Eat, Eat

Patti Smith is an icon; the high priestess of punk.

Her 1996 CD Gone Again is a great work of art and it includes one of my favorite songs: Summer Cannibals. I love listening to this song, and I love singing the chorus. I’ve entertained some and confused others and pissed off a minor few when belting out “Eat, eat!”

Yesterday on youtube I found the Summer Cannibals video and want to share it with you. Below the video I’ve included the lyrics. The song was co-written by Smith and her late husband, Fred Sonic Smith.



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 lets 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 Ive 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