Patti Smith - Dancing Barefoot

[schmevil]

My email died for much of last week, then I had computer issues, life issues, and finally was just too busy to get anything done. That's been too common a state lately. As a result, I have lots of things to say, but no energy, or maybe willingness, to get them out.

In the meantime, let's listen to some Patti Smith.

Dancing Barefoot

This isn't my favourite Patti Smith song - Land, actually - but this is the one I've been listening to lately. What I like best about her stuff is how seamlessly she combines artistic fearlessness, and prettiness. I mean, her music should by all rights be off-putting (peppered with spoken verse, impressionistic layered lyrics, not so veiled references to bad things), but it's just not. It's charming and easy and enticing. Easily my favourite part of Dancing Barefoot is the last verse, spoken, not sung, and with such a killer delivery.

the plot of our life sweats in the dark like a face
the mystery of childbirth, of childhood itself
grave visitations
what is it that calls to us
why must we pray screaming
why must not death be redefined
we shut our eyes we stretch out our arms
and whirl on a pane of glass
an afixiation a fix on anything the line of life the limb of a tree
the hands of he and the promise that s/he is blessed among women.