Summer Cannibals

Patti Smith

Summer Cannibals



I was down in Georgia

nothing was as real

as the street beneath my feet

descending into air



The cauldron was a-bubbling

the flesh was lean

and the women moved forward

like piranhas in a stream

they spread themselves before me

an offering so sweet

and they beckoned and they beckoned

come on darling eat



Eat the summer cannibals

eat eat eat

you eat the summer cannibals

eat eat eat



They circled around me

natives in a ring

and I saw their souls a-withering

like snakes in chains

and they wrapped themselves around me

ummm what a treat

and they rattled their tales hissin'

come on let's eat



Eat the summer cannibals

eat eat eat

you eat the summer cannibals

eat eat eat



I felt a rising in my throat

the girls a-saying grace

and the air the viscous air

pressed against my face

and it all got too damn much for me

just got too damn rough

and I pushed away my plate

and said boys I've had enough

and I laid upon the table

another piece of meat

and I opened up my veins to them

and said come on eat



Eat the summer cannibals

eat eat eat

you eat the summer cannibals

eat eat eat

you eat the summer cannibals

eat eat eat

you eat the summer cannibals

eat eat eat



Cause I was down in Georgia

nothing was as real

as the street beneath my feet

descending into hell



So eat eat eat

you eat eat eat

you eat eat eat

eat eat eat