Patti Smith til Oslo

«Just kids» av Patti Smith var en av de første bøkene jeg leste i fjor. Selv om jeg hadde hatt den legendarisk plata «Horses» i cd-hylla i mange år var det først med denne selvbiografiske boka at jeg virkelig fikk øynene opp for henne. Jeg hadde det ganske kjipt i begynnelsen av 2010. Patti ble en inspirasjon. Jeg leste flere bøker av henne og om henne. Jeg hørte på alle platene. Jeg leste «Just kids» om igjen. Jeg arrangerte Patti Smith-kveld på Blå. Jeg var oppslukt av Patti. Intensiteten i stemmen, ordene og tankene hennes. Da hun holdt konsert i New York på bursdagen sin i vinter satt jeg småbitter i Oslo og ønsket at jeg var der.

Og nå kommer hun til Oslo. Fredag 10. juni på Norwegian Wood. Billetter kommer snart. Følg med. Jeg kjenner meg helt svimmel ved tanken på å se henne. Det skulle selvsagt helst vært på en mørk og litt nedslitt klubb i New York, men jeg tar det jeg får.

Poesi mens vi puster 88

Vi varmer opp til Patti Smith-kveld på Blå i morgen. Jeg leste ut en biografi om henne i går, og begynner å glede meg skikkelig til dette arrangementet. Her er teksten og låta Wing fra comeback albumet Gone again som kom i 1996. Ikke en av hennes beste tekster, men jeg er helt forelsket i den nydelige sangen.

Wing

I was a wing in heaven blue
soared over the ocean
soared over Spain
and I was free
needed nobody
it was beautiful
it was beautiful

I was a pawn
didn’t have a move
didn’t have nowhere
that I could go
but I was free
I needed nobody
it was beautiful
it was beautiful

and if there’s one thing
could do for you
you’d be a wing
in heaven blue

I was a vision
in another eye
and they saw nothing
no future at all
yet I was free
I needed nobody
it was beautiful
it was beautiful

and if there’s one thing
could do for you
you’d be a wing
in heaven blue

and if there’s one thing
could do for you
you’d be a wing
in heaven blue

and if there’s one thing
could do for you
you’d be a wing
in heaven blue

Poesi mens vi puster 84

Rock N Roll Nigger

Baby was a black sheep. Baby was a whore.
Baby got big and baby get bigger.
Baby get something. Baby get more.
Baby, baby, baby was a rock-and-roll nigger.
Oh, look around you, all around you,
riding on a copper wave.
Do you like the world around you?
Are you ready to behave?

Outside of society, they’re waitin’ for me.
Outside of society, that’s where I want to be.

Baby was a black sheep. Baby was a whore.
You know she got big. Well, she’s gonna get bigger.
Baby got a hand; got a finger on the trigger.
Baby, baby, baby is a rock-and-roll nigger.

Outside of society, that’s where I want to be.
Outside of society, they’re waitin’ for me.

(those who have suffered, understand suffering,
and thereby extend their hand
the storm that brings harm
also makes fertile
blessed is the grass
and herb and the true thorn and light)

I was lost in a valley of pleasure.
I was lost in the infinite sea.
I was lost, and measure for measure,
love spewed from the heart of me.
I was lost, and the cost,
and the cost didn’t matter to me.
I was lost, and the cost
was to be outside society.
Jimi Hendrix was a nigger.
Jesus Christ and Grandma, too.
Jackson Pollock was a nigger.
Nigger, nigger, nigger, nigger,
nigger, nigger, nigger.

Outside of society, they’re waitin’ for me.
Outside of society, if you’re looking,
that’s where you’ll find me.
Outside of society, they’re waitin’ for me.
Outside of society.

– Patti Smith

fra albumet Easter (1978)

Poesi mens vi puster 73

schinden

and that night. the white electric storm. the lake

in flames. you sleeping so soundly. your big bones.

smooth forehead. your dry pale mouth. split lip skin

flakes. to bite them off with needlepoint precision

to chew and roll in a minute translucent ball

and spit ball and spit ball against the horizon. skin. it’s so

wonderful peeling your back after summer.

a perfect sheet of skin. pores backprint

and some blond down. your backbone fossil.

the sickly olive patch beneath

pressing the veil of skin against my face.

sucking some in with every breath.

sting rain the bay windows hypodermic.

in the skull the electric whirlwind.

sucking more with every breath.

skin erection all symbols of bliss.

I was so amazed so moved I loved you so much.

– Patti Smith

fra Early Works 1970-1979 (utgitt 1994)