Patti Smith
Lyric guide

1959

Read 1959 lyrics by Patti Smith on LyroVerse, with linked artist context and related song paths.

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Page type: lyric reference Artist: Patti Smith Canonical path: /patti-smith/1959 Related lyric paths: 6 Video embedded: yes
Lyrics

1959

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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.

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Who performs "1959"?

Patti Smith performs "1959", and this lyric page sits inside the Patti Smith catalog on LyroVerse.

Are there related songs to explore after "1959"?

Yes. The related section below points to Looking For You (I Was) and After The Gold Rush with a short reason for opening each page next.

Where can I find more songs by Patti Smith?

Use the artist link near the top of the page or the related paths section below to keep moving through Patti Smith's lyric pages.

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