The final three tracks of Smith’s Horses all explore rock'n'roll mythology in various ways.
In her memoir Just Kids Smith says: “In ‘Break It Up’ Tom Verlaine and I wrote of a dream in which Jim Morrison, bound like Prometeus, suddenly broke free” (p. 249).
In her lyric collection Complete Smith w...
[Verse 1]
Car stopped in a clearing
Ribbon of life, it was nearing
I saw the boy break out of his skin
My heart turned over and I crawled in
[Chorus]
He cried, "(Break it up) Oh I don't understand
(Break it up) I can't comprehend
(Break it up) Oh, I want to feel you
(Break it up) Don't talk to me that way
I'm not listening"
[Verse 2]
Snow started falling
I could hear the angel calling
We rolled on the ground, he stretched out his wings
The boy flew away and he started to sing
[Chorus]
He sang, "(Break it up) Oh I don't understand
(Break it up) I can't comprehend
(Break it up) Oh, I want to feel you
(Break it up) Don't talk to me that way
I'm not listening"
[Bridge]
The sky was raging, the boy disappeared
I fell on my knees
Atmosphere broke up, the boy reappeared
I cried, "Take me please!"
[Verse 3]
Ice, it was shining
I could feel my heart, it was melting
I tore off my clothes, I danced on my shoes
I ripped my skin open and then I broke through
[Chorus]
I cried, "(Break it up) Oh, now I understand
(Break it up) And I want to go
(Break it up) Oh, please take me with you
(Break it up) I can feel it breaking
I can feel it breaking, I can feel it breaking
I can feel, I can feel, I can feel, I can feel."
So break it up, oh now I'm coming with you
(Break it up) Now I'm gonna go
(Break it up) Oh, feel me, I'm coming
[Outro]
Break it up, break it up, break it up
Break it up, break it up, break it up
Oh, break it up, break it up, break it up
Break it up, break it up, break it on up
Break it up, break it on up, up, up
Break it, break it, break it, break it
Break it on up, break it up
Break it up, break it up, break it up
Break It Up was written by Patti Smith & Tom Verlaine.
Break It Up was produced by John Cale.
Patti Smith released Break It Up on Sat Dec 13 1975.