling on the things you know.
My feathers, they fall all around you,
they show you the way to go.
Hey, baby. It’s over, baby. It’s over, baby.

I got to fly away. I got to fly away.
Gonna close my eyes and I will fly away.
You believe it now, fly away. I’m
goin’ to the sun, to fly away.
I’m gonna close my eyes and I will fly away.
Oh, one more time. Fly. Yeah, yeah, yeah,
yeah, yeah, yeah, fly away.
Close my eyes and I will fly away.

It’s over, baby. It’s over, baby.
My lover, there will be another one
to hover over you beneath the sun.
Tomorrow, see the things that do not come
today.
She will show you the way to go.

It’s over. Thank god, it’s over.
I’m gonna close my eyes and I will fly away.

“Fly away. I got to fly away.

River
(Joni Mitchell)

Oooo-Whoo
La La La La
Oooo-Whoo
La La La La

Coming on winter
They’re cutting down trees
They’re putting up reindeer
Singing songs of joy and peace
I wish I had a river
I could skate away on

Will it don’t snow here
Stays pretty green
Going to make a lot of money
Going to quit this crazy scene
I wish I had a river
I could skate away on

I wish I had a river so long
I could teach my feet to fly
Oooo, I wish I had a river
I could just skate away on
I made my baby cry

Well, he tried hard to help me
And he put me at ease
And he loved me so naughty
He made me weak in the knees
I wish I had a river
I could skate away on

So hard to handle
I’m selfish and I’m sad
And I’ve just lost the best baby
I ever had
Oh God, I wish I had a river, river, river
I could skate away on

I wish I had a river so long
I could, I could teach my feet to fly
Oh God, I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
My baby say goodbye

I’m so hard to handle
I’m selfish and I’m sad
And I’ve just lost the best baby
I ever had
I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
My baby say goodbye