Joni Mitchell was dating James Taylor during the making of Blue. This song contains specific references to her relationship with the singer-songwriter. I want to have fun, I want to shine like the sun Want to be the one that you want to see I want to knit you a sweater Want to write you a love letter Mitchell had shown Taylor her homemaker side by knitting him a sweater vest, which he wore with pride.
Mitchell (from a 1996 interview with the Los Angeles Times): "It's funny how people keep looking between the lines of songs to see what is hidden there. Well, I'm not an evasive writer. You don't have to dig under the words for the meaning. The meaning is all there. It's very plain-speak. When someone asks what a song like 'Sex Kills' is about, I want to say, 'Well, did you listen to the words?'"
Speaking to Uncut magazine in a 2018 interview, James Taylor denied the song was written about him. He said: "I don't think that song was written about me. Joni already had that song when we met. I did back her up on guitar when she recorded it. I thought it was a beautiful song... I wished it was about me!"
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