Patti Smith - People Have The Power

First performance: 01/10/2004

Coverinfo

Bruce covered the song 9 times:
 
 
2025-03-26 Carnegie Hall, New York City, NY
Bruce participates in 'People Have The Power: A Celebration of Patti Smith', a benefit presented by Michael Dorf in support of music education for underserved youth. He performs "Because The Night" backed by the house band and then plays guitar and sings backup during the Patti Smith-led all-star finale, "People Have The Power". Participating artists include Paul Banks (Interpol), Courtney Barnett, Matt Berninger (The National), Body/Head (Kim Gordon & Bill Nace), Johnny Depp, Glen Hansard, Ben Harper, Susanna Hoffs, Music Will Academy Of Lower Manhattan Public Middle School, Karen O, Kronos Quartet, Jesse Malin, Alison Mosshart (The Kills), Angel Olsen, Maggie Rogers, Michael Shannon, Michael Stipe, and Sharon Van Etten, with readings by Jim Jarmusch, Scarlett Johansson, and Sean Penn.
 
 
 
 
 
Bruce joins Patti Smith and her band on stage during the Tribeca Fim Festival. The occasion was the premiere of a new concert documentary about Smith, "Horses: Patti Smith and Her Band". The film documents the Los Angeles concerts in January 2016 where Smith performed her album, "Horses," to mark its 40th anniversary. Smith and band performed several hits, including "Dancing Barefoot" and "Gloria." After Smith introduced her band members, she said she had one more person to introduce. Bruce entered the stage to accompanied by a roaring of the crowd. Together, they performed "Because the Night and the finale "People Have The Power", for which they were joined by Michael Stipe.
  
 
 
2004-10-13 Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ
with Jackson Browne, Eddie Vedder, and John Fogerty
  
with all performers
 
2004-10-08 TD Waterhouse Centre, Orlando, FL
with R.E.M., John Fogerty, Neil and Pegi Young, and Bright Eyes

2004-10-05 Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, MN
with R.E.M., John Fogerty, Neil and Pegi Young, and Bright Eyes

2004-10-03 Cobo Arena, Detroit, MI
with R.E.M., John Fogerty, Bright Eyes, and the Dixie Chicks
 
2004-10-02 Gund Arena, Cleveland, OH
with R.E.M., John Fogerty, and Bright Eyes
 
2004-10-01 Wachovia Center, Philadelphia, PA  
During all Vote For Change Tour shows 
with R.E.M., John Fogerty, and Bright Eyes
 
 
 
 

Songinfo

People have the power is a song written by Patti Smith and Fred "Sonic" Smith and released as a lead single from Patti Smith 1988 album Dream Of Life. The cover photograph is by Robert Mapplethorpe. The music video is filmed mostly in black-and-white and features Patti Smith singing, writing and walking. 
 
 
 

Other cover versions

Bruce on the artist

2020-06-03 SiriusXM Studio, New York City
Bruce played the song during 'From His Home, To Yours… Part 5' on Sirius XM's E Street Radio. This episode is titled "American Skin".
"That is the powerful poet and rocker, and my sweet friend, Patti Smith, with her anthem, 'People Have the Power." 
 
 
Bruce has one co- written song with Patti Smith : Because the night. It was originally recorded during the Darkness On The Edge Of Town sessions. The song was officially released for the first time in a live version on the Live/1975-85 box set in 1986 recorded at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, NY, during The River Tour. The guitar solo part is edited out on the official release, from three minutes to a bit over a minute and a half. The live 28 Dec 1980 version was also included on the Greatest Hits (2009 Europe edition) compilation album. A studio version was released on The Promise in 2010. Because the night was donated to Patti Smith for her 1978 album Easter. 
 
 
 
 
Bruce had 9 performances together with Patti Smith :
 
 
 
2025-03-26 Carnegie Hall, New York City, NY
2018-04-23 Beacon Theatre, New York City, NY
2013-02-08 Los Angeles Convention Center, Los Angeles, CA
2009-10-30 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY
1977-12-30 CBGB Second Avenue Theatre, New York City, NY
1976-11-26 Bottom Line (The), New York City, NY (Late)
1976-11-26 Bottom Line (The), New York City, NY (Early)
1976-10-30 Palladium, New York City, NY
1975-12-26 Bottom Line (The), New York City, NY
1975-10-23 Gerde's Folk City, New York City, NY
 

Lyrics

I was dreaming in my dreaming
of an aspect bright and fair
and my sleeping it was broken
but my dream it lingered near
in the form of shining valleys
where the pure air recognized
and my senses newly opened
I awakened to the cry
that the people have the power
to redeem the work of fools
upon the meek the graces shower
it's decreed the people rule
The people have the power
The people have the power
The people have the power
The people have the power
Vengeful aspects became suspect
and bending low as if to hear
and the armies ceased advancing
because the people had their ear
and the shepherds and the soldiers
lay beneath the stars
exchanging visions
and laying arms
to waste in the dust
in the form of shining valleys
where the pure air recognized
and my senses newly opened
I awakened to the cry
The people have the power
The people have the power
The people have the power
The people have the power
Where there were deserts
I saw fountains
like cream the waters rise
and we strolled there together
with none to laugh or criticize
and the leopard
and the lamb
lay together truly bound
I was hoping in my hoping
to recall what I had found
I was dreaming in my dreaming
god knows a purer view
as I surrender to my sleeping
I commit my dream to you
The people have the power
The people have the power
The people have the power
The people have the power
The power to dream, to rule
to wrestle the world from fools
it's decreed the people rule
it's decreed the people rule
Listen
I believe everything we dream
can come to pass through our union
we can turn the world around
we can turn the earth's revolution
we have the power
People have the power
The people have the power
The people have the power
The power to dream, to rule
to wrestle the world from fools
it's decreed the people rule
it's decreed the people rule
we have the power
People have the power
we have the power...