Birdland - Rock ’N’ Roll Nigger (Patti Smith Cover)

From ’’ Birdland ’’ Label: Lazy Records -- LAZY25 Format: Vinyl, LP, Album Country: UK Released: 1991 Tracklist A1 Shoot You Down A2 Sleep With Me A3 Don’t Look Back A4 Wake Up Dreaming A5 Rock ’N’ Roll Nigger B1 Everybody Needs Somebody B2 Letter You Know B3 Beat Me Like A Star B4 She Belongs To Me B5 Exit Written-By - Lee Vincent, Robert Vincent Producer - Philip Tennant Artwork By - Flat Earth Photography - Kevin Westenberg ------------------------ “Rock N Roll Nigger“ is a rock song written by Patti Smith and Lenny Kaye, and released on Patti Smith Group 1978 album Easter. The song has since been covered by several artists, and was included on the soundtrack of the 1994 film Natural Born Killers. Covers U2 lead singer Bono references the song during an interlude in their performance of “Bullet the Blue Sky“ on the Elevation 2001: U2 Live from Boston DVD. Marilyn Manson released a cover on the Smells Like Children remix album. Manson cut out both the spoken word Babelogue track (which is often performed together with Rock N Roll Nigger as one work) and the poem which is interspersed in the song: Those who have suffered understand suffering and thereby extend their hand The storm that brings harm also make fertile Blessed is the grass and herb and the tree of thorn and light Punk bands Anti-Heros and Toe to Toe also covered the song. The Blue Flames also covered it. ------------------------ Birdland were an English rock band, active between 1989 and 1993. History Birdland were formed in 1988 in Birmingham, England by the brothers Robert (vocals) and Lizzy Lee Vincent (guitar), who had previously released records and toured in glam rock band, Zodiac Motel [1984-1988]. The other band members were Simon Rogers (bass), and Neil Hughes (drums). Birdland’s debut single “Hollow Heart“, was released on Lazy Records. It reached No.1 in the UK Indie Chart. The band generated a lot of attention in the British music press. The band released four further singles; “Paradise“, “Sleep with Me“, “Everybody Needs Somebody“, “Rock n Roll Nigger“, all of which were No.1 UK independent singles. “Sleep With Me“ also reached the Top 40 in the UK Singles Chart (with the video being shown on Top of the Pops). It was two years after the first single, that the band finally released their eponymously titled debut album in 1991. After the album’s release, problems with management and inner band disagreement forced the band to split up. They reunited in 2010. Discography Albums 1991: Birdland - UK 1989: Semi Official Live Album Singles 1989: “Hollow Heart“ - UK Indie Chart No.1 1989: “Paradise“ - UK Indie No.1 1989: “Live“ 1990: “Sleep With Me“ - UK Indie 1990: “Rock N Roll Nigger“ - UK Indie No.1 1991: “Everybody Needs Somebody“ - UK Indie No.1 ------------------------ Lyrics Baby was a black sheep baby was a whore baby got bigger and babe want more she’s a rock ’n’ roll whore. Baby was a black sheep baby was a whore baby got bigger and babe want more she’s a rock ’n’ roll whore. This is Birdland Birdland are rock ’n’ roll niggers. Baby was a black sheep Baby was a whore baby got big baby got bigger baby got a gun got a finger on the trigger baby, baby, baby was a rock ’n’ roll nigger. Look around you all around you riding on a copper wave do you like the world around you? Are you ready to behave? Outside of society, outside of society if you want me thats where you’ll find me. Baby was a black sheep Baby was a whore baby got big baby got bigger baby got a gun got a finger on the trigger baby baby baby was a rock ’n’ roll nigger. Outside of society, outside of society if you want me thats where i’ll be Outside, outside, outside Jesus Christ was a nigger Brian Jones and Patti Smith was a nigger nigger nigger nigger nigger nigger nigger. C’mon Well the joint was rocking going round and round reeling and a rocking what a crazy sound. And they never stopped rockin’ until the moon went down, until the moon went down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down c’mon now. Baby you can drive my car yeah I’m gonna be a star. Baby you can drive my car yeah I’m gonna be a star, and I’m gonna go out and get that girl and we’re gonna drive all around the world. and I’m gonna go out and get that girl and we’re gonna drive all around the world. You can drive my car You can drive my car You can drive my car car, car my fuckin’ car. We’re going outside, outside, outside We’re going outside, outside, outside Outside yeah I’m so god damn young, Outside yeah I’m so god damn young. God damn young.