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Patti Smith – Up There Down There (1988) | Track profile | Dork

Tracks
Patti Smith
Dream of Life
Up There Down There

TRACK

Up There Down There

Release date: 31st May 1988

From Dream of Life

Track 2

4:50

Spotify Apple Music More on Patti Smith

About This Track

"Up There Down There" is a track by Patti Smith, from the album Dream of Life, released 31st May 1988. The track is 4:50 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

Up There Down There

Up there
There's a ball of fire
Some call it the spirit
Some call it the sun
Its energies are not for hire
It serves man it serves everyone

Down there where Jonah wails
In the healing water
In the ready depths
Twisting like silver swans
No line of death no boundaries
Up there the eye is hollow the eye is winking
The winds ablaze angels howling
The sphinx awakens
But what can she say
You'd be amazed
Down there
Your days are numbered
Nothing to fear
There will be trumpets
There will be silence
In the end the end
Will be here just here
Ahh the borders of heaven
Are zipped up tight tonight
The abstract streets
The lights like some switched-on Mondrian
Cats like us are obsolete
Hey Man don't breath on my feet
Thieves, poets we're inside out
And everybody's a soldier
Angels howl at those abstract lights
And the borders of heaven
Are zipped up tight tonight

Up there
There's a ball of fire
Some call it the spirit
Some call it the sun
Its energies are not for hire
It serves man it serves everyone

The air we breathe
The flame of wisdom
The earth we grind
The beckoning sea
It's no mystery
Not sentimental
Ahh the equation
It's all elemental
The world is restless
Heaven in flux
Angels appears
From the bright storm
Out of the shadows
Up there, down there
But what can we say
Man's been forewarned

All communion is not holy
Even those that fail
They can prophet that fall
It's all for man
It's for everyone
It's up there, down there
Everywhere
Everywhere
Time for communion
Time for communion
Talking communion

Lyrics provided by LRCLIB

View full lyrics page →

Track details

From Dream of Life

4:501988

Listen

Album

Track number

2

Release year

1988

1People Have the Power
5:10
2Up There Down There
4:50
3Paths That Cross
4:21
4Dream of Life
4:40

Watch the music video

Patti Smith — Up There Down There

Patti Smith — Up There Down There

Up There Down There

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5:42

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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

5Where Duty Calls

7Looking for You (I Was)

8The Jackson Song

9As The Night Goes By

Credits

Production & Engineering

Writer: Fred Smith, Patti Smith
Producer: Fred Smith, Jimmy Iovine
Bass: Bob Glaub
Background Vocals: Robin Nash