Both Sides Now, 2023

Joni Mitchell discovered, as she matured, that she really didn't know clouds, love, or life. Well perhaps we really don't know tech...at all.

"Both Sides Now"

Rows and flows of angel hair

And ice cream castles in the air

And feather canyons everywhere

I’ve looked at clouds that way

But now they only block the sun

They rain and they snow on everyone

So many things I would have done

But clouds got in my way

I've looked at clouds from both sides now

From up and down and still somehow

It's cloud illusions I recall

I really don't know clouds at all

Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels

The dizzy dancing way that you feel

As every fairy tale comes real

I've looked at love that way

But now it's just another show

And you leave 'em laughing when you go

And if you care, don't let them know

Don't give yourself away

I've looked at love from both sides now

From give and take and still somehow

It's love's illusions that I recall

I really don't know love at all

Tears and fears and feeling proud

To say, "I love you" right out loud

Dreams and schemes and circus crowds

I've looked at life that way

Oh, but now old friends they're acting strange

They shake their heads, they say I've changed

Well something's lost, but something's gained

In living every day

I've looked at life from both sides now

From win and lose and still somehow

It's life's illusions I recall

I really don't know life at all

Written By: Joni Mitchell, 1966

"Both Sides Now, 2023"

Bros and prose and beanbag chairs

And west coast, dot-com billionaires

And hopeful founders everywhere,

I’ve looked at tech that way.

But soon it’s vaporware and FUD

Your hyped-up IPO’s a dud,

The market crashes with a thud,

As ROIs decay.

I’ve looked at tech from both sides now,

The holy wars and sacred cows

And cloud computing firewalls,

I really don’t know tech…at all.

Tunes, cartoons, and YouTube reels,

The bargain-basement Craiglist deals,

And every profile pic’s ideal,

I’ve passed the time that way,

But now it’s just more ads to show,

A clickbait, cash grab quid pro quo,

Disrupted thoughts and broken flow

To lead your mind astray,

I’ve clicked and scrolled from both sides now,

Through vulgar memes and higher brows

And still the screens and feed enthralls,

And now I have no time…at all.

Cheers, careers, and despots cowed,

And cornfield rows pristinely plowed,

Dreams and teams of brilliant crowds

From New York to LA.

But now the LLMs are trained,

Hallucinations unexplained,

And AGI is unconstrained

And gaining skill each day