Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: punk-rock
Song Meaning of “Amerigo” by Patti Smith
Amerigo tells the story of the famed Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci, from his life of exploration and discoveries to his death in 1512. The lyrics paint a picture of a man who endured difficulty and danger in the pursuit of a greater good, while his faith in himself and his country never wavered.
The tone of the song is one of admiration and respect, full of imagery about new discoveries and adventure. The lyrics scream of echos of what Amerigo must have seen and experienced during his voyages, as we get a glimpse of the unseen; grandiose horizons, restless adventurers, and a longing for something better.
The chorus of the song encapsulates the life of Amerigo:
“Oh, America,
Oh, Merigo
For we are ever your brave explorer
Cross the mountains and over the seas
To uncover some truth, to long for a perfect world.”
With the chorus, we get a sense of the bravery and courage that Amerigo was capable of, He pushed himself to uncover the unknown in the pursuit of truth in a seemingly imperfect world.
At the end of the song, the bridge serves as a reminder of the emotional journey he must have gone through, and of his eventual death:
“Oh, the wind blows his song
On to the unknown shores
As his dreams nevermore unfulfilled fade away”.