why all the hate. I think DJ Shadow was paying tribute to great old music like this when he feels it is good enough to incorporate into his own style. Opinions may differ of course. Without him i would have never heard of this song.
The first I heard it was on Radio Ethiopia. Purchased on vinyl. First I heard of Patti was on SNL. Fuck Times Square. It was co-opted punk/new-wave and the movie sucked massive shit. Patti is the queen. Fuck you all.
@eatmoresoap You're a litte harsh on the movie. Remember, it came out in 1979, in those times, us youngsters were suffering through the ending of disco. It wasn't that bad, but it wasn't for any Academy Awards either. It was a movie dedicated to youngsters who felt and were treated different. These days, the movie would go nowhere, but back then, it gave gope to the hopeless.
wow i thought i was the only person on earth that remembered "times Square" I had the soundtrack..had the first U.S. release by The Cure on it also, a song called Grinding Halt...also introduced me to the talking heads, life during wartime...
Damn I love this song I remember hearing this song in a film in 1979 I don't seem to remember the name of the film but Tim Cury was in it.But this tune was soooooo dark it was like a smack hit in the brain.This girl is a god and a freak or a freaken god.I love her and hate her AAAAA she rocks!!!!!!!!!
@MrRichardSabsay The movie was Times Square. Remember the song, Spick, Nigger, Faggot, Bum Your Daughter Is One? This siong played as she was getting ready to jump in the river. Great movie.
@PlanTonto Oh my god! Can't believe you remember that song! I was almost8 when I'd seen this,but I got 2 see it again when my Dad took me 2 1 of the last drive-ins.I was young & really got in2 the movie,rooting 4 the girls,screaming when they took over the radio station & crossing my fingers rich-girl's dad (Tim C.) didn't find them! I still sing that song 2day at 35(36 in 6mos.).
There should be quotes around Pissing in a River or least a hyphen before to let folks know it's a song and not a video of Patti actually urinating in a river or something.
@Southcoasting You mean at Hop Farm??..I was there too. Patti's was the most powerful and emotionally intense performance of any artist I have ever seen. Her rendition of this song was simply spellbinding...it brought me to tears...it's available on youtube
What does her looking or not looking like a dude have to do with anything? OH It doesn't? Good then if we are here for the music why do we even need to try to discredit her with mentioning it?
first heard this in Times Square the cine and exposed me to the darkness and depth of the 'punk' movement and gave me an avenue to wallow in my self loathing and disgust to the point of acceptance in myself and expectations in others and they have not failed me ever
I have always loved this song..The pure,raw emotion of it is incredible..Patti is finally getting the recognition she deserves-a true musical genius !!
@skypekai Blood on the Motorway is the most beautiful thing I've heard. I don't think a week has gone by since I first heard it that it hasn't had a play in my house.
Mesmerizing & haunting... This is one of the most heart wrenching songs I've ever heard. I always think of the scene in Times Square. Powerful stuff right here.
@TCLOUD, I just finished watching ALL OVER ME, which I was very disappointed in but I enjoyed seeing all the actors that Ive loved from my younger days, Claude from To Die For (LOVE THAT MOVIE), and Leisha Hailey from my LWORD...the kids, it was a good story, but I think they could of done sooo much more with it. Anyway I heard the song and it brought back so many memories. I had to google it and put it on my Facebook.
The cover of RADIO ETHIOPA is so beautiful.Patti is unbelievably -words escape me. Did her brilliant photog/best friend MAPPLETHORPE take this?Must have- only a person w/his monumental talent could have taken such a picture. She is so beautiful-vulnerable-w/an ethereal quality2 it.It is comepletly mesmerizing-i could stare at it4/ever.
@RockNimbie Finally!Thank You,This song,the album cover-chills.The album cover defines all that is best in us,I cry listening2 it&looking at that amazing cover that in my opinion is"Pissin' in a River"come2 life.Judy Linn-Thanx.
@PlanTonto 1st,I'm smford117 which is why I didn't answer sooner(smford is a friend who's computer I used when mine was KO.I agree absolutely about Mapplethorpe,abrilliant photographer who left us 2 soon..BTW,the cover 4 Radio Ethiopia was done by Judy Linn ,but,the cover of Horses was.done by Mapplethorpe & Patti,who was his roomate early on in both their lives/careers,was often his subject.
First time I heard this song was when I did college radio and was looking for filler. I fell in love with this song instantly, and I played the Times Square version, Love this song and want to see Times Square movie...
There's a little known Grunge/Alternative band called Gravel that does a cover of this song and it's truly amazing. I like it better than the original too, I just can't get used to Patti's voice. *shrugs*
I agree - I've really wanted to be able to get into Patti Smith for years because of her poetic song lyrics, but the voice just gets in the way for me. :/
Gravel's cover is amazing, and I think it's safe to say that I prefer it to the original too.
@CerebralCrisis Patti's version is so much better. You can feel and hear all the pain and emotion in her voice. She really felt what she was saying unlike Gravel's version. Which was stripped of all the raw hunting emotion.
There was a film, "About a Girl", where this was used as main theme: a plain but intense chick is hopelessly in love with her gorgeouse, blonde, straight-anfdshallow best friend, who is being led into hard drugs by a shithead boyfriend.
This is the frustrated teen lesbian's anthem at being in love with a straight girl.
Imagine loving or being loved with this degree of power & dedication ~ and you can bet your life that her love is always this true ~ you can just tell.
Hey PhilWithCoffee .... me too! I was only 14 at the time .... this song spoke to me so deeply about my angst/alienation ..... loved Patti ever since xxx
First heard this song in the movie Times Square, bought the album, loved it ever since. Thanks for the post! I didn't feel like dusting off my record player :-)
@PhilWithCoffee How could you not want to dust off your record player!? Haha I guss it's just me, then...I'm young and have one, so I use it whenver I feel necessary.
This is a very emotionally intense song, and yet, much like many other cathartic songs, works of literature, etc. in its catharsis this song is also beautiful and inpowering.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
No its not. I believe that "DJ Shadow" ripped off the opening piano chords. Pretty standard in the 'music' biz these days: steal someone elses music and pass it off as your own because you have no talent and no originality.
Shadow changed it around a bit. Some of the notes are different and it's slower on his. As it is, people have borrowed chords for others forever, just listen to Johnny B. Goode, the opening was a standard riff used by a lot of artists before Chuck.
It's not a blatant rip-off, the two songs are completely different in every other sense, feeling, and expression.
You are right about music of today, but DJ Shadow is not part of the guilty party. He's still pretty underground, too
@PhilWithCoffee I agree it sounds completely different. I was hoping I would like the DJ Shadow song but I didn't. It sounds similar, but not enough to be plagiarism in my opinion. Patti Smith and this song are amazing.
They are similar. After all these years of listening to both of them, I never made the connection until your comment :-) I always thought Blood on the Motorway had a familiar sounding piano, but I couldn't put my finger on it!
One of my favourite songs
DirtyGoddess 3 weeks ago
Perfection!!! Seriously want to french kiss her so I put some of her talent in my words
SexyPianist89 3 weeks ago
whats so beautiful about that album cover, oh i see I go have a wank
ve1who 1 month ago
I saw the movie when I was basically a kid. I remember this song and I remember Tim Curry playing a pervert, not much else. Love the song!
BryonThePoet 1 month ago
Long Live the Sleaze Sisters!!!!
PlanTonto 1 month ago 2
Remember this from the movie Times Square many, many moons ago. Great movie with great music.
PlanTonto 1 month ago
why all the hate. I think DJ Shadow was paying tribute to great old music like this when he feels it is good enough to incorporate into his own style. Opinions may differ of course. Without him i would have never heard of this song.
yossarian1633 2 months ago
Can't believe people think DJ fucking shadow was the original artist. Trolls
NoOneGetzOutAlive 2 months ago
The first I heard it was on Radio Ethiopia. Purchased on vinyl. First I heard of Patti was on SNL. Fuck Times Square. It was co-opted punk/new-wave and the movie sucked massive shit. Patti is the queen. Fuck you all.
eatmoresoap 2 months ago
@eatmoresoap You're a litte harsh on the movie. Remember, it came out in 1979, in those times, us youngsters were suffering through the ending of disco. It wasn't that bad, but it wasn't for any Academy Awards either. It was a movie dedicated to youngsters who felt and were treated different. These days, the movie would go nowhere, but back then, it gave gope to the hopeless.
PlanTonto 1 month ago
Aways perfect.
eatmoresoap 2 months ago
wow i thought i was the only person on earth that remembered "times Square" I had the soundtrack..had the first U.S. release by The Cure on it also, a song called Grinding Halt...also introduced me to the talking heads, life during wartime...
phillwatson66669 3 months ago
Listen to me singing Pissing in a River in my channel =]
Galaxybeni 3 months ago
Damn I love this song I remember hearing this song in a film in 1979 I don't seem to remember the name of the film but Tim Cury was in it.But this tune was soooooo dark it was like a smack hit in the brain.This girl is a god and a freak or a freaken god.I love her and hate her AAAAA she rocks!!!!!!!!!
MrRichardSabsay 3 months ago
@MrRichardSabsay the film was Times Square
thesmogmankills 2 months ago
@MrRichardSabsay The movie was Times Square. Remember the song, Spick, Nigger, Faggot, Bum Your Daughter Is One? This siong played as she was getting ready to jump in the river. Great movie.
PlanTonto 1 month ago
@PlanTonto Oh my god! Can't believe you remember that song! I was almost8 when I'd seen this,but I got 2 see it again when my Dad took me 2 1 of the last drive-ins.I was young & really got in2 the movie,rooting 4 the girls,screaming when they took over the radio station & crossing my fingers rich-girl's dad (Tim C.) didn't find them! I still sing that song 2day at 35(36 in 6mos.).
apokryphos117g 1 week ago
@PlanTonto I also commented on this post.
apokryphos117g 1 week ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@MrRichardSabsay By the way, the full movie is here on YT. Or at least ot was a couple of years ago. Great music..
PlanTonto 1 month ago
Great song.LOVE YOU PATTI
tamanduaa 4 months ago
Not listened to this in years... it is still a classic and haunting....
MarkJ5433 5 months ago
There should be quotes around Pissing in a River or least a hyphen before to let folks know it's a song and not a video of Patti actually urinating in a river or something.
DrugStabbingTime 7 months ago 5
from 1976, and brilliant. Just heard her perform it live, acoustic (with band) and it was amazing.
DJ Shadow used this in one of his songs.
Apparently, the album's cover photograph is by Judy Linn.
Southcoasting 8 months ago 2
@Southcoasting You mean at Hop Farm??..I was there too. Patti's was the most powerful and emotionally intense performance of any artist I have ever seen. Her rendition of this song was simply spellbinding...it brought me to tears...it's available on youtube
hairymarx 7 months ago
Comment removed
Southcoasting 8 months ago
This was the first time I have heard it, and I had goosebumps for five minutes.
manthatyoufear777 8 months ago
I LOVE YOU, PATTI
irishturkishcoffee 8 months ago
What does her looking or not looking like a dude have to do with anything? OH It doesn't? Good then if we are here for the music why do we even need to try to discredit her with mentioning it?
yancybutler 11 months ago
I first heard this as a child, when my mother brought home the record in around 1977. One of the greatest songs of all time!
digglah1 1 year ago
this dude has steald this from dj shaddow!!
mrrandomviper 1 year ago
@mrrandomviper no, dj shaddow stole it from "this dude"
Mozzerella100 11 months ago
WHERE IS THE "LOVE IT" BUTTON????
amberd9592 1 year ago 3
first heard this in Times Square the cine and exposed me to the darkness and depth of the 'punk' movement and gave me an avenue to wallow in my self loathing and disgust to the point of acceptance in myself and expectations in others and they have not failed me ever
RIXRADvidz 1 year ago 4
my fucking lady<3
LunaaaVerde 1 year ago
2 People pissed in a cup...
nimergas80 1 year ago
Holy Fuck This Sounds Like Dj Shadow
:0
ApplesiPhone4 1 year ago
@ApplesiPhone4 no, dj shadow sounds like this
Mozzerella100 11 months ago
Does any one know where I can get a copy of the movie- Times Square ??
dougs26602626 1 year ago
I have always loved this song..The pure,raw emotion of it is incredible..Patti is finally getting the recognition she deserves-a true musical genius !!
dougs26602626 1 year ago
have not betrayed your ideals, your ideals betrayed you
skypekai 1 year ago
@skypekai Blood on the Motorway is the most beautiful thing I've heard. I don't think a week has gone by since I first heard it that it hasn't had a play in my house.
Collins1990 1 year ago
This song is absolutely awesome!
Pure soul, for all the cultists out there.
Maurizio9016 1 year ago
Mesmerizing & haunting... This is one of the most heart wrenching songs I've ever heard. I always think of the scene in Times Square. Powerful stuff right here.
MorrisParker 1 year ago 2
X'ed out!
SlouchingPoet 1 year ago
X'ed out.
felipedecoy 1 year ago 2
@TCLOUD, I just finished watching ALL OVER ME, which I was very disappointed in but I enjoyed seeing all the actors that Ive loved from my younger days, Claude from To Die For (LOVE THAT MOVIE), and Leisha Hailey from my LWORD...the kids, it was a good story, but I think they could of done sooo much more with it. Anyway I heard the song and it brought back so many memories. I had to google it and put it on my Facebook.
sKILLzz69 1 year ago
@SMFORD117, OMG ME TOOOOOOOO....I first heard it in Times Square one of my fave movies and fell in love with it and her ever since...GOOD TASTE KID!!
sKILLzz69 1 year ago 2
should i pursue a path so twisted
should i crawl defeated and gifted
ZoranJoplin 1 year ago 2
I'm so glad I watched "All over me" because it lead me to this song :)
tcloudx3 1 year ago 3
The cover of RADIO ETHIOPA is so beautiful.Patti is unbelievably -words escape me. Did her brilliant photog/best friend MAPPLETHORPE take this?Must have- only a person w/his monumental talent could have taken such a picture. She is so beautiful-vulnerable-w/an ethereal quality2 it.It is comepletly mesmerizing-i could stare at it4/ever.
smford117 1 year ago 107
@smford117
I feel the same way about the cover of Wave.
ccipollini1984 1 year ago
@smford117 No, the cover photo of Radio Ethiopia was made by Judy Linn.
RockNimbie 1 year ago
@RockNimbie Finally!Thank You,This song,the album cover-chills.The album cover defines all that is best in us,I cry listening2 it&looking at that amazing cover that in my opinion is"Pissin' in a River"come2 life.Judy Linn-Thanx.
smford117 1 year ago
@smford117 she looks like a dude.but her music kicks ass
deSadetheImpaler 1 year ago
@deSadetheImpaler I know but this album cover is just so beautiful & lush.
smford117 6 months ago
Heard It from The Film called....All Over me....I Love the film and the song<3
IamHannaMarie 6 months ago 4
@IamHannaMarie LOVEEEEEEE that movie
thesmogmankills 2 months ago
@smford117 Mapplethorpe was extremely talented. What a shame his life was snuffed out so early.
PlanTonto 1 month ago
@PlanTonto 1st,I'm smford117 which is why I didn't answer sooner(smford is a friend who's computer I used when mine was KO.I agree absolutely about Mapplethorpe,abrilliant photographer who left us 2 soon..BTW,the cover 4 Radio Ethiopia was done by Judy Linn ,but,the cover of Horses was.done by Mapplethorpe & Patti,who was his roomate early on in both their lives/careers,was often his subject.
apokryphos117g 1 week ago
OMG!!! I 2 am obssed with this song.I 2 1st heard it in "Times Square"!Seen on a late-nite show called"NightFlight"in'84.I still LOVE it!!!
smford117 1 year ago 98
First time I heard this song was when I did college radio and was looking for filler. I fell in love with this song instantly, and I played the Times Square version, Love this song and want to see Times Square movie...
cmallen0999 1 year ago
@cmallen0999 What happened 2 college radio?
apokryphos117g 1 week ago
:'(
aprilmarieist 1 year ago
sampled in DJ Shadow - Blood On The Motorway
muserock7997 1 year ago
Amazing. Haunting. Classic.
MorrisParker 1 year ago
keep losing these before they post...yes, friend girl, I wanted kiss her, too. Sae hae in Seattle in 79. Still love J
junglegrllll 1 year ago
Thx :o)
DoctoriOrdi 1 year ago
It reminds me of A man needs a maid by Neil Young..the music is so intense and dramatic, serious and all, but the lyrics are sth else..:)
Banditontheroll32 1 year ago
@Banditontheroll32 Thanks for posting: i had not heard that Neil Young song (must not be on the live album).
RealRunner7 1 year ago
@RealRunner7 Actually it is on Harvest, Young's most popular album, 1972, a true gem. Listen to it from start to finish, you'll love it!
Banditontheroll32 1 year ago
There's a little known Grunge/Alternative band called Gravel that does a cover of this song and it's truly amazing. I like it better than the original too, I just can't get used to Patti's voice. *shrugs*
TriggerHappyGuy 1 year ago
I agree - I've really wanted to be able to get into Patti Smith for years because of her poetic song lyrics, but the voice just gets in the way for me. :/
Gravel's cover is amazing, and I think it's safe to say that I prefer it to the original too.
CerebralCrisis 1 year ago
@CerebralCrisis Patti's version is so much better. You can feel and hear all the pain and emotion in her voice. She really felt what she was saying unlike Gravel's version. Which was stripped of all the raw hunting emotion.
Lovefitsinpocket 1 year ago
One of my favorite songs ever! Patti Smith is a true poet!!!
wyoglassblower 1 year ago
RADIO ETHIOPIA <3
kingkover16 1 year ago 2
love this song, tried to share it with some people they simply went, eww pissing in a river what? their loss............................... *sigh*
sianthemouse 1 year ago 2
oran mor.. wished i was there x
growsmadder 1 year ago
I first heard this while watching About a Girl.
extinct82 1 year ago
There was a film, "About a Girl", where this was used as main theme: a plain but intense chick is hopelessly in love with her gorgeouse, blonde, straight-anfdshallow best friend, who is being led into hard drugs by a shithead boyfriend.
This is the frustrated teen lesbian's anthem at being in love with a straight girl.
TheAgProv 1 year ago
yaa the movie is called "All Over Me"
eframeisinlove 1 year ago
Ahh that bought tears to my eyes .. amazing singer ...
fuzzilu 2 years ago
such an epic song...gives me chills! I first heard it in the 80's teen rebellion flick, Times Square.... great soundtrack, great film, great song!!
Patti is a warrior!
senoritabandita 2 years ago 3
@senoritabandita Times Square Is A Great Movie,I love it when this song starts playing in the movie.
APPLEexampleSample 1 year ago 2
its just so powerful..
DanielPro21 2 years ago 3
Imagine loving or being loved with this degree of power & dedication ~ and you can bet your life that her love is always this true ~ you can just tell.
"Should I pursue a path so twisted ?
Should I crawl defeated and gifted ?
Should I go the length of a river
[The royal, the throne, the cry me a river]
Everything I've done, I've done for you
Oh I give my life for you.
Every move I made I move to you,
And I came like a magnet for you now."
WOW!
steelyman08 2 years ago 2
thanks for postn this. one of my favs! love pattysmith, radio ethiopias prob one of my fave albums.
eisnil 2 years ago 3
i did not forget this, but did lose it for a decade or so. What a great album. Fond college memories.
gk10002000 1 year ago
this song is sooooo powerful
makes me shake and shiver every time
radio ethiopia is such a great album
thanks for this upload
angelinatiger 2 years ago 2
Hey PhilWithCoffee .... me too! I was only 14 at the time .... this song spoke to me so deeply about my angst/alienation ..... loved Patti ever since xxx
Thanks zomdou for posting :)
sval333 2 years ago
omfg she has such a beautiful voice
TheSnowballEarth 2 years ago 3
Come back. :(
eilisog 2 years ago 2
First heard this song in the movie Times Square, bought the album, loved it ever since. Thanks for the post! I didn't feel like dusting off my record player :-)
PhilWithCoffee 2 years ago 9
@PhilWithCoffee How could you not want to dust off your record player!? Haha I guss it's just me, then...I'm young and have one, so I use it whenver I feel necessary.
ImTheOneThatIWant123 1 year ago
@PhilWithCoffee
Wow Phil...Thought I was the ONLY one who remembered that particular movie!!
MrFlashBazbo 1 year ago
yes, that's about right.
scarrie 2 years ago
This song is like bullet in a hart!
Levu1000 2 years ago 5
obssesed with this song right now,feeling it,it's so intense it hurts,it's good.
APPLEexampleSample 2 years ago 17
@APPLEexampleSample
This is a very emotionally intense song, and yet, much like many other cathartic songs, works of literature, etc. in its catharsis this song is also beautiful and inpowering.
Frownland81 1 year ago
@Frownland81 wow, i had to look up kátharsis to learn what you said. i agree with you.
RealRunner7 1 year ago
@APPLEexampleSample I agree with u
winnerdonna 1 year ago
ooooh my god Dj Shadow :-) blood on the motorway!!!!
blackyb27 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
No its not. I believe that "DJ Shadow" ripped off the opening piano chords. Pretty standard in the 'music' biz these days: steal someone elses music and pass it off as your own because you have no talent and no originality.
desolationrow 2 years ago
Shadow changed it around a bit. Some of the notes are different and it's slower on his. As it is, people have borrowed chords for others forever, just listen to Johnny B. Goode, the opening was a standard riff used by a lot of artists before Chuck.
It's not a blatant rip-off, the two songs are completely different in every other sense, feeling, and expression.
You are right about music of today, but DJ Shadow is not part of the guilty party. He's still pretty underground, too
PhilWithCoffee 2 years ago 2
@PhilWithCoffee I agree it sounds completely different. I was hoping I would like the DJ Shadow song but I didn't. It sounds similar, but not enough to be plagiarism in my opinion. Patti Smith and this song are amazing.
daemionic 3 months ago
They are similar. After all these years of listening to both of them, I never made the connection until your comment :-) I always thought Blood on the Motorway had a familiar sounding piano, but I couldn't put my finger on it!
PhilWithCoffee 2 years ago
Intense.
sar007ah 2 years ago 2
this song has been my fav song for more than 2 years.
XmishiczkaX 2 years ago 2
i dont really listen to her BUT THIS SONG IS PURE ART.
moxito1 2 years ago
la mia canzone preferita... ascoltarla dal vivo è stato qualcosa di indescrivibile! non è un caso venga considerata la poetessa del rock.
queenspersephone 2 years ago 2
thats true, her voice gives chills
lesangrefria 2 years ago 3
I LOVE THIS WOMAN !!
flescum 2 years ago 2
thank you so much for posting!!
hiiharmony 2 years ago 2
Patti smith live in Sogliano!
<3!
Touch her hand,few people,she came to us!
Love her!
Alastor8803 2 years ago
loving this song is an understatement.
lgfuad4lyf 2 years ago
thank you for uploading, one of my favorite patti smith songs, he voice is so passionate, gives me the chills
dontfearthereefer85 2 years ago 2