Urge for Going

I woke up today to find
A frost perched on the town
It hovered on a frozen sky
And gobbled summer down
And when the sun turned traitor cold
And naked trees are standing in a shivering row

I get the urge for going
But I never seem to go
Yes, I get the urge for going
When meadow grass is turning brown
And summertime is falling down
And winter closing in

I had a girl in summertime
With summer-colored skin
And not another man in town
My darling's heart could win
But when the leaves came trembling down
And bully winds did push their faces in the snow

She got the urge for going
And I had to let her go
Yes, she got the urge for going
When meadow grass was turning brown
And summertime was falling down
And winter closing in

The warriors of winter
Give a cold, triumphant shout
And all that stays is dying
All that lives is getting out
See the geese in chevron flight
Straining and a flapping on before the snow

They’ve got the urge for going
And they’ve got the wings to go
Yes, they get the urge for going
When meadow grass is turning brown
And summertime is falling down
And winter closing in

I'll ply the fire with kindling
Pull the blankets to my chin
I'll lock the vagrant winter out
And bolt my wandering in
I'd like to call back summertime
And have her stay for just another month or so

But she's got the urge for going
And I guess she'll have to go
Yes, she gets the urge for going
When meadow grass is turning brown
And all her empire is falling down
And winter closing in.

Joni Mitchell
Dave Von Ronk version