Pissing in a River
Patti Smith, Patti Smith Group
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Pissing in a river, watching it rise Tattoo fingers shy away from me Voices voices mesmerize Voices voices beckoning sea Come come come come back come back Come back come back come back Spoke of a wheel, tip of a spoon Mouth of a cave, I'm a slave I'm free. When are you coming ? Hope you come soon Fingers, fingers encircling thee Come come come come come come Come come come come come come for me oh My bowels are empty, excreting your soul What more can I give you ? Baby I don't know What more can I give you to make this thing grow? Don't turn your back now, I'm talking to you Should I pursue a path so twisted ? Should I crawl defeated and gifted ? Should I go the length of a river (The royal, the throne, the cry me a river) Everything I've done, I've done for you Oh I give my life for you. Every move I made I move to you, And I came like a magnet for you now. What about it, you're gonna leave me, What about it, you don't need me, What about it, I can't live without you, What about it, I never doubted you What about it ? What about it? What about it ? What about it? Should I pursue a path so twisted ? Should I crawl defeated and gifted ? Should I go the length of a river, (The royal, the throne, the cry me a river) What about it, what about it, what about it ? Oh, I'm pissing in a river.
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6 fans
Written by: IVAN KRAL, PATTI SMITH
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Song Composition"Pissing in a River" was written by Patti Smith and Lenny Kaye, a member of the Patti Smith Group. The song is part of the punk rock genre.
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Album InformationThe track appears on their second studio album, "Radio Ethiopia", released in 1976 under the Arista Records label.
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PerformanceDuring live performances, Patti Smith has been known to extend the song to over nine minutes, providing an abundant space for improvisation showing off the band's musical skills and her intense performance style.
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Song HeroesThe sometimes controversial and straightforward lyricism of "Pissing in a River" has earned the song a place in the set lists of notable artists such as Nick Cave and Morrissey. They have both covered it in homage to Smith.
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Inspirational Influence"Pissing in a River" has often been mentioned as a source of inspiration for many artists and bands playing alternative and punk music. It had a substantial impact on the punk and new wave scene of the '70s and '80s.
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Song Lyrics DepictionThe lyrics of the song depict the emotional turmoil and frustration of a lover's miscomprehension. The raw and passionate sentiments expressed in the lyrics resonated with audiences worldwide.
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Movie Soundtrack"Pissing in a River" was used in the soundtrack of director Derek Jarman’s 1978 film, "Jubilee".
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Critical AcclaimThe song is often considered one of Smith's finest works. It helped solidify her status as the 'godmother of punk'.
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Live PerformancesDespite the song's controversial title, "Pissing in a River" was often well received by audiences and became a staple in the Patti Smith Group's live performances.
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Autobiographical ElementMuch like her other songs, "Pissing in a River" features an autobiographical element, where Patti Smith often merged her life sentiments with her art, adding to her powerful and personal songwriting style.
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Citation
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"Pissing in a River Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/1287948/Patti+Smith/Pissing+in+a+River>.
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