We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

The Lisbon Earthquake (1755 A​.​D​.​)

from Evolution by Tommy Smith

/

lyrics

A continent's western edge, high ships in harbour,
huge harbour it was too, a haven for all,
a hallowed circle for that All Saints Day
of a still, half-gold, half-sombre November:
the bells clashed and clamoured, the churches were packed,
the candles were packed think as forests, the voices
packed themselves into trembling glades of praise.
I watched it all, watched the end of it all.
The earth dreams like a dog in a basket,
twitching: it likes to show it is alive.
At the first tremor, people look at each other,
they are not fools, they know what is happening,
but with no more warning than a crash
the sculptured roofs fell on the worshippers,
leaving a squirm of screams, blood, blazing wax.
Those who could run, ran, ran to the sea
to save them, but save them it could not:
it rose in a wall of water, a wave of waves
that roiled and howled and brought a great drowning,
mantillas, black suits, copes of purple, swaddling-clothes.

That was a fado
singing, fading.
I heard it in the wailing of the wounded.
It rose like smoke from the fires that would rage for days.
It tore the Englightenment to tatters.
It made philosophers of men on stumps.
I saw a small crowd and spoke to them.
Throw away your candles, I said. It's a new age.
Study the earth. Listen to its plates grinding.
Power is yours, not up there - I pointed -
you have a long trek, your own tears,
you must never freeze-frame your fears.
Clear the rubble. Mourn the missing.
Keep one ruin for remembrance sake.
Tell old Tagus a new Troy is a stake!

A woman nodded, took flowers, strode ahead.
It was November First, the Day of the Dead.

Edwin Morgan

credits

from Evolution, released February 25, 2021
Tommy Smith - Tenor Saxophone
Joe Lovano - Tenor Saxophone
John Scofield - Guitar
John Taylor - Piano
John Patitucci - Acoustic Bass
Bill Stewart - Drums

Music by Tommy Smith published by Smythe Music, PRS
Poetry by Edwin Morgan commissioned by Tommy Smith
Recorded April 2003 Avatar Studios, New York City
Engineer: James Farber
Mastering from Analogue Tape: Ben Turner, Fine Splice
Photography: Paul Thorburn
Cover photo of Smith: Robert Burns

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Tommy Smith image

Tommy Smith Edinburgh, UK

Born in 1967, Edinburgh. In 1983 Chick Corea recommended Tommy Smith to Gary Burton; he joined his group. Recording over 30 solo albums for Blue Note, Linn, ECM, Spartacus Records, touring 50+ countries, performing with Arild Andersen, Edwin Morgan, John Scofield, Jaco Pastorius, Trilok Gurtu, Dizzy Gillespie. In 2019, he was awarded an OBE for services to jazz from HRH Queen Elizabeth II. ... more

contact / help

Contact Tommy Smith

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this track or account

If you like Tommy Smith, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Seafood Sam joins the show to discuss his newest album, " Standing On Giant Shoulders".
listen now