Little Green Analysis

Nicole Miller

                                                “Little Green” analysis

           

Shifting from the description of a child to the loss of parenthood, Jodi Mitchell in “Little Green” utilizes naturalistic imagery, objective points of view, and a hopeful tone to show that good things can come of bad beginnings.

Through her use of naturalistic imagery, Joni is able to further convey her ideal that sorrow will present itself on occasion, regardless of the circumstances. When Joni utilizes naturalistic imagery, she is describing a scene in nature to the point where the listener is able to picture the scene in their head. Some instances of this imagery is “like the color when spring is born,” “there’ll be crocuses to bring to school tomorrow,” and “like the nights when the Northern lights preform, there’ll be icicles and birthday clothes tomorrow.” In all of these instances of imagery, some aspect of nature is shown. For instance, “like the color when spring is born” evokes the images of bright, vibrant colors and green grass filled with flowers, images that are typically associated with spring. Also, crocuses are flowers that emerge in the spring, further emphasizing the verdant nature of spring. Spring follows after the cold of winter, and begins with torrential rain. Through enduring the bad beginning of winter and drowning rain, the life and fresh start of spring can be enjoyed. Following suit, “like the nights when the Northern lights preform, there’ll be icicles and birthday clothes tomorrow” brings about the internal pictures of cold, snow-covered landscapes and green, vibrant lights. The Northern lights show across the North Pole region, where the landscape consists of a snow-tundra and bright, starry nights. The North Pole is frigid and desolate all year long, but the beauty of the Northern lights and starry nights can only be enjoyed in this region through enduring the cold long days. The aspect of birthday clothes follows along with the winter-like imagery because winter is about starting anew, and birthdays are about entering another stage in life, essentially starting fresh as well. Through enduring the struggles of the past year, one can start fresh when another comes along. Within these naturalistic instances of imagery, a hard start and struggle leads to the enjoyment of the spoils that follow.

Joni only utilizes objective points of view, avoiding first person point of view to keep her emotions out of the picture. She suffered through hardships that resulted in the birth of her daughter, and does not want her emotions within this time to alter her telling of “Little Green’s” story. She speaks from both the second and third perspective, but never allows herself to tell her own story. Instances of Joni using the second person perspective include “call her green,” “choose her a name,” “so you write him a letter,” weary of lies you are sending home,” “so you sign the papers,” and “you’re sad and you’re sorry but you’re not ashamed.” By directing the actions at her listeners and speaking as though her actions were committed by the audience, she successfully utilizes the second point of view. She tells her audience to “call her,” and “choose her a name,” as well as stating actions that the audience preformed, like “ you write,” you are sending,” and “you sign.” This way, Joni is able to tell the story by acting as though the audience is herself, and remaining able to be objective through using her audience as a median. Through directing her actions at her audience, Joni is able to remove herself and her emotions from the song. Joni also uses third person point of view to avoid letting her emotions taint her story-telling. Examples include “he went,” “he sends” and “child with a child.” The actions stated are performed by a man and a child, thus allowing the story to be told by others rather than Joni. By using the bystander point of view as well as the third person perspective, she is able to avoid making the song more personal, and able to take on the role of an objective story teller.

            The hopeful mood of the song also assists in her portrayal of the idea that good things can happen through tough beginnings. Hopeful, in and of itself, is the hope that something good will come of a bad situation. It happens in the face of hardship, and can evolve into good fortune. The use of a hopeful tone allows the listener to believe that something good is to come, and that the struggles of Joni’s life can result in something good for her child. Instances of particularly hopeful lines in the song include “be a gypsy dancer,” and “have a happy ending.” A gypsy is a person who is extremely free spirited, and lives their life exactly the way that they wish to. By wishing that her child is a gypsy dancer, Joni wishes that the child follows her dreams. Following suit, by wishing that she lives a happy ending, Joni hopes that she lives a good life and does not let the sorrow that occasionally occurs affect her from enjoying her life. Through the sadness of giving her child up for adoption, Little Green is able to live a far better life than she would have been able to with Joni and her limited recourses. Although she was given up, she was able to reunite with her parents and have a happy life. Through instilling hope into her song whilst telling the story of a struggle, she is able to allude to the theme that good things can come about from bad beginnings.

Throughout the song, the theme of fortune coming from struggles presents itself. Little Green was born under stressful conditions, but was able to grow up and lead a happy life, as well as be reunited with her parents. From Joni’s experiences, listeners can learn how they should not lose hope in the face of hardships, “regardless that “sometimes there’ll be sorrow,” as good things can come out of the worst situations.