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1959 Lyrics by Patti Smith

Land (1975-2002)

1997

Listen to my story
Got two tales to tell
One of fallen glory
One of vanity
The world's roof was raging
We were looking fine
Cause we built that thing
And it grew wings
In 1959

Wisdom was a teapot, pouring from above
Desolation angels served it up with love
Igniting life every form of light
Moved by bold design
Slid in that thing
And it grew wings
In 1959

It was blue and shining in the sun
Braced, native
Speeding the American plain
Into freedom freedom freedom

China was a tempest
And madness overflowed
The lama was a young man
And watched his world in flames
Taking glory down
By the edge of clouds
It was a crying shame

Another lost horizon
Tibet the fallen star
Wisdom and compassion crushed
In the land of Shangri-la
But in the land of the Impala honey
Well we were looking fine
Cause we built that thing and it grew wings in 1959
Cause we built that thing and it grew wings in 1959
Cause we built that thing and it grew wings in 1959

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times in 1959
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times in 1959

About “1959” by Patti Smith

Read the complete lyrics to "1959" by Patti Smith from the album "Land (1975-2002)" in 1997. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Rock.

"1959" is performed by Patti Smith. from the album "Land (1975-2002)" in 1997 This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "1959", explore more songs by Patti Smith using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

View all songs and biography for Patti Smith · Trending lyrics · Billboard Hot 100

Frequently asked questions

"1959" is credited to Patti Smith. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"1959" appears on "Land (1975-2002)" in 1997.

Visit the Patti Smith artist page at /artist/patti-smith for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.


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