Recorded 1975 (1975) Length 3:26 | Genre Rock, reggae Label Arista | |
Released December 13, 1975 (1975-12-13) Writer(s) Patti Smith, Richard Sohl, Lenny Kaye | ||
"Redondo Beach" is a rock/reggae song written by Patti Smith, Richard Sohl and Lenny Kaye, and first released on Patti Smith's 1975 album Horses. It was also published as a poem in Smith's 1972 book kodak under the title "Radando Beach".
Contents
The lyrics relate the suicide by drowning of a young woman following an argument with the song's narrator. It has frequently been interpreted as a lesbian-themed song; Smith appeared to encourage this interpretation in her live performances, frequently introducing the song with "Redondo Beach is a beach where women love other women".
She later said that she wrote the lyrics in 1971 following a fight with her sister Linda; Linda subsequently disappeared for the day, causing Patti to worry that she had come to harm. Smith has also stated that she considers herself "beyond gender" in her artistic expression, and frequently writes from a male point of view. Smith's lyrics were set to a reggae arrangement.
Cover versions
The song was performed by Angel Corpus Christi on I Love NY, her 1984 album of cover versions originally recorded by New York-based artists.
The song was part of Morrissey's live set list throughout his December 2004 Arena Tour. "Redondo Beach / There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" was a double A-side single released by Morrissey to promote his live album Live at Earls Court in 2005.
7" vinyl
- "Redondo Beach" (live) (Patti Smith, Richard Sohl, Lenny Kaye) – 4:07
- "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" (live) (Johnny Marr, Morrissey) – 4:50
CD single
- "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" (live) (Johnny Marr, Morrissey) - 4:50
- "Redondo Beach" (live) (Patti Smith, Richard Sohl, Lenny Kaye) – 4:07
- "Noise Is the Best Revenge" (Janice Long session 2004) (Morrissey, Boz Boorer) - 4:03
DVD single
- "Redondo Beach" (live) (Patti Smith, Richard Sohl, Lenny Kaye) – 4:07
- "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" (live) (Johnny Marr, Morrissey) – 4:50
- "It's Hard to Walk Tall When You're Small" (Janice Long session 2004) (Morrissey, Alain Whyte)
- "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" (live promotional video)
- "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" (video taken from Manchester Evening News Arena)