Patti Smith — 1959
Album: Land (1975-2002)Avg rating:
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Total ratings: 595
Length: 3:55
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Listen to my story. Got two tales to tell.
One of fallen glory. One of vanity.
The world's roof was raging, but we were looking fine;
'Cause we built that thing and it grew wings,
in Nineteen-Fifty-Nine.
Wisdom was a teapot; Pouring from above.
Desolation angels
Served it up with Love.
Ignitin'[g strife] like every form of light,
then moved by bold design,
slid in that thing and it grew wings,
in Nineteen-Fifty-Nine.
It was Blood, shining in the Sun;
First: Freedom!
Speeding the american claim:
Freedom; Freedom; Freedom; Freedom!
China was the tempest; [And] Madness overflowed.
[The] Lama was a young man,
and [he] watched his world in flames.
Taking Glory down by the edge of clouds;
It was a cryin'[g] shame.
Another lost horizon. Tibet the fallen star.
Wisdom and compassion Crushed, in the land of Shangri-La.
But in the land of the Impala, honey, well,
we were lookin' Fine,
'cause we built that thing and it grew wings;
In Nineteen-Fifty-Nine.
'Cause we built that thing and it grew wings;
In Nineteen-Fifty-Nine.
It was the best of times, it's [was] the worst of times;
In 1959; 1959; 1959; 1959; 1959; 1959; 1959.
It was the best of times; It was the worst of times.
[In] Nineteen-Fifty-Nine.
One of fallen glory. One of vanity.
The world's roof was raging, but we were looking fine;
'Cause we built that thing and it grew wings,
in Nineteen-Fifty-Nine.
Wisdom was a teapot; Pouring from above.
Desolation angels
Served it up with Love.
Ignitin'[g strife] like every form of light,
then moved by bold design,
slid in that thing and it grew wings,
in Nineteen-Fifty-Nine.
It was Blood, shining in the Sun;
First: Freedom!
Speeding the american claim:
Freedom; Freedom; Freedom; Freedom!
China was the tempest; [And] Madness overflowed.
[The] Lama was a young man,
and [he] watched his world in flames.
Taking Glory down by the edge of clouds;
It was a cryin'[g] shame.
Another lost horizon. Tibet the fallen star.
Wisdom and compassion Crushed, in the land of Shangri-La.
But in the land of the Impala, honey, well,
we were lookin' Fine,
'cause we built that thing and it grew wings;
In Nineteen-Fifty-Nine.
'Cause we built that thing and it grew wings;
In Nineteen-Fifty-Nine.
It was the best of times, it's [was] the worst of times;
In 1959; 1959; 1959; 1959; 1959; 1959; 1959.
It was the best of times; It was the worst of times.
[In] Nineteen-Fifty-Nine.
Comments (41)add comment
copymonkey wrote:
Then Zager & Evans!
ScottFromWyoming wrote:
Now for 1969 by Iggy & the Stooges.
edit: *guh*
Then 1979 by the Pumpkins?
Then Zager & Evans!
I have come to appreciate Patti Smith and her music (including this song) more in my older age. Saw her on late night talk show a few months ago and she was very interesting and likable. Maybe she has mellowed with age too.
Hinkamp wrote:
What would have been even better to play was her version of Gloria, clearly the best rock-and-roll song of all time.
thanks for playing something besides "because the night" !
What would have been even better to play was her version of Gloria, clearly the best rock-and-roll song of all time.
geckofly wrote:
Aye, Patti has been and continues to be one of the most influential voices in alt.rock – sometimes she's edgy, raw, cranky – definitely not for the mainstream listener. But even her oldest songs have aged so very well that I still like to listen to them with the volume yanked up (except maybe "Because the Night" – that one has been played to death by the mainstream radio gaga stations).
Now, hush children and go back to play ... ;-)
how difficult is it to realise that china invaded tibet in 1959? always loved patti smith...
Aye, Patti has been and continues to be one of the most influential voices in alt.rock – sometimes she's edgy, raw, cranky – definitely not for the mainstream listener. But even her oldest songs have aged so very well that I still like to listen to them with the volume yanked up (except maybe "Because the Night" – that one has been played to death by the mainstream radio gaga stations).
Now, hush children and go back to play ... ;-)
how difficult is it to realise that china invaded tibet in 1959? always loved patti smith......... runaway wrote:
I always appreciate a song with a social conscience (something about the Chinese invasion of Tibet, I think?), musically this song just does not appeal to me at all. In fact, I can't think of a Patti Smith song that really does. 
runaway wrote:
In fact, I can't think of a Patti Smith song that really does.
I have to agree with you there. She's definitely not my cuppa.I always appreciate a song with a social conscience (something about the Chinese invasion of Tibet, I think?), musically this song just does not appeal to me at all. In fact, I can't think of a Patti Smith song that really does.
bokey wrote:
I can completely identify with that sentiment.
She's too far over my head for my tiny brain to understand or appreciate properly.
I can completely identify with that sentiment.
WonderLizard wrote:
Then "1989" by Robert Fripp...then "1999" by His Purpleness...
1984 by Orwell? Whoops, wrong medium.
Then "1989" by Robert Fripp...then "1999" by His Purpleness...
1984 by Orwell? Whoops, wrong medium.
She's too far over my head for my tiny brain to understand or appreciate properly.
copymonkey wrote:
Then 1979 by the Pumpkins?
Then "1989" by Robert Fripp...then "1999" by His Purpleness...
Then 1979 by the Pumpkins?
Then "1989" by Robert Fripp...then "1999" by His Purpleness...
Whiskey, dammit!
I was hoping Patti Smith was next!
"...One of them a MANATEE??"
ScottFromWyoming wrote:
Now for 1969 by Iggy & the Stooges.
edit: *guh*
Then 1979 by the Pumpkins?
Very!Timely!
Very relevant for today's protests against the Chinese occupation of Tibet.
Patti's songs stay relevant, decade after decade. How funny that this followed up Natalie Merchant's totally lame and passionless "Because The Night."
A young PJ Harvey was listening...
thanks for playing something besides "because the night" !
Now for 1969 by Iggy & the Stooges.
edit: *guh*
Drown it out with Iggy (Pop) Stooge singing "1969"!
tlbritton wrote:
never have understood the attraction to her music...
+1
it was a very good year.
..... 
Patti Rocks!!
Patti Rocks!!gumby wrote:
this maybe?
... thanx gumby!
hate to be negative but she sucks in my opinion - never have understood the attraction to her music... 
Art_Carnage wrote:
I'm guessing the song is about something that happened in 1959. But I have no idea what.
this maybe?
Patti rules
Patti Smith could make an enervating Perry Como song exciting and ecstatic!
Originally Posted by Enrique:
Well this is better than the cannibals song but that isn't saying much :(
You and I finally agree on something! 
Well this is better than the cannibals song but that isn\'t saying much :(
I know Patti Smith is harsh sounding but I think that\'s what I like about it - just hits me right!
I\'m guessing the song is about something that happened in 1959. But I have no idea what.
I have come to appreciate Patti Smith and her music (including this song) more in my older age. Saw her on late night talk show a few months ago and she was very interesting and likable. Maybe she has mellowed with age too.
I think she's always been so, her entire life. Otherwise she couldn't be Patti Smith.