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Patti Smith — People Have the Power
Album: Dream Of Life
Avg rating:
6.5

Your rating:
Total ratings: 313









Released: 1988
Length: 4:54
Plays (last 30 days): 0
I was dreamin' in my dreamin'
Of an aspect bright and fair
And my sleepin' it was broken
But my dream it lingered near

In the form of shinin' valleys
Where the pure air recognized
Oh, and my senses newly opened
And I awakened to the cry

And the people have the power
To redeem the work of fools
From the meek the graces shower
It's decreed the people rule

People have the power
People have the power
People have the power
People have the power

Vengeful aspects became suspect
And bending low as if to hear
Well, and the armies ceased advancin'
Because the people had their ear

And the shepherds and the soldiers
And they laid among the stars
Exchanging visions, layin' arms
To waste in the dust

In the form of shinin' valleys
Where the pure air recognized
And my senses newly opened
And I awakened to the cry

People have the power
People have the power
People have the power
People have the power

Where there were deserts, I saw fountains
Like cream the waters rise
And we strolled there together
With none to laugh or criticize

There is no leopard and the lamb
And lay together truly bound
Well I was hopin' in my hopin'
To recall what I had found

Well I was dreamin' in my dreamin'
God knows a pure view
As I lay down into my sleepin'
And I commit my dream with you

People have the power
People have the power
People have the power
People have the power

The power to dream, to rule
To wrestle the earth from fools
But it's decreed the people rule
But it's decreed the people rule

Listen, I believe everythin' we dream
Can come to pass through our union
We can turn the world around
We can turn the earth's revolution

We have the power
People have the power
People have the power
People have the power

The power to dream, to rule
To wrestle the earth from fools
But it's decreed the people rule
But it's decreed the people rule

We have the power
We have the power
People have the power
We have the power
Comments (23)add comment
if only we had…..
It's A Good Day (To Fight The System)

into 

People Have the Power

I see you, Bill.
NOW MORE THAN EVER. POWER TO THE PEOPLE!
Patti's lyrics are poetry.
I still appreciate her optimism.
Not her best song, but still enjoyable.
 Rockit999 wrote:

Great artist. I like this one & think it would be fantastic live. I would start the concert with this song!




Check out this recent version... it'll give you goosebumps.
 timmus wrote:

I think this is the third or fourth time I've found myself checking whether this is Patty Smyth from the 80s band Scandal.  I bet they both hate being confused with one another.



I can't believe you need to check!
I think this is the third or fourth time I've found myself checking whether this is Patty Smyth from the 80s band Scandal.  I bet they both hate being confused with one another.
Luckily, I have the power to hit PSD
I imagine this would be thrilling to hear live, in concert with a mob of like-minded folk.  But outside of that pressure cooker, this comes off as cold leftovers.


And the people have the power
To redeem the work of fools
From the meek the graces shower
It's decreed the people rule

People have the power



Great artist. I like this one & think it would be fantastic live. I would start the concert with this song!
First comment in 19 years? Not sure much has changed people- and power- wise.
Judging by the rating, I\'m not alone in thinking this song is pathetic, particularly for an artist of Patti Smith\'s artistic credentials. It\'s just simplistic stadium rock of the worst type - even Jefferson Starship would be ashamed of this. Please can it be dropped from the playlist before it affronts our ears again?
Ahhhhh, would that it were true, Patti, would that it were true. Less so than ever these days.
this tune always revs me up
Had to check if this actually was Patti Smith, confirms my belief that when she\'s good she\'s very good, but when she\'s bad ...she stinks really bad. This is embarrassing.
I like Patti Smith in general but this song is awful.
Gag.