Patti Smith’s Gone Again is a slow-burning, meditative record built around death, memory, and the passage of time. Released in 1996, it follows a period of personal loss for Smith and carries a weight that shows in its deliberate pacing. The album runs just over 55 minutes across 11 tracks, and it moves through grief without rushing it.
Opening With the Title Track
“Gone Again” opens the record with a simple piano line and a direct address to someone who has died. It sets the tone immediately: this is not a record about moving on quickly. The song is short and direct, establishing the emotional ground before the album moves outward.
“Beneath the Southern Cross” stretches the mood into something more atmospheric. It’s one of the stronger early tracks, using its title as a literal image of being lost in space and time.
The Long Middle Stretch
“About a Boy” is the longest track here at 8:16, and it earns every minute. It’s a character study told in fragments, building slowly toward a climax that feels earned rather than overstated.
“My Madrigal” and “Summer Cannibals” follow, and together they form the album’s middle stretch. Neither reaches the heights of the surrounding tracks, but both hold the record together with their steady, measured pace.
“Dead to the World” picks the tempo back up. It’s a darker, more urgent piece, and it stands out as one of the album’s more memorable moments.
“Wing” and “Ravens” continue the slow burn. They’re competent but unremarkable, functioning as connective tissue between the stronger songs around them.
The Back Half Closes Strong
“Wicked Messenger” brings the record back to earth with a straightforward rock arrangement. It’s a relief after the album’s earlier drift.
“Fireflies” is the other long track here, clocking in at 9:36. It’s a patient, atmospheric piece that rewards patience, though it asks for it. The final song, “Farewell Reel,” closes the album with a sense of resolution, tying the threads together neatly.
Comparing the Bookends
| Track | Length | Role |
|---|---|---|
| “Gone Again” | 3:17 | Opening statement |
| “Farewell Reel” | 3:54 | Closing statement |
| “About a Boy” | 8:16 | Mid-album highlight |
| “Fireflies” | 9:36 | Album closer |
Ranking the Tracks
- “About a Boy”
- “Gone Again”
- “Wicked Messenger”
- “Beneath the Southern Cross”
- “My Madrigal”
- “Summer Cannibals”
- “Dead to the World”
- “Wing”
- “Ravens”
- “Fireflies”
- “Farewell Reel”
The Verdict
Gone Again isn’t a record that tries to dazzle with production or reinvent itself. It’s a record about processing loss, and it does that with a consistent, unhurried approach. The best tracks — “About a Boy,” “Gone Again,” “Wicked Messenger” — stand as some of the strongest work of Smith’s career. The weaker tracks, while competent, don’t elevate the record beyond its core thesis.
It’s a deliberately slow record, and it asks for patience from the listener. That patience is rewarded in the strong tracks, even if the middle section drags slightly. This is a record about grieving, and it does that with sincerity and restraint.
- Gone Again3:17
- Beneath the Southern Cross4:35
- About a Boy8:16
- My Madrigal5:09
- Summer Cannibals4:11
- Dead to the World4:17
- Wing4:54
- Ravens3:58
- Wicked Messenger3:48
- Fireflies9:36
- Farewell Reel3:54
