“Amerigo” by Patti Smith
This track details the journey of Amerigo Vespucci and his discovery of a new world which became known as America, a derivative of his name.
The song talks about how he embarked on this voyage, hoping to go and baptize its people as they had been doing in other places previously. His arrival and interaction with the people however changed his perspectives. In that, the people of this land were not under the rulership of anyone; they were enjoying some kind of liberty he had not yet been exposed to.
The subsequent verses capture the writer’s intrigue as he depicts how these people freely dance without the burden of the things other people worry about or cherish. In the final verse, we see that although he and his crew sought to transform these people, they themselves were transformed by the beauty and vibrance of this new place.
Amerigo Vespucci’s 1497 Voyage to America
1497 marked the first time Amerigo Vespucci visited the continent which would later be named after him. The reason he became so famous as a sailor was not only due to his navigation skills but also his writings detailing the discovery voyages he participated in. He is credited with going on four of such trips. However, knowledgeable scholars doubt the authenticity of some of the reports accredited to him. One such case was his first voyage to America, which was in 1497. But either way according to historical documents, during that trip he visited the West Indies in addition to perhaps Central and South America.
“Amerigo” Facts
Writing
Smith alongside Tony Shanahan
Production Team
Smith and the following:
- Lenny Kaye
- J. D. Daugherty
- Tony Shanahan
Album and Release
From Patti Smith’s rock album of 2012 titled “Banga”. Both “Banga” and “Amerigo” came out in June of 2012.
