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Patti Smith — China Bird
Album: Gung Ho
Avg rating:
6.2

Your rating:
Total ratings: 853









Released: 2000
Length: 4:03
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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One fine day these words I pray
Will breathe a truth
Within yourself upon a shelf
A life anew
So many roads
It's hard to know what to do
All your dreams
All it seems
Is as you choose
For destiny my china bird
Is calling for you

The world turns
The flame burns
Bright and true
Near and far
Where you are
Guiding you china bird
The open skies
Are yearning for you

If they say it's not that way
Hold your view
With my love fly above
A light anew
Oh spread your wings
The open sky
Is calling to you china bird
My heart is yearning for you

If you fly away
I'll be waiting come what may
All my love a fragile ray
For you for you
Comments (49)add comment
What a voice{#Hearteyes}.
Posted 2 years ago by mojcamojca77    [ Reply ]
Why is this song only 6?
Posted 2 years ago by jp33442    [ Reply ]
 fraserji wrote:
 
 That's a picture of her father, Grant Smith. 




Cool, now I know. Thanks! He looks a bit like Peyton though.
Posted 3 years ago by kazoo    [ Reply ]
 kazoo wrote:
Is That Peyton Manning on the cover?
 That's a picture of her father, Grant Smith. 

Posted 3 years ago by fraserji    [ Reply ]
Playing a lot of Patti Smith, like it. Some I've not heard, and I'm supposed to be a fan (have been since I bought Easter in 1981 ish) Probably the most expressive and listenable punk poet/singer ever, and one of the best gigs I've seen even though when I finally got to see her it was around 2007
Posted 4 years ago by Silvervanman    [ Reply ]
 gregskrtic wrote:
Love Patti Smith!
 
YES!
Posted 5 years ago by khardog145    [ Reply ]
 Randomax wrote:

Several comments about poison here.....do you say that when Waits is playing?  How about Cohen, Dylan......all the poets that just try to sing their verse....Yes, not beautifully trained voices but, IMHO, that is what makes you listen to the words.

 
Point taken. Listened to this all the way through and it wasn't that bad at all. I'm usually willing to put Patti in the same group as Waits, Cohen and Dylan (talented songwriters with limited voices) but I was not in the mood to hear her when I last posted...
Posted 5 years ago by kcar    [ Reply ]
Is That Peyton Manning on the cover?
Posted 5 years ago by kazoo    [ Reply ]
Whatever "easy listenin" is this ain't it
Posted 5 years ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
 kcar wrote:

Cyanide would be a lot quicker, folks...

The lyrics are beautiful but likely deserve a better voice and arrangement. 


 
Several comments about poison here.....do you say that when Waits is playing?  How about Cohen, Dylan......all the poets that just try to sing their verse....Yes, not beautifully trained voices but, IMHO, that is what makes you listen to the words.

Posted 5 years ago by Randomax    [ Reply ]
The RP playlists depresses me again and again....
Posted 9 years ago by markus333    [ Reply ]
Love Patti Smith!
Posted 9 years ago by gregskrtic    [ Reply ]
 tphord wrote:
Oh god... where did I put that bottle of arsenic ?
  

 GarageDragon wrote:
It's kind of like the movie, "Airplane" when the guy is pouring gasoline all over himself.
 
Cyanide would be a lot quicker, folks...

The lyrics are beautiful but likely deserve a better voice and arrangement. 


Posted 9 years ago by kcar    [ Reply ]
 hippiechick wrote:
One fine day these words I pray
Will breathe a truth
Within yourself upon a shelf
A life anew
So many roads
It's hard to know what to do
All your dreams
All it seems
Is as you choose
For destiny my china bird
Is calling for you The world turns
The flame burns
Bright and true
Near and far
Where you are
Guiding you china bird
The open skies
Are yearning for you If they say it's not that way
Hold your view
With my love fly above
A light anew
Oh spread your wings
The open sky
Is calling to you china bird
My heart is yearning for you If you fly away
I'll be waiting come what may
All my love a fragile ray
For you for you
 
Everybody in my alien space craft loves this song...

where you be these days, honey?  Love ya... 
Posted 10 years ago by Lazarus    [ Reply ]
Love ya Patti.  See you again soon.
Posted 10 years ago by lemmoth    [ Reply ]
thanks to psd it landed me here, had to put on the headphones for this one.
Posted 10 years ago by philinnz    [ Reply ]
Can't Say I Like This Song But Her Voice Is Still Great ... I Immediately Knew It Was Her! 
Posted 10 years ago by sheeelaaa    [ Reply ]
Patti Smith has always managed to get under my skin in a big way. Her voice, and that reigned-in energy. So many good memories! I've got goose bumps now.
Posted 11 years ago by us    [ Reply ]
 ziakut wrote:
As this tune has a low score...I'm thinking that this is in fact one of the more rare, pleasant tunes Patti Smith has ever done. That being said...you could also say that having a paper cut isn't as bad as a severed head...though might be more painful.

 

I have several severed heads...what's that got to do with having a paper cut?

File:Americanpsychoposter.jpg
Posted 11 years ago by rdo    [ Reply ]
 zipper wrote:
I like it. Something about it makes me actually see her singing it. A 7.
 

Indeed !
Posted 11 years ago by kurtster    [ Reply ]
As this tune has a low score...I'm thinking that this is in fact one of the more rare, pleasant tunes Patti Smith has ever done. That being said...you could also say that having a paper cut isn't as bad as a severed head...though might be more painful.
Posted 11 years ago by ziakut    [ Reply ]
 tphord wrote:
Oh god... where did I put that bottle of arsenic ?
 
when you find it, can I have some?
Posted 11 years ago by Rooney    [ Reply ]
amazing! I have always been on the fence with Patti Smith, but this song blew me away! Thank yo RP, once again for broadening my ear...
Posted 11 years ago by davidfarmerie    [ Reply ]
Instant hit for me.  First time hearing this song.  Had to look to confirm it was the voice I thought it might be.  Excellent choices, again, RP!
Posted 11 years ago by soloport    [ Reply ]
 pinto wrote:

Once more in English?

 

Open your mind pinto...learn to appreciate the foreigness in calypsus' English...it will open a whole avenue of poetic interpretation for you, plus it always comes from the heart
Posted 11 years ago by dyharenas    [ Reply ]
What an excellent eclectic track. Far, far more deserving than the current 5 score.

9. . . yes read that again, its a nine. 
Posted 11 years ago by SquiddlyDiddly    [ Reply ]
 tphord wrote:
Oh god... where did I put that bottle of arsenic ?
 



It's kind of like the movie, "Airplane" when the guy is pouring gasoline all over himself.
Posted 11 years ago by GarageDragon    [ Reply ]
 calypsus_1 wrote:

 

yes, i hear the songs of  Ms. Patricia Lee Smith since 1975, album "Horses" (that i have, in vinyl-LP, conserved well), and today i can say that i am not nothing sorry, i was certain,  it has known to reward all the minutes, all the hours, that i occupied the hear her;

Tankyou.

** 8 **



 
Once more in English?

Posted 13 years ago by pinto    [ Reply ]
Oh god... where did I put that bottle of arsenic ?
Posted 13 years ago by tphord    [ Reply ]
It started out a 2 but ended a 1.
Posted 15 years ago by mirland    [ Reply ]
Glassboro State baby(NJ)
Saw her in the day...Phila...1976
Posted 16 years ago by boober    [ Reply ]
One fine day these words I pray
Will breathe a truth
Within yourself upon a shelf
A life anew
So many roads
It's hard to know what to do
All your dreams
All it seems
Is as you choose
For destiny my china bird
Is calling for you The world turns
The flame burns
Bright and true
Near and far
Where you are
Guiding you china bird
The open skies
Are yearning for you If they say it's not that way
Hold your view
With my love fly above
A light anew
Oh spread your wings
The open sky
Is calling to you china bird
My heart is yearning for you If you fly away
I'll be waiting come what may
All my love a fragile ray
For you for you
Posted 16 years ago by hippiechick    [ Reply ]
Just beautiful. The lyrics, the music everything. Just touches your heart.
Posted 17 years ago by yiota    [ Reply ]
I like it. Something about it makes me actually see her singing it. A 7.
Posted 18 years ago by zipper    [ Reply ]
Enrique wrote:
What a horrible, pained voice.
I had to turn this off b/c it sounded awful. Maybe it's too much emotion. Gets a 1.
Posted 18 years ago by pianocomposer    [ Reply ]
Haven't bought a Patti album for a while, and this is a great track from what sounds like a great album, so its going on my 'aquire' list. She's different yes, but she's got great integrity and always worth listening to, so well done RP for giving airplay to good music, and when I get the software sorted there will be an upload from 'Horses'
Posted 18 years ago by veejay    [ Reply ]
I dunno, she was good 30 years ago. This sounds like such a mish mash. What's with the "Sting" pseudo-spanish guitar in the middle?
Posted 18 years ago by Eagan    [ Reply ]
Enrique wrote:
What a horrible, pained voice.
I always think of Pat Benatar when I hear Patti Smith. Neither of them is a good thing.
Posted 18 years ago by iTuner    [ Reply ]
Posted 18 years ago by Shesdifferent    [ Reply ]
A+ nice other side to PS.
Posted 18 years ago by hitz    [ Reply ]
Unremarkable!
Posted 18 years ago by highwindows    [ Reply ]
God, I love Patti Smith, although this song is not one of her best, slow, moody, not exactly the angry rockin Patti I prefer.
Posted 22 years ago by Cissy    [ Reply ]
Originally Posted by poueck: Pretty cool. Too bad I don't understand english in songs :/
Yeah, I can never understand english in any songs either. =)
Posted 22 years ago by ThesHunter    [ Reply ]
I don\'t even have the words to describe how awful I think this song is. Blech.
Posted 22 years ago by eric    [ Reply ]
Wow. I don\'t know this song, but I love it.
Posted 22 years ago by gillespp    [ Reply ]
I love this comment. I'm also a big fan of Patti's.
Originally Posted by poueck: Pretty cool. Too bad I don't understand english in songs :/
Posted 22 years ago by tonypf    [ Reply ]
Pretty cool. Too bad I don\'t understand english in songs :/
Posted 22 years ago by poueck    [ Reply ]
Beautiful, I love her pained voice. It seems to come from her heart, not a producer\'s formula of what might sell.
Posted 22 years ago by Leslie    [ Reply ]
What a horrible, pained voice.
Posted 22 years ago by Enrique    [ Reply ]