this song hits that ancient feeling hard. Wow, them poor, poor girls. This song is awesome. Joni is a super artist. She is top shelf. Strong. jch.
This has always been one of my favorite songs ever. I chose this song for my Honors Women’s Choir final in high school and my teacher cried. There is SO MUCH emotion and heartbreak in the lyrics and melody that it’s difficult to hold back the tears. 
I’ve been a Joni fan since I was 14 and I’ve never heard this song. I’m 55 years old now sitting at my desk at work, killing 5 minutes before my lunch hour, with tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat. All I can say is THANK YOU!
This is the best of the numerous videos I’ve seen on YouTube for “The Magdalene Laundries”. Great job of putting this together!
Such a great video to match the song!! The pictures and documents are so cleverly chosen and moving. Congrats from a French Joni’s fan since 1978
Joni- a beautiful Woman of Heart and Mind… I’m always mesmerized by her— Sweet Joni from Saskatooooon…
Beautiful and heart breaking. Stunning talent.
What a powerful song!!!!
A beautiful song. May the survivor’s and victims get justice.
Genius is in her soul
Joni in an interview said this song was sparked by her reading a Vancouver Sun article about these abusive laundries while sitting outside at her BC Sunshine Coast abode on the ocean.
love that song so much .
Takes guts to write a song like this, TY Joni.
And this is why I just smile sadly when people talk about how we need to have women in power in the Catholic Church–no one who chooses to serve that system has clean hands.
Thanks Joni..a wonderful Canadian artist.
Absolutely heartbreaking.
My God what a hell hole. Such angels should not have to endure such times. Abused and discarded in such a cowardly way. Shame.
I just learned about these laundries in a book I read. I hope there is a memorial to these poor women besides the one park bench at the end of her video to honor them. A horrid existence, prisoners. I was shocked. The Catholic church should be ashamed.
Joni knew the Catholic Church was capable of evil up long before the priest pedo scandals. No wonder so many leave this church.
TURBULENT INDIGO is Joni Mitchell’s BEST album! And don’t let anyone tell you different! Every song on it is beautiful; painful and beautiful. It’s an album of nightmares that sound, at first blush, like dreams.
I So so much need to thank you, for bringing Light to a dark and forgotten place. I live in New Zealand…and these articosities, have made me want to fight ..me! I weep for those girls and I SING. From my heart a 48 woman knows you are finally free. And if I have the money to ever go overseas.. I will visit you, and lay flowers. And pray..To a God in heaven who has not ‘man’s ‘ ways. The God of All Things. Welcomes You All Home.Where you always belonged.
bravissima!
Does anyone know who took the old photos and videos. Why were they taking these photographs of children locked up and forced to work? The Marshall Project states there were at least 38 Magdalene laundries in the US, most of them closed by the 1960’s. I was just 17 and pregnant then. Could have ended up there. My parents did not do that to me, It was kept a secret. Nevertheless I do not tell people about the pregnancy in 1967, even now in 2019. I can’t. The shame from then does not go away, no matter what I do. Guess I was a fallen woman, at 17. I learned that much. I don’t blame Jesus, though. I knew He never stopped loving me, or my beautiful baby. I learned the difference between God and people who call themselves religious.
I remembered snippets of the lyrics to this song but not the title or who had sung it. Now I’m accidentally happening on it again, thank goodness for that mystery solved.
The documentary ‘Sex in a cold climate’ was quite an eye opener.
The 2004 Joni Mitchell Letters Misses Compact Disc Reunion 2004 ~2022 . I never felt so blue in my entire life as I felt today. 2004 ~ 2022 . The infinite sadness and hopelessness of The Magdalene Laundries. The compact disc ends with the gloomy 1976 Classic at number 14 Hejira. A defector from the petty wars till Love sucks me back that way. Here comes the Summer Sun . 2004 ~ 2022 . I Survived the most terrible tragedy and nightmare of my Life. I’m a soul survivor . I never quit . I never give up on hope. Tomorrow will be a much better day than Today. Believe in a better and more hopeful future for all of us in this world. Bloom like the Sun Flowers and The Rose Flowers and then fly away like the Radiant Butterfly into the Rose Garden of Easy Love underneath the Vast Infinite Sky. We will Survive . We are hopeful .
The best line is about if only these “brides of Jesus” had met their groom they’d be ashamed…It’s not an anti Christian song at all…It’s about how far we have fallen from the teachings of Jesus Christ.
“Religious groups still owe €1.3 billion for institutional child abuse” the journal.ie march 09 2017
Please read a book called ‘Light in the window.’ Dreadful stuff. I worked for a lady whose mother grew up in Cork County, Ireland, and she told me that if they were ‘bad’ they were threatened with being sent to this very laundry. She was terrified that she would be sent away for being a normal naughty child! There are so many dark periods in the Christian church history, spanning many centuries. The past cannot be changed, but the present can be great, and the future can only be better for all, regardless of their beliefs.
I think in the beginning the Magdalene Laundries were a good idea run by people who really wanted to help women who had fallen , but somehow over the years it became corrupt and prison like and some of the nuns (I don’t think all of them were abusive and evil,I think some nuns genuinely wanted to help these girls) were driven by greed and power.
these also existed in australia
To Joni Mitchell, you probably won’t read this babe, but More than a thousand thank you’s I send you, concerning this issue. I am a musician myself, and have written several pieces..it has been haunting me..and I just haven’t been able to let it go.I wrote to the Pope concerning this issue. I am a 48 year old single woman from New Zealand…who thanks you for your fame now, more than I thought I ever could!!! Caroline Armstrong U tube “Always” and “Cry water”. but mostly THANK YOU!! I didn’t know what to do next.
Putaspellonyou
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