Song title: People have the power
by Patti Smith
People have the power
I was dreaming in my dreaming
of an aspect bright and fair
and my sleeping it was broken
but my dream it lingered near
in the form of shining valleys
where the pure air recognized
and my senses newly opened
I awakened to the cry
that the people / have the power
to redeem / the work of fools
upon the meek / the graces shower
it's decreed / the people rule
The people have the power
The people have the power
The people have the power
The people have the power
Vengeful aspects became suspect
and bending low as if to hear
and the armies ceased advancing
because the people had their ear
and the shepherds and the soldiers
lay beneath the stars
exchanging visions
and laying arms
to waste / in the dust
in the form of / shining valleys
where the pure air / recognized
and my senses / newly opened
I awakened / to the cry
Chorus:
Where there were deserts
I saw fountains
like cream the waters rise
and we strolled there together
with none to laugh or criticize
and the leopard
and the lamb
lay together truly bound
I was hoping in my hoping
to recall what I had found
I was dreaming in my dreaming
god knows / a purer view
as I surrender to my sleeping
I commit my dream to you
Chorus:
The power to dream / to rule
to wrestle the world from fools
it's decreed the people rule
it's decreed the people rule
I believe everything we dream
can come to pass through our union
we can turn the world around
we can turn the earth's revolution
we have the power
People have the power … Notes:
This is Patti Smith version, Bruce one is very similar
This song has never been published on any official release.
Very few performances of this songs are known (to me, at least!):
- 28/09/2004 Convention Hall, Asbury Park,NJ ,USA
- 01/10/2004 Wachovia Center, Philadelphia,PA ,USA during the Vote for Change Tour
- 02/10/2004 Gund arena, Cleveland,OH ,USA during the Vote for Change Tour
- 03/10/2004 Cobo Arena, Detroit,MI ,USA during the Vote for Change Tour
- 05/10/2004 Xcel Energy center, Saint Paul,MN ,USA during the Vote for Change Tour
- 08/10/2004 TD Waterhouse, Orlando,FL ,USA during the Vote for Change Tour
- 11/10/2004 MCI Center, Washington,DC ,USA during the Vote for Change Tour
- 13/10/2004 Continental Arena, E.Rutherford,NJ ,USA during the Vote for Change Tour
- 23/04/2018 Beacon Theater, New York,NY ,USA
Data from the www.brucespringsteen.it database
First known live performance: 28/09/2004 Convention Hall, Asbury Park,NJ ,USA
Last known live performance: 23/04/2018 Beacon Theater, New York,NY ,USA
Song 'history':
Played during the Vote For Change tour, in October 2004.
The song was also played in informal happenings or off-tour appearances
Data from the www.brucespringsteen.it database