Pissing In A River
Patti Smith · Outside Society [2011]
Tattoo fingers shy away from me
Voices voices mesmerize
Voices voices beckoning sea
Come come come come back come back
Come back come back come back
Spoke of a wheel, tip of a spoon
Mouth of a cave, I'm a slave I'm free.
When are you coming ? Hope you come soon
Fingers, fingers encircling thee
Come come come come come come
Come come come come come come for me oh
My bowels are empty, excreting your soul
What more can I give you ? Baby I don't know
What more can I give you to make this thing grow?
Don't turn your back now, I'm talking to you
Should I pursue a path so twisted ?
Should I crawl defeated and gifted ?
Should I go the length of a river
[The royal, the throne, the cry me a river]
Everything I've done, I've done for you
Oh I give my life for you.
Every move I made I move to you,
And I came like a magnet for you now.
What about it, you're gonna leave me,
What about it, you don't need me,
What about it, I can't live without you,
What about it, I never doubted you
What about it ? What about it ?
What about it ? What about it ?
Should I pursue a path so twisted ?
Should I crawl defeated and gifted ?
Should I go the length of a river,
[The royal, the throne, the cry me a river]
What about it, what about it, what about it ?
Oh, I'm pissing in a river.
Pissing In A River
Pissing In A River is a track from Patti Smith's 2011 album Outside Society, a record that continued her long-standing practice of blending poetic intensity with rock and folk structures. The song emerged during a period when Smith was revisiting and reinterpreting material from her earlier career, often drawing on the raw, confrontational energy of her 1970s work while refining it through a more mature lens. Outside Society was notable for its mix of new compositions and updated versions of older pieces, allowing Smith to present a cohesive body of work that spanned decades of artistic development.
Musically, the track fits within the broader context of Smith's songwriting, which frequently employs sparse arrangements to highlight lyrical delivery. The title itself suggests a theme of defiance or indifference, a motif that has appeared throughout her catalogue in various forms. Smith's vocal approach on the album remains commanding, characterized by a direct, almost spoken-word cadence that contrasts with the rhythmic underpinnings of the music. This interplay between text and sound is a hallmark of her style, where the words carry as much weight as the melody.
The song's placement on Outside Society reflects the album's overall structure, which moves between introspective moments and more aggressive statements. While the album received attention for its thematic coherence and Smith's enduring presence in the music scene, critical reception varied. Some reviewers praised the album for its ability to capture the essence of Smith's earlier work without feeling like a mere retrospective, while others noted that the reworked material sometimes leaned heavily on nostalgia. The track itself, like many on the album, serves as a bridge between her past and present, offering listeners a glimpse into the evolution of her artistic voice.
In terms of influence, Pissing In A River continues to exemplify Smith's impact on the punk and art rock genres. Her ability to merge literary sensibility with musical performance has inspired countless artists, and tracks like this one reinforce her legacy as a figure who defied conventional boundaries in both music and literature. The song's enduring relevance lies in its ability to resonate with new audiences while maintaining the core elements that defined her earlier work.