1959 lyrics

Song information

Artist: Patti Smith
Album: Peace & Noise

Lyrics

(Smith/shanahan)
(C)1997 druse music, inc./slea head music
(Ascap)

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

[from http://lyrics.doheth.co.uk]

"Peace & Noise" album track list