The album Banga. Cover by our visitor Steven Sebring…..
This is the Girl (for Amy Winehouse)
This is the girl
For whom all tears fall
This is the girl
Who was having a ball
Just a dark smear masking the eyes
Spirited away, buried in sighs
This is the girl
That crossed the line
This is the song of the smothering vine
Twisted as laurels to crown her head
Laid as a reef upon her bed
This the blood that turned into wine
This is the wine of the house, it is said
This is the girl who yearned to be heard
So much for cradling a smothering bird
This is the girl, this is the girl
This is the girl
for whom all tears fall
This is thegdirl
Who was having a ball
This is the girl
For whom all tears have shed
This is the wine of the house, it is said
This the blood that turned into wine
This is the wine of the house, it is said
This is the girl who yearned to be heard
So much for cradling a smothering bird
This is the girl
This is the girl
This is the girl
so good to share your remembering of Fred everyday...that is just so lovely...
beautiful homage to Amy Winehouse, so thoughtful and sensitive...
♥️♥️
such a beautiful homage x it gives me goosebumps ...and almost instantly brought to mind Ecce Homo.... and also This is the House that (Amy) built xxxxxxx
❤️❤️❤️
And what an amazing, soulful homage. What an homage, and a song of the bittersweet and the thankfulness for what she gave us. Thank you for giving us this classic, heartbreaking song.
Thank you, Patti, for acknowledging the pure, visceral, genius of Amy Winehouse. “Genius” is thrown around, but she was it. I am lucky to have been here when she was passing through, and still mourn that our souls have lost the fulfillment nourishment her songs shot straight to our hearts. Your endorsement only solidifies my belief that we are deprived of the future beauty and thrill she could have brought us. Much respect, L Lee
so tender, true and sweet✨
I'm kind of late, but happy birthday Fred!
That dam arrow Patti. Every day at work, I’m talking to the screen ‘where the hell is it’😂
Exquisite thank you ❤️
Amy is in a Eternal Heaven.
Your song,Patti,is a great homage to Amy.
Such a beautiful song - lyrics... I am always touched by your sensitivity... honoring Amy in this way is just beautiful! Thank you
Happy birthday Fred, and happy birthday Amy ❤️🖤
‘This is the Girl’ is one of those songs that felt, when I first heard it, like it had always existed, like I had always known it. It’s beautiful. I love it, the album is a fave.
Thank you Patti. I hope your mini tour goes well.
Belated wishes to Fred and Amy and thank you for invoking them through your words, music amd photos. I could finally listen to your recording today and love the phrase « space sauce »….fits perfectly! Hope your Cincinnati concert was a blast! ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Happy Birthday to Fred Sonic Smith. And thank you for this wonderful song, written for Amy Winehouse by you and Tony Shanahan. Amy was indeed talented. Cool that Steven Sebring came by to take care of sweet Cairo. Love the work that he did for the documentary, Patti Smith: Dream Of Life. Such an original film. Have a good weekend and enjoy your performances*~~*
The wine of the house.
🌹 🎸
I’m a day late, now expecting the power to go out as the remnants of Hurricane Lee come in. Thank you for the beautiful song, and for Steven’s face popping in- it made me smile.
Thanks, Patti, for sharing a whisper on the wind of love for Fred and wondrous melody of memories for Amy Winehouse.
With gratitude.
Deep breath a big sigh and to love honorably. Life goes on
"lost in the sauce of space". --- love that -- describes how I feel more and more often !
Hello Patti, after a brief interruption of my subscription, I would like to resubscribe but I wonder before making my choice on the option, what for “Founding member”, what is
“Something special; still figuring that out” ?
.. I love this song! And it is wonderful, that you share it with us, and of course, share the birthday of Fred and Amy with us. This is the girl ...
"... lost in the sauce of space." ✨ 🚀
Thank you as always for sharing these moments. What a strange and wonderful gift is this technology. I assume these messages are all archived? What fascinating stories they tell all woven together. If Substack had existed in Rimbaud's time, what would the messages have been like? What were his daily musings and thoughts? What if Jackson Pollock would have paused from time to time to chat with us all? I'm just glad we all have this expanded world to share with each other.
I love that song. RIP, Fred Sonic Smith and Amy Winehouse. And thank you for this beautiful message, dear Patti.
Beautiful
“So much for cradling a smothering bird” ❤️
Also remembering David Wojnarowicz today on what would've been his 69th birthday I believe?
Happy Birthday Fred who is always in your and your family’s hearts. We all miss him and remember him today.
Amy was greatly loved here in London and she was also being remembered today. She was a lovely talented young women who left us to soon. Happy birthday Amy.
Safe travels to you and thank you Steven for taking care of the beautiful Cairo. Much love from London 🙏
“Lost in the sauce of space”
❤️
Thank you for sharing your love for Fred so beautifully and poignantly, Patti. I love hearing about your family’s rituals in Fred’s honor on his birthday, and especially your connecting with Fred telepathically.
Happy Birthday Fred we feel like we know you in a small way. I would live to hear more about this special human.
Ever so grateful to be lost in the sauce of space with this community created by Patti for the people and by the people.
Happy Birthday to your beloved Fred. And of course to Amy.
Thank you for sharing !
Bittersweet day, I imagine. As always, thank you for sharing. The song for Amy is beautiful! May you have peaceful/happy travels.
Such a loving tribute ❤
Lost in the sauce of space! Love it! happy birthday Amy and Fred...two outstanding, talented artists gone from us way too soon! peace and love and safe travels, Patti!
As Robert mentions below, today is also the birthday of the late artist and activist David Wojnarowicz. It occurred to me to tell people here - Patti, you probably know this - that once, on a trip to Paris, David saw life-size photographs of Arthur Rimbaud wheat pasted around the city. When he returned home to New York, he began posing and photographing his friends and lovers in a Rimbaud mask in different locations: riding the subway; at an all-night diner; in bed; hanging out at the piers where he and other artists often painted and graffitied the walls. He did not usually do photography, but this was a project he loved. David’s Rimbaud mask is haunting and melancholy, always standing apart from his surroundings. He is in some way lonely but also, one has the sense that he can roam anywhere as Rimbaud. One feels - and I think he felt - in that way free. As Patti sings in “Wing”:
And I was free,
I needed nobody
It was beautiful
It was beautiful
David had had a very hard childhood and was on his own from a young age. Rimbaud was one of his great heroes. We used to read him together, even as David was dying of AIDS. The series of photographs, called “Arthur Rimbaud in New York” can be seen here:
https://www.museoreinasofia.es/en/collection/artwork/arthur-rimbaud-new-york-28
🎈 Thanks Robin for sharing your remembrances of David. As a visual artist myself, queer, and barely surviving a 'not so nice' childhood, David's art (especially his Rimbaud project and Pier mural/paintings), activism, and writings have meant a lot to me and have been able to relate to over the years - as well as the amazingly observed photos of David's friend and lover, Peter Hujar. His honest hard observation of life have always, and continue to be , an inspiration to me. Well, thanks again for posting, just wanted to say hello from Boston, MA. Stay well and thrive.
Thank you for saying hello, GA. I am glad to hear that David’s and Peter’s work have meant a lot to you. David was among the most truthful, impassioned, imaginative, angry people I have ever known. He used his anger in the service of work in which he put everything on the line. You are right that his observations of life were honest and hard. He was easy to love and very hard to lose.
Thank you so much for saying hello from Boston, a place dear to my heart. Wishing you well in health, work, love.
Warmly,
Robin
Thanks for sharing info on David Wojnarowicz. I love the cultural education here from Patti and also from her readers! ❤️
Agree. Also a devotee of Wojnarowicz. Everyone should read Close to the Knives and Memories That Smell Like Gasoline.
Thank you for the link, Robin. What a wonderful idea Arthutr Rimbaud in New York is. Just brilliant. I must admit that this is another artist to whom this site is introducing me. So grateful to everyone here who mentioned David. Take good care, Robin.
You too, Jim. If you’re interested, there is a 2020 documentary about David called “Wojnarowicz: Fuck You Faggot Fucker” that I think you can stream through here:
https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/wojnarowicz-f-k-you-f-ggot-f-ker
And there was a retrospective of David’s work at the Whitney in 2018 called: “David Wojnarowicz: History Keeps Me Awake at Night.” Here is the link for it:
https://whitney.org/exhibitions/david-wojnarowicz
I hope you like his work. He was an extraordinary person, Rimbaud-like in many ways, and truly a warrior.
Thank you for taking the time to do this, Robin. I will definitely check out these links. As I said, it's wonderful to be welcomed into the world of an artist I hadn't known.
I hope this is a good day for you, Robin. All the best.
Love the photographs! I imagine in vivo they are quite some thing ! Love picturing you and David reading Rimbaud together. An AIDS tableau I know well- though our medium was music. Quite something what hearing others’ recollections of “people and things that went before” calls up of one’s own similar experiences. Thank you.🐠❤️💜
I know what you mean. Thank you for your openheartedness. 🍂
What a beautiful song and record. A nice picture of Fred, also the one in Book of Days. I like tomorrow's photo of his 'Mosrite'. Happy Heavenly Birthday to Fred and Amy. Wishing you safe travels, beautiful weather and enthusiastic crowds for your performances...(although,they always are!). To all, a good night.
Banga is a wonderful record. Happy birthday to Fred and Amy, I hope both of them are resting easy within the stars. ❤
What a great photo of Fred. I was thinking of you this morning on the Twitter or X as it's called now. My friend KC, posts musicians, birthdays and of course today was Fred's post.
I saw Fred perform when he was with the MC5, I think 1970 (?) at Tarter Field at Wayne State in Detroit. I'm sure you've seen videos of that performance. I was young, left the house without saying anything, got on the bus and it was wild. 😁 Good to see you Patti 💞
Banga is one of my all time favorite albums.
So many superb Virgo artists and writers... Tolstoy last week. Amy and Fred today. Agatha Christie tomorrow.
Throughout every generation the endless cycle of constellations creating creators continues.
Out of interest, there is an excellent new biography (2022) about "Agatha Christie a very elusive woman" by Lucy Worsley.
First, I have to say Wing is my favorite Patti Smith song. Second, thank you for the book recommendation. I read it when it was released and agree; it was an excellent bio. I'm a big fan of Worsley as well. If you listen to podcasts and would enjoy a deep dive into Christie's work and life, All About Agatha is a fan favorite. Her books, plays and short stories are discussed in great detail, and Christie scholars (including Worsley: her episode regarding the bio was released on 8/26/22) and other writers etc are interviewed.
Thanks for the tip Shane.
Such a beautiful song for a beautiful dear girl. And a handsome photo of Fred.
Happy Birthday Virgos Amy and Fred.
This is the best, Patti, and I was just earlier listening to the song because I knew it was her birthday. I did not know it was Fred’s but I will remember it and always think of you, Jackson, Jesse and Fred on this day. You have for decades helped me to put those I’ve loved who have passed at the center of my joy, as I once heard you say in an interview. I didn’t know what you meant, but I loved the idea of it. Not understanding something never deters me from recognizing it as a call, and that’s how I felt. I knew if I cherished those words (the way I do a difficult poem that I intuitively love, recite it over and over again until my imagination understands it) the meaning would be clear to me. All these years I’ve repeated those words and moreover, watched how you’ve done it, and in that way I’ve learned to do it too. It has enabled me to survive more losses than I ever could have imagined. The key was joy and you offered it. I owe you a debt of gratitude I can never repay.
I’m sorry for this tangent. The anniversary of my best friend’s passing is coming up and autumn is coming. I love autumn but part of its beauty is the dying of things.
But this is about Amy Winehouse and Fred Sonic Smith’s birthdays! All my wishes for joy and peace to them wherever they may be, hopefully in the music section of heaven. What a beautiful photo that is of Fred Sonic Smith with his beloved Rickenbacker.
Wishing you safe travels and good concerts, Patti. I know it’s hard for you to leave Cairo now, and am so glad to see your dear friend Steven there to take care of him. You will be home soon, and Cairo will be back on your lap.
Thank you so much for this. Thanks to everyone here for the warmth and camaraderie.
As ever,
Robin
Oh to be lost in the sauce of space!
Happy Birthday anniversary to Frederick and Amy.
All the best to Steven and his caretaker role 😽
Thank you, Patti. Such beautiful words for a beautiful and gifted girl. Amy was taken way too soon.
Happy Birthday dear Fred. Maybe he and Amy are playing some cool songs in the stars.
Safe travels and lucky is Cairo to have your friend take care of him.
CITY SLANG for ever. HBD Fred.
Saying hi ! Happy birthday to Fred and Amy! Hope they enjoy cake in heaven!🎂
Hi Patti and hi Steven.
Happy birthday to Fred and Amy. Enjoy you upcoming concerts. Safe travels. Thank you Steven for taking care of dear Cairo. Enjoy the new moon everyone. Peace love and happiness
in this case "um" is a videosyncrisy ;)
You, just you.
Yup.
Oh my 😱♂️ your voice is more mature 12 years ago in Summer Cannibals than 6 years later in Gloria - how come Muse 🤠
sometimes, I feel like that little arrow... lost in the sauce of space
ever grateful for the births of Fred and Amy!
Love the song for Amy. Beautiful lyrics and music. Happy birthday to Fred and safe travels.
On this night, the sky here glistens with countless stars and even a few shooting stars. Somewhere out there, the beloved departed might be watching over us knowing that their presence endures in the beauty of the night sky, just as their memory lives on in our hearts. Happy Birthday to Amy and Fred ✨
Love travels from You to Us...
Thank you for sharing, Patti. One year ago today we lost my dad. I will be lighting a candle for him and will think of Fred as well.
I’m sorry for your loss and send you comfort on this mournful anniversary.
Sending love to you and to Jesse and Jackson today and remembering Fred and Amy ! Two very special much loved people gone too soon ! Safe travels Patti . Glad that Cairo is in safe and loving hands while you are away .
I love the ummm’s. What a lovely tribute to Fred and Amy.
Nice!
Much love to you and your family today on Fred's birthday. Thank you for remembering Amy, such a powerhouse of talent and expression. Safe travels for your concerts. Looks like Cairo is in very good hands….wish I could scoop that sweet girl up in my arms.
There is a warmth to your missives, every time I watch one my heart feels warmer. This one in particular. Much Love
🤗
Happy birthday Amy .
I am happy to celebrate with Patti's narration and the song 'This is the girl'.
As seen in the film ''Amy'', she was a natural talent, but in real life she did not have the support of those around her.
In her stunning nice song ''Rehab'',
''There's Nothing You Can Teach Me.
That I can't lean from Mr Hathaway'', the power of the music and the Ronettes-like costumes won my heart and mind.
Patti's song scoops her life wide and deep.
My favorite song ‘Tear dry on their own' seems to represent her difficulty in living.
The songs she left behind in her short life are so precious and one of the miracles of the 21st century.
Thank you
Happy Birthday, Fred.
Fred produced and played guitar on Patti's 1988 album Dream of Life. The album's opening song, "People Have the Power," is still a staple of Patti's live show. It's a wonderful empowerment song about enduring adversity and empowering
the potential we have.
Thank you
Fred on MC5 played the
Rickenbacker 450/12 and was super cool.
MC5-Kick Out The Jams Live 1970,Detroit.
https://youtu.be/vfKhvzUdJoM?si=8CDWgAx1c0Zi1o8m
Thank you for sharing such beautiful wishes for Fred and Amy. Gorgeous song. Cairo is clearly in good hands, but I would take care of her in a heartbeat. Safe travels and staying tuned. Be well, friends.
There was a glint in your eye when you thanked your new subscribers, hinting of a surprise post.
Well, being a newbie in your realm (it’s true, l was born in 1948), l am deeply touch by your tributes to the departed. Amy Winehouse was beloved in our house!
She was the age of my Shira who wrote music and lyrics and looked up to women who broke the song barriers.
I told her to choose carefully. At the age of 41 she got married in Jerusalem and moved Australia.
This May named her newborn daughter, Niama Zmira ( lovely melody). The song begins once more!
Sweet New Year to all whose lives have touched responsive cords!
We hear you and celebrate your lives, and honor the memory of those who have moved on into other realms!
🕊️
I'm so happy Stephen arrived because I was always wanting to ask who takes care of Cairo when you leave on your many travels!! Lucky Cairo.
I wondered because I have my lovely kitties and it's always a big 'thing' for me- who will care for them when I go on my tours, readings, award ceremonies, and talks. (just kidding, I only travel occasionally, just to hang out and do nothing.)
Thinking of you Patti on these poignant birthdays. My dear niece's birthday was on the 12th, and she also left us before her time. Your song for Amy made me cry.
I’m sorry for the loss of your niece.
Beautiful tributes. Loving your song. Safe travels.
Cheers to Fred and Amy! Bless you, Patti.
Sending special thoughts from Detroit. Love the Amy Winehouse homage, sharing with Herizon Music followers. Thank you for posting.
Thinking of you and Jackson and Jesse, today. And of course that great hometown hero - Frederick Dewey Smith. Sending love from Detroit. 🖤🌹
PS what a beautiful song and tribute to Amy Winehouse.
Safe travels to DC and Cincinnati. 💞
Hau’ole la hanau to Fred and Amy 🌺
Beautiful Patti
it's just 'om'. no worries, we know you are collecting your thoughts.
Beautiful
As always, it's a pleasure to see you and hear you Patti. All the best to you and yours on this anniversary day.
Hi Patti. I was just in Washington D.C. on Monday ( for the first time!). We went to the Library of Congress and it was so beautiful I wanted to cry. Have a great trip.
Indeed, DC is beautiful. I am tour guiding there - among other performances…. 😉Cannot wait to see Patti at the Anthem on Saturday.
Enjoy the show🎵📖
I hope to return one day. So many amazing monuments and museums. It was hard to choose where to go!
Very cool. Patti my heart is with you as you and family celebrate your Fred, so very missed and lovedI. I've grief as this is the birthday of my best friend and real true love Edward Clegg. Alter a horrific battle with diabetes and loss of limbs he had to let go at fifty nine.
Always remembered by me. We climb up craggy mountains to look see.
He, we are, forever alive and the sea is full of tears for all lost not forgotten
Edward Allen Clegg 1949-2008
I’m sorry for you loss.
You're very cool to be so sweet. Thank you Robin
Of course.
patti, I sung along with you for This is the Girl. It was so much fun harmonizing. XXX the don Gerard.
🎈 Gerard, just saying hello. never was a fan of Warhol, but was fan of his films and The Factory personality - loved your photos as they allowed me a peek at the people there - are you still taking photos?
Who am I? Hard to believe, but I was Albert (Rene) Ricard's art instructor in - he was a student of mine in a Saturday Art (drawing) Class for talented teens at the Swain School of Design, New Bedford, MA. Then he took off - became Rene in Boston, Ptown and ultimately NYC. When I was in Boston, sometime in 1964, Rene was working as a model and posing for Boston University art classes where I did a drawing of him. We spoke a few times by phone and he was going to send me one of his books of poems - one that I did not already have. The book never arrived but I was hardly surprised. There was something about Rene that really connected with me and has stuck for all these years - both his tragic aura, his pretentious-brilliance, and his Peter-Pan qualities. His was loved and is truly missed . . .
Gerald, thanks for letting me express myself, I believe you and Rene were once friendly and can only hope this ranting isn't inappropriate. My best to you, may you be happy, healthy, and wise. . . Scattergood-Moore
Happy Birthday to Fred and Amy- 🎂
and also a Happy Birthday to the great artist, David Wojnarowicz- born on this date in 1954.
“I'm looking for a path out of the emptiness but all I see is the great wide earth in various formations.”
DW
🎈 thanks a lot for reminding me of David's death! His art and writings have been an important part of my life and art since his work first became known - as well as Peter Hugar's photography (and David's partner for a time) and the poems of Rene Ricard - who Peter incidentally made a wonderful photographic portrait of . . . Guess I should add the amazing filmmaker, activist, and author, Derek Jarman
Thank you so much for remembering David Wojnarowicz. He was indeed a great artist, and a beloved friend. I’m so grateful for your birthday wishes to him.
Your post inspired me to visit Fred's grave... at Elmwood cemetery right now... it's a mild day in Detroit
"What the heart has once owned and had, it shall never lose." - H.W. Beecher
Thank you Patti. Safe travels and mind how you go.
Big blessings to you and yours.
Like all your albums, I love Banga and each time for different reasons and flavors.
Patti, without wanting to annoy you, I just saw that you are coming to Italy in November.
Is a passage through France planned?
I would love it so much, like all your French fans 🥰 💙☕️❤️
My thoughts are with the children of these losses, a very hard road to navigate.
We had Camp Good Grief
Thankful to all that got us through it
Very beautiful tribute song you wrote for A great talent Amy Winehouse who left us at such a very young age. Patti I love the song and especially liked it when you spoke some of the lyrics. Peace Love
Deixe um sorriso a cada pessoa e um gesto de felicidade em cada instante abençoado por Deus. Boa tarde!
BEAUTIFUL SONG, thank you for sharing with us today.
thank you Patti, blessings to your family and Fred and Amy. i have not listened to Banga in quite awhile; thank you for reminding me of my life when it first came out and i could not not listen to it; on repeat . . .
Thank you, Patti,
for sharing this moment.
Happy Birthday Fred and Amy.
Mind the road, Patti,
while Steven minds Cairo.
Haste ye...🎈
People are here and gone. People enter the frame. Little arrows.
Happy Birthday Fred and Amy!
This song is SO beautiful. Thank you. I lost my cat girl this week, my Maggie May. She was 20, and an Abysynnian, which I believe is the breed of your Cairo? Thank you for the peace.
I'm sorry about your Maggie May flying away. May angels comfort you. You will always be connected, that's what hearts are for. Sending a hug your way.
Happy birthday Fred and Amy. This was beautiful❤️
I love the song for Amy Winehouse and I loved her too. What a loss. Thank you Patti.
Memory eternal ❤❤
Lovely. Thanks for posting it.
🎈 Patti, may your beloved departed - and mine - be resting with the angels when they are not dancing barefoot between the evening stars.
I will remember Fred today and you and Jesse and Jackson❤️❤️
Happy Birthday Fred. I love that photo of him. Funny my favorite songs were inspired by Fred. My partner laughs when I dance barefoot when that song comes on. I’m not a dancer usually. But that song... love it, makes me want to dance. Happy Birthday Amy. I love Amy. I watched a documentary of her recently. I cried and cried. She is smiling down. Beautiful tribute Patti. Safe travels Patti!!
PS Your “ums” remind me of my NJ relatives.
Loved this!
Banga has always been my favorite album from your remarkable oeuvre.
When I saw this morning, in Book of Days, that it was Fred's birthday, I put on City Slang and bounced around the living room like I was young again. Music has no age. I've lived with the MC5 since I was a teenager in the 60s and I saw Sonic's Rendezvous Band at the Horseshoe Tavern. They were great. City Slang always revs me up no matter what my mood. Like the work of Amy Winehouse, his music is transcendent. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and that haunting song on this day. Safe travels to your concerts.
Banga is one of my favourite albums, I remember when I first heard it, that was the album I listened to for two weeks straight and the song “Mosaic” was on repeat. Happy birthday, Fred Sonic Smith and Amy Winehouse❤️
Sad but beautiful
Happy Birthday Fred and Amy! Have a nice time in Cincinnati and D.C, Patti.
I have started reading M Train and I was was so happy when you mentioned Cafe Trieste in San Francisco! That’s where I go with my good dear friend and discuss ideas for films and have had many discussions about life there.
Remembering sleepy head Fred ❤️
God bless. Safe travels.
Sending love to you remembering Fred and the song is a sublime homage to Amy ❤️
Our thoughts are with you x
As soon as I saw Fred’s picture in Book of Days this morning, you have been tucked into my heart. Thanks for the wine of the house, too.
thank you… ‘who is remembered, lives! … deep in our hearts.. xo (((💜))) 🌀
She's up there with a Big Smile..
Just so lovely...
So pumped to see you in DC this weekend!!! ❤️
Oh, and Ioved the video, and the song in homage to Amy is splendid. Banga is a great album.
Beautiful!
Wonderful, Patti.