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Patti Smith – Strange Messengers (2000) | Track profile | Dork

Tracks
Patti Smith
Gung Ho
Strange Messengers

TRACK

Strange Messengers

Release date: 20th March 2000

From Gung Ho

Track 8

8:03

Rock Music Arena Rock Singer/Songwriter

Spotify Apple Music More on Patti Smith

About This Track

"Strange Messengers" is a track by Patti Smith, from the album Gung Ho, released 20th March 2000. The track is 8:03 long. It's filed under Rock. Full lyrics are available below. Dork has published 1 article about Patti Smith.

About the Artist

Patti Smith

Patti Smith

Lyrics

Strange Messengers

I looked upon the book of life
Tracing the lines of face after face
Looking down at their naked feet
Bound in chains bound in chains
Chains of leather chains of gold
We knew it was wrong but we looked away
And paraded them down the colonial streets
And that's how they became enslaved

They came across on the great ships
Mothers separated from their babes
Husbands stood on the auction block
Bound in chains bound in chains
Chains of leather chains of gold
Men knew it was wrong but they looked away
And led them to toil in fields of white
As they turned their necks to a bitter landscape

Oh the people I hear them calling
Am I not a man and a brother
Am I not a woman and a sister

History sends us such strange messengers
They come down through time
To embrace to enrage
And in their arms even stranger fruit
And they swing from the trees
With their vision in flames
Ropes of leather ropes of gold
Men knew it was wrong but they looked away
Messengers swinging from twisted rope
As they turned their necks to a bitter landscape

Oh the people I hear them calling
Am I not a man and a brother
Am I not a woman and a siste
R We will be heard we will be heard

Lyrics provided by LRCLIB

View full lyrics page →

Track details

From Gung Ho

8:032000

Listen

Album

20th March 2000

Track number

8

Release year

2000

1One Voice
4:05
2Lo and Beholden
4:43
3Boy Cried Wolf
4:52
4Persuasion
4:33

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View all tracks by Patti Smith →

About A BoyHome For The Holiday (Chicago Broadcast 1998)
10:13
April Fool - Recorded At Electric Lady Studios
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3:53
Birdland - Alternate Take
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5:42

Showing 10 of 50

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READ MORE ABOUT PATTI SMITH

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Patti Smith has confirmed European and US tour dates for the 'Horses' 50th anniversary

Patti Smith has confirmed European and US tour dates for the 'Horses' 50th anniversary

The punk icon will play dates across Europe and US cities to celebrate her debut album's 50th anniversary.

14 Feb 2025 • 11:34 am

7Glitter In Their Eyes

8Strange Messengers

8:03

12Libbie's Song

Credits

Production & Engineering

Writer: Lenny Kaye, Patti Smith
Writer: Lenny Kaye, Patti Smith
Producer: Gil Norton