IFLTS: 'Patti Smith Math Scratch,' Thurston Moore

Posted on Aug 8th 2008 2:00PM by Georgia Kral
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'Patti Smith Math Scratch,' Thurston Moore
From 1995's 'Psychic Hearts'

This song -- about punk rock's poet laureate Patti Smith -- moves at the speed of light, with Thurston Moore furiously spitting the lyrics. Moore and Smith? I couldn't really wish for much more. "Oh Patti leaky heart yeah/Girl got a heavy heart oh/She's crazy self and I yeah/She's making me a dog it's alright/Black beatle."

The lyrics, in typical Moore fashion, make some sense but are certainly perplexing. What does he mean by black beatle? It doesn't matter.

I haven't listened to this song in a while, even though 'Psychic Hearts' is -- in my opinion -- one of the best albums ever made. I recently saw the new documentary 'Patti Smith: Dream of Life,' and interestingly enough, I thought of this song rather than one of her own.

There's no bells and whistles on this tune -- just incessant drums backing Moore's guitar and a bass that plays a simple groove throughout. A couple verses, a distorted guitar solo and it's over. But, as they say, brevity is the soul of wit.

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