Patti Smith — Death Singing

In the straw-colored light In light rapidly changing On a life rapidly fading Have you seen death singing Have you seen death singing With a throat smooth as a lamb Yet dry as a branch not snapping He throws back his head And he does not sing a thing mournful Have you seen death singing Have you seen death singing Have you seen death singing In the straw-colored light He sings a black embrace And white opals swimming In a child's leather purse Have you seen death swimming Have you seen death swimming With a throat smooth as a lamb Yet dry as a branch not snapping He throws back his head And does not sing a thing mournful Have you seen death singing Have you seen death singing Have you seen death singing In the straw-colored light He sings of youth enraged And the burning of Atlanta And these viral times And May ribbons streaming And straw-colored curls a'turning A mother's vain delight And woe to the sun And woe to the dawn And woe to the young Another hearse is drawn Have you seen death singing In the straw-colored light