Up There Down There
Patti Smith
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Up there There's a ball of fire Some call it the spirit Some call it the sun Its energies are not for hire It serves man It serves everyone Down there where Jonah wails In the healing water In the ready depths Twisting like silver swans No line of death no boundaries Up there The eye is hollow The eye is winking The winds ablaze Angels howling The sphinx awakens But what can she say You'd be amazed Down there Your days are numbers Nothing to fear There will be trumpets There will be silence In the end the end Will be here just here Ah the borders of heaven Are zipped up tight tonight The abstract streets The lights like some switched on Mondrian Cats like us are obsolete Hey Man don't breathe on my feet Thieves, poets we're inside out And everybody's a soldier Angels howl at those abstract lights And the borders of heaven Are zipped up tight tonight Up there There's a ball of fire Some call it the spirit Some call it the sun Its energies are not for hire It serves man It serves everyone The air we breathe The flame of wisdom The earth we grind The beckoning sea It's no mystery Not sentimental Ah the equation It's all elemental The world is restless Heaven in flux Angels appear From the bright storm Out of the shadows Up there, down there But what can we say Man's been forewarned All communion is not holy Even those that fall They can prophet understanding It's all for man It's for everyone It's up there, down there Everywhere Everywhere Time for communion Time for communion Talking communion
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Written by: FRED SMITH, PATTI SMITH
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
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20 facts about this song
Song Origin"Up There Down There" is a song by Patti Smith, a renowned American singer-songwriter and poet. It's from her fifth studio album, "Dream of Life," released in 1988.
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Album Gap"Dream of Life," the album that includes "Up There Down There," came out nine years after Smith's previous album, "Wave." This gap is the longest in Smith's career.
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CollaborationThe song and the whole album were co-written by Patti Smith and her husband, Fred Smith, a former member of the influential Detroit rock band, MC5.
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Music VideoA music video was made for "Up There Down There." It was directed by Robert Frank, the famous Swiss-American photographer, and filmmaker.
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Unique SoundUnlike many of her other works, "Up There Down There" has a distinctly atmospheric sound, with layered keyboards and guitars, making it a departure from Smith's earlier, more punk-infused sound.
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Themes"Up There Down There" is known for its lyrics, which tackle a wide range of themes. Smith references celestial and terrestrial images, incorporating themes of liberation, love, and spiritual exploration.
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Limited Live PerformancesUnlike other songs from "Dream of Life," "Up There Down There" was not frequently performed live by Patti Smith.
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Commercial PerformanceThe album "Dream of Life," which features "Up There Down There," reached number 65 on the UK Albums Chart.
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Backing VocalsThe song has backing vocals provided by Andi Ostrowe and Jay Dee Daugherty, the latter of whom is a regular member of The Patti Smith Group.
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ReactionWhile "Up There Down There" would not be considered one of Smith's biggest commercial hits, it was well-received by fans and critics alike for its profound lyrics and distinct musical style.
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Song's Origin"Up There Down There" is a track from Patti Smith's 1988 album "Dream of Life." The album was her first release after a nine-year hiatus from the music industry.
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Song's CreationThe song, like the rest of the album, was co-written by Patti Smith and her husband, Fred Sonic Smith, who was a former guitarist for the band MC5.
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Song's GenreThe song belongs to the rock music genre, featuring Smith's characteristic spoken-word style, matched with guitar-driven instrumental backing.
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Song's Influences"Up There Down There" reflects Smith's interest in the supernatural and religious themes, along with her politically charged lyrics, which has always been signature to her songwriting style.
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Song's ReceptionAlthough "Up There Down There" was not released as a single, it was well received by critics and fans, who praised Patti Smith's fusion of rock and poetry.
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Song’s DurationThe song has a runtime of 4 minutes and 47 seconds, making it one of the longer tracks on the "Dream of Life" album.
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Song's PerformanceLive performances of "Up There Down There" have been noted for Smith's powerful stage presence and emotional delivery.
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Song's VideoPatti Smith made a rare music video for "Up There Down There." The very artistic and minimalistic video was directed by Robert Frank, a famous Swiss-American photographer and documentary filmmaker.
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Song’s LyricsThe song includes deeply philosophical lyrics. The “up there” and “down there” repeatedly alluded to in the song represent heaven and hell respectively, which fits in with Patti Smith’s exploration of existential themes in her music.
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Personal Meaning“Up There Down There” was written during a period in Smith's life when she concentrated on her family. This personal experience added to the depth of the song's lyrics.
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Citation
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"Up There Down There Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/24003622/Patti+Smith/Up+There+Down+There>.
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