The song "Turbulent Indigo" refers to van Gogh, while describing the mental turmoil both he and Mitchell face in the creative process. The song "Not to Blame" was rumored to be about Mitchell's fellow singer-songwriter and former lover
Jackson Browne, who was alleged to have beaten his girlfriend, actress
Daryl Hannah. Mitchell also takes in non-personal issues, notably in the song "Magdalene Laundries", which recounts the sufferings of Irish women once consigned to
Magdalen Asylums run by the
Roman Catholic Church and made to work in the asylums' laundries. Similarly, the song "Sex Kills" referenced a number of late 20th century topical issues, including violence,
AIDS,
global warming and
consumerism. == Artwork ==