Redondo Beach (song)


"Redondo Beach" is a rock/reggae song written by Patti Smith, Richard Sohl, and Lenny Kaye. It first was released on Patti Smith's 1975 album Horses. It also was published as a poem in Smith's 1972 book kodak under the title "Radando Beach".
The lyrics relate the suicide by drowning of a young woman following an argument with the song's narrator. It frequently has been interpreted as a lesbian-themed song; Smith appeared to encourage this interpretation in her live performances, often 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; the latter had disappeared for the day, causing Patti to worry that she had come to harm. Smith also stated that she considers herself "beyond gender" in her artistic expression. Smith's lyrics were set to a reggae arrangement.

Morrissey version

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. The double A-side reached number 11 in the United Kingdom, and "Redondo Beach" reached number 33 in Sweden.

Track listings

7" vinyl
  1. "Redondo Beach" – 4:07
  2. "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" – 4:50
CD single
  1. "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" - 4:50
  2. "Redondo Beach" – 4:07
  3. "Noise Is the Best Revenge" - 4:03
DVD single
  1. "Redondo Beach" – 4:07
  2. "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" – 4:50
  3. "It's Hard to Walk Tall When You're Small"
  4. "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out"
  5. "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out"

    Charts

Release history

Other cover versions

The song was performed by Angel Corpus Christi on I Love NY, her 1984 album of cover versions that were originally recorded by New York-based artists.