Going Under
Fred "Sonic" Smith/Patti Smith Lyrics
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Light is dancing again
Let's go under where the sun beams
Let's go under my friend
Are we sleeping
Are we dreaming
Are we dancing again
Crack it open
And we'll slide down
Its stream
We can hold on (I'm sure)
To the sea's foaming mane
It will serve us
We'll surface
And we'll plunge back again
Sun is rising on the water
Light is dancing like a flame
There's no burning where the sun beams
Oh it's such a lovely game
Does the sea dream (I'm sure)
We are here, we attend
We are bells on the shore
Where the tolling suspends
Who will decide the shape of things
The shift of being
Who will perceive
When life is new
Shall we divide and become another
Who is due for gift upon gift
Who will decide
Shall we swim over and over
The curve of a wing
Its destination ever changing
Sun is rising on the water
Light is dancing like a flame
Let's go waltzing on the water
Let's go under again
Let's go under
Going under
The song "Going Under" by Fred "Sonic" Smith and Patti Smith describes the desire to escape reality and enter into a dreamlike state, represented by going under the water. The opening lines set the scene with the sunrise on the water and the dancing light, and the chorus invites the listener to join in going under. Throughout the song, there are questions posed about whether the experience is real or simply a dream, and whether the characters are truly in control or being carried along by the sea. The lines "Who will decide the shape of things / The shift of being / Who will perceive / When life is new" suggest a desire to surrender control and let the natural world take over.
The final lines of the song, "Let's go waltzing on the water / Let's go under again / Let's go under / Going under" repeat the chorus and emphasize the desire to repeat the experience of going under and escaping reality. The song can be interpreted as a metaphor for seeking transcendence, whether through drugs, meditation, or other means.
Line by Line Meaning
Sun is rising on the water
The sun is rising over the water and shining a beautiful light upon it
Light is dancing again
The light is reflecting on the water and creating a beautiful dance
Let's go under where the sun beams
Let's go under the water where the sun's rays shine through and create a beautiful view
Let's go under my friend
Let's dive underwater together, friend
Are we sleeping
Are we in a dream-like state?
Are we dreaming
Are we having a dream?
Are we dancing again
Are we moving to the rhythm of the dancing light on the water?
Is it heaven
Is this experience like heaven?
Crack it open
Let's open up our minds to this experience
And we'll slide down
We'll let ourselves slide into this beautiful moment
Its stream
The stream of consciousness and experience we're currently in
We can hold on (I'm sure)
We can grip onto this moment and make it last
To the sea's foaming mane
We can hold onto the churning of the waves in the ocean
It will serve us
This experience will provide us with fulfillment and satisfaction
We'll surface
We'll come up from the water's depths and return to reality
And we'll plunge back again
We'll dive back into this experience again
There's no burning where the sun beams
The sunlight glimmering on the water doesn't cause any pain or discomfort
Oh it's such a lovely game
This experience is enjoyable and pleasurable like a game
Does the sea dream (I'm sure)
Does the ocean have dreams and aspirations, just like we do?
We are here, we attend
We are present and fully engaged in this moment
We are bells on the shore
Our voices and laughter ringing across the shore, like bells
Where the tolling suspends
We've escaped the tolling of daily life and are suspended in this moment
Who will decide the shape of things
Who determines the outcome of our lives and experiences?
The shift of being
The transformation and changes in our existence
Who will perceive
Who can truly understand and witness our experiences?
When life is new
When we're experiencing new things for the first time
Shall we divide and become another
Should we separate and become someone new?
Who is due for gift upon gift
Who deserves to receive blessings and gifts repeatedly?
Who will decide
Who has the power to make decisions and determine the outcome of things?
Shall we swim over and over
Should we continue to relive and revisit these beautiful moments?
The curve of a wing
The beautiful arc of a wing in flight
Its destination ever changing
The destination of the wing constantly shifts and changes, just like the trajectory of our lives
Let's go waltzing on the water
Let's dance gracefully on the surface of the water
Let's go under again
Let's submerge under the water again
Let's go under
Let's dive and immerse ourselves in this experience
Going under
Embarking on a journey underwater, both literally and metaphorically
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: FRED SMITH, PATTI SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sarahvonghoul7433
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
The people have the power
The people have the power
The people have the power
The people have the power
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
The people have the power
The people have the power
The people have the power
The people have the power
The power to dream, to rule
To wrestle the world from fools
It's decreed the people rule
It's decreed the people rule
Listen
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
The people have the power
The people have the power
The power to dream, to rule
To wrestle the world from fools
It's decreed the people rule
It's decreed the people rule
We have the power
People have the power
We have the power...
@whipsmartchris
Oh, Tammy.
It's 4:30 AM and just as I was about to get into my bed (after a very long day), I thought I'd listen to something that offered hope ... I carefully chose "People Have The Power" by Patti Smith and Fred Smith - purposefully choosing the live performance so that I might see and hear their true emotions; thinking that, for a song so meaningful to the artist, the emotional honesty that might (and do) project is far more important to me than whatever professional polish that retakes and great sound engineering might embed in the track.
I felt happy when the performance ended and I felt real good about my choice ... and then I read your comment that used words I would have never expected to see, like insipid, derivative, contrived AND lacking.
+Tammy Lundy ... Apparently you are blind to the quality of authenticity, the single most distinguishing (and, mournfully, rare) element that distinguishes the art that Patti Smith and Fred Smith produced - individually or as a duo. You are lacking the most important organic element (in your mind and soul) that separates insight from the worst kind of uninformed freshman opinion (from the middling student who thinks dissent will bring shouts of "Courage!" and "Speak Your Truth!" and maybe a gold star from Professor Dimwit).
However, the ability to recognize heartfelt artistic creation/expression and honor it for the overwhelming life energy it inspires, regardless of the state of detachment defect that has you calling something as singularly crafted as this necessary and primary work, genuinely delivered with such foundational passion that you misread it as insipid and derivative. What a boob!
So very, very few among us carry even a subatomic handful of purity molecules but that doesn't mean an open, discerning and mindful person can't recognize them when they float in the artistic ether around the work. You, Ms. Lundy are the disappointing exception to that possibility. The bell has rung and clowntime is, thankfully, over.
"People Have The Power" is not Michelangelo's "Pieta" - it is not meant to be, Tammy, but that makes it no less beautiful or necessary or well-timed. Your tone-deaf commentary, however, is another matter entirely.
@michaelehrhart9670
Excellent performance. Long live Patti Smith and the Patti Smith Group, and long live Fred 'Sonic' Smith and the MC5!
@sleuthentertainment5872
Never, never a female singer scratched my soul with the same level of intensity
@teresaaust5431
Amen!
@GaryT1952
The world needs this today Patti...pray for peace ☮️
@janetcw9808
Announced as Fred and Patti Smith? 🤔
I have been in love with this Woman for over 50 years.
All blessings to you all Xxx 🙏🏼 ❤️ 🍀 🗺️
@zellah
Fred’s a big deal on his own. #MC5
@kellylappin5944
She said if her name hadn’t been Smith, she would have it.
@jimsaco4334
I always had a soft spot in my heart for Patti Smith. First and foremost she's a great artist but she also has amazing taste. She married Fred and is on record for saying that in the 1960's her band was the Animals. How can you not love her?
@maryannbrown5762
An absolutely breathtaking performance!! With one acoustic guitar and one fabulous poetic voice, Fred & Patti Smith filled that hall with power and love. Thank you so much for posting this!!!
@whatsforafters7843
My pleasure! It is a fine performance, for sure. Glad to hear that you enjoyed it; enough so, to post a note of appreciation. Thanks!