Patti Smith — 1959

Listen to my story Got two tales to tell One of fallen glory One of vanity The world's roof was raging We were looking fine Cause we built that thing And it grew wings In 1959 Wisdom was a teapot, pouring from above Desolation angels served it up with love Igniting life every form of light Moved by bold design Slid in that thing And it grew wings In 1959 It was blue and shining in the sun Braced, native Speeding the American plain Into freedom freedom freedom China was a tempest And madness overflowed The lama was a young man And watched his world in flames Taking glory down By the edge of clouds It was a crying 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 looking fine Cause we built that thing and it grew wings in 1959 Cause we built that thing and it grew wings in 1959 Cause we built that thing and it grew wings in 1959 It was the best of times, it was the worst of times in 1959 It was the best of times, it was the worst of times in 1959