Constantine Joseph Smyth

Transcription

(Applause) In "Just Kids" there is a description of your first performance at St Mark's church in February 10, 1971. Yeah, it was Bertold Brecht's birthday. (Laughter) Right. But that was your first poetry reading. Yes, it was, it was Robert who helped me get it. Robert always thoght I should have poetry readings. He really liked to hear me read my poems and I really wanted it to be special. So, I was seeing Sam Shepard at the time. Sam Shepard and I were doing a play together that we wrote, called "Cowboy Mouth". And I said to Sam: "I really want my poetry to have something special." And he said: "Why don't you get a guitar player and maybe sing a little or something?" And so I had met Lenny Kaye and he was working at a record store, and I said, "I think that guy Lenny plays guitar." So I went and visited Lenny and said, "You play guitar, right?" And he said, "Yeah" And I said, "Wanna play with me at St. Mark's, you know, and do some sonic stuff? ... A couple of songs. And then can you do a car crash? Can you make your guitar sound like a car crash?" (Laughter) He said, "No problem" (Laughter) So, you know, we put together 18 minutes and we did our poetry reading. Some people loved it and herald it as the new thing and other people thought I should be arrested for desecrating the church. Which is not all that unfamiliar now, is it? So, but in any event, Lenny and I weathered that, weathered all kinds of storms and we're still together 40 years later. (Applause) Actually, you mentioned somewhere that your first song or your first poem maybe it was your first song, was "Fire Of Unknown Origin". Yes. That was part of the performance at that time at St. Mark's church? Yes, yeah. 1971 with Lenny. I would ask you please to read it, so we can have the athmosphere. I'm not sure whether Lenny can do the car crash. Well, Lenny and I haven't done this for a very long time, but I'm sure we can figure it out but I, the ... (Applause) Somewhere. Lenny, come on up. This poem actually I wrote in memory of Jim Morrison and ... (Applause) Well, we haven't done it in some years. (Laughter) So, if we fuck it up, it's your fault. (Laughter) I take the blame. This is scary. (Laughter) (Lenny plays guitar) A fire of unknown origin Took my baby away Fire of unknown origin Took my baby away Swept her up and off my wavelength Swallowed her up Like the ocean in a fire Thick and grey Death comes sweeping through the hallway Like a lady's dress Death comes riding up the highway In it's sunday best Death comes riding Death comes creeping Death comes I can't do nothing Death goes There must be something That remains Cause a fire of unknown origin Made me sick and crazy A fire of unknown origin Took my baby away (Applause)