Rock & Roll Nigger Lyrics
I see this song as being partly autobiographical, although Patti Smith isn't black. I think she's using the word 'nigger' as someone who is, as she says, 'outside of society,' and something of a rebel ('In my heart I am an American artist') and she does what she wants - 'I was lost in a valley of pleasure... and the cost didn't matter to me, the cost was to be outside of society.' Then she references Jimi Hendrix, Jesus Christ, Grandma and Jackson Pollock (an artist) and how they were all 'niggers,' or outcasts. I d/k what the Moslem reference is about unless she was Moslem. I know during that time in the 70s that Islam became more widespread, particularly among African Americans so maybe she is talking about a black woman. Brilliant song.
@alrac ...nonetheless she is still calling people a nigger. and to call jackson pollock who is of irish descent and/or jimmy hendrix a nigger, while saying you really mean ¨outsider¨ just sounds like covert racism to me. i feel like the song is just an excuse to call people niggers. i feel practically the same about john lennon singing, ¨woman is the nigger of the world¨. and notice how she calls everybody a nigger but herself. its like she wants an ¨outsider/nigger¨ position without being a so called outsider/nigger.
@alrac ...nonetheless she is still calling people a nigger. and to call jackson pollock who is of irish descent and/or jimmy hendrix a nigger, while saying you really mean ¨outsider¨ just sounds like covert racism to me. i feel like the song is just an excuse to call people niggers. i feel practically the same about john lennon singing, ¨woman is the nigger of the world¨. and notice how she calls everybody a nigger but herself. its like she wants an ¨outsider/nigger¨ position without being a so called outsider/nigger.
It's a powerful image. Those people who think and feel and speak such radical TRUTH -- found through the suffering and the storm -- that they're out of society, so far out that they're labeled nigger!
Damn right Jesus Christ was a nigger!
Outside of society, that's where I want to be.
-Pie
this song fucking rules.
But, what does it mean? Is she trying to use the word "nigger" as a complement or term of endearment?
@the_dza1 ...she claims it means outsider in the song. though i feel the song is just an excuse to call people a nigger. its also that there are too many racial/racist innuendos in the song that position the song too much into a racist category. ...what i also noticed is that she called jackson pollock a nigger. irish people used to be name-called ¨niggers¨ in the us. actually, i feel like the song is an excuse to call people who at times already have the word nigger directed at them, a ¨nigger¨. i hate the song.
@the_dza1 ...she claims it means outsider in the song. though i feel the song is just an excuse to call people a nigger. its also that there are too many racial/racist innuendos in the song that position the song too much into a racist category. ...what i also noticed is that she called jackson pollock a nigger. irish people used to be name-called ¨niggers¨ in the us. actually, i feel like the song is an excuse to call people who at times already have the word nigger directed at them, a ¨nigger¨. i hate the song.
im guessing its positive.
This song is mocking the word nigger and using it as a positive thing because the definition of nigger is nothing to do with being black.It just means anyone that is seen as different or a freak.Patti is praising the fact that people are weird and yes she is using it as a compliment
Awesome song, Marilyn Mansons's cover really kicks ass
Crazymoomin is right that Patti is making fun of the word as well as attacking society because many dumb fuckheads treat Black people like second hand citizens in this day and age. nigger-symbolism for outside in this song, being different is cool cuz the mainstream is boring
She's not making fun of the word nigger, and yes the word does mean BLACK. Trace it's roots if you'd like. The song is about sterotypes, individuality and being crazy.
It's Muslim, i think
raddddd song
geoffsaintgeoff... you must be quite the imbicile, because if you would look in a dictionary the word means LAZY. As in: TOO LAZY TO PICK UP A GODDAMN DICTIONARY!