Allen Ginsberg reads America

[@greysparrow68]

Allen Ginsberg was a man with clear, transcendental visions and an ability to express them in ways that struck chords with all those not constrained by rigid, mainstream thought processes. He was a sweet, gentle person, with a great love for his fellow man. I am 71 and lived during his, and Jack Kerouac's, great creative periods. They never knew me, but I count them as very close friends.

[@RicardoMartinez-oh9sq]

A radical Jewish homosexual man, too. A great poet.

[@37Dionysos]

"America why are your libraries full of tears?"

[@descartesdonkey4291]

still adding to that rainstorm

[@rt-uh6mt]

These guys, Ginsberg, Kerouac, Burroughs, the Beat Generation, once considered the vanguard of the progressive left are now considered out of touch, racist, misogynist and homophobic by "liberals" of the millenial and gen z generations. Back in the sixties Ginsberg's "Howl" get held up in customs due to right wing government "censors" trying to stop it. Now Beat literature faces a new threat on the left. The current far left progressives would love to ban, censor or rewrite "On The Road" etc. to remove any offending language. History repeats, but in oh so weird ways.

[@joelthefirst]

@@rt-uh6mt Lol, stop making shit up to be offenden about.

[@fernandoiturburu3718]

"when will you be angelic?"

[@37Dionysos]

@@rt-uh6mt Don't listen to a few extremist klowns and decide the entire Left is that way---not at all. I'm left of left, but I know there's pain and goodness in the hearts of many Righties too.

[@brody10123]

America is a poem that expresses my frustration, anger, and disappointment with our country. And Allen was able to make those people laugh. He’s the greatest American poet.

[@hasandurak7114]

Ezra Pound>Allen Ginsberg

[@ianfromakron6119]

"It occurs to me that I am America, I am talking to myself again."

[@hollow.i0]

Genius

[@37Dionysos]

"America I still haven't told you what you did to Uncle Max when he came over from Russia...."

[@allisong7192]

My professor played this for us last semester. Still one of my favorite poems ever written.

[@igotdamunchiez]

Was it Mr. Fish?

[@g6ohlay]

This is my first time listening to this poem.. I’m genuinely baffled. I read it as if it was angry and frenzied, but read out loud it sounds like the ramblings of a stoner. I think that kind of represents the animosity and immediate defensiveness of the America he’s discussing. The immediate response is anger and to exert power. Incredible

[@CindyRosita]

There's an absolute genius to Ginsberg. To be able to sit down and share his words with a crowd without distraction is such a simplistic idea, but it remains such a bold action beside such powerful words.

[@catdaddy3302]

I knew Allen in Boulder, Colorado, 1972-73, when he taught The Naropa Institute. He was a strange cat!

[@ayceeren]

wow!

[@frdrico]

Username checks out 😂

[@TheDirtworld]

Because Ginsberg demeanor is let's not cry forever about the despair we're in. Let's dance, laugh, and love to it.

[@Tigerdriver99]

I.. came out swinging, from a south Philly basement. Caked in stale beer & sweat under half lit fluorescent’s. And I spent the winter writing songs about getting better & if I’m being honest.. Im getting there!

[@itsaterp]

definitely my favourite reading of this poem, so much joy in that room, what a amazing man

[@mysteryofmystery3521]

I have never seen a crowd of people more interested in poetry. "You see poetry itself contains as much energy as a Hollywood industry. As much energy as a stage play on Broadway. All it needs is practitioners who are alive to bring it alive." -Charles Bukowski

[@markw23]

Love you Ginsberg, fucking legend.

[@hermenutic]

I had the opportunity to hear Allen read on two occasions. Once at Hobart College the other time at Cornell University in 1970 (71?) . At Cornell my eldest son aged 3 went up on the stage and introduced himself and shook his hand before the reading. His mom and I were thrilled. Allen spoke to him in a very kindly fashion. I wish I had a picture of that.

[@子犬靴下]

thank you for sharing this

[@geinikan1kan]

you just passed on a clear photo of your 3 year old son meeting Ginsberg

[@bohemianvegan]

Amazing. I remember reading this in university English class in 2000. We were so serious in the classroom while reading this. We read it together, one by one around the table, and we were silent when it wasn't our turn. Here, the audience is laughing hysterically.

[@AngelCintiaRockgirl]

bohemiantraveler Education inside the guidelines.

[@adityaroy7616]

@@AngelCintiaRockgirl Or maybe the truth is more far reaching than they ever predicted. Hahaha

[@codenamerishi]

Gosh I love his voice, it is so soothing and relaxing. I can listen to him reciting things all day.

[@wespapes2054]

This is the inspiration for the second Wonder Years record "Suburbia, I've Given You All And Now I'm Nothing"

[@Azeria]

Their third record. Can’t forget GSOI no matter how hard Dan tries

[@wespapes2054]

@@Azeria oh worry not. I aslo can't forget it. But most normal people chose to forget GSOI

[@JeremiahFernandez]

@@wespapes2054 i listened to TWY a lot a few years back, and hearing this poem right now for the first time is a full circle moment for me

[@MissNatalonga]

Ginsberg:"America I am the Scottsboro boys…" Excited dude: " YOU ARE!!!"

[@ayj3061]

probably kerouac

[@KingOfPopStars]

Love this poem. Absolute genius.

[@johnnychaos91185]

This was one of his best. but it really helps to hear him say it himself. next time I read it I'll understand it better.

[@Dentornation1995]

He was an allways will be a creative and expressive person, his work is a huge influence on me. thank you allen.

[@fernandoiturburu3718]

I never thought of this masterpiece as a laughing poem. And must you be sure, the world never laughed at it either.

[@Sidiciousify]

some of us did.

[@stinkylettuce]

What a beautiful person.

[@Burt472]

A giant...And a sincere one at that....Thanks

[@Nachtopus]

We read this poem in APUSH. We also read an excerpt from On The Road. Quality learning.

[@TheBeeHum]

metalmusician6798 , I see merit in your statement, though I'd like to point out Jack Kerouac was a massive hypocrite.

[@blissbite]

How is it disgusting or foul? He's telling his home country what's really up. He and the other Beats were the only people who knew exactly what we were doing on this poor diseased earth! It's because of Allen Ginsberg and poems like this that we have the free speech rights that we do. Were it not for Howl, we'd probably still be stuck in the 1950s mindset. I don''t want to fight, I'm just telling you the facts.

[@anungokavele6396]

At Cornell my eldest son aged 3 went up on the stage and introduced himself and shook his hand before the reading. His mom and I were thrilled. Allen spoke to him in a very kindly fashion. I wish I had a picture of that

[@friedmangosalad]

Allen Ginsberg, NAMBLA. End of story.

[@HangedMunchkinTruther]

Stuff like this is precisely why Ginsberg lent support to nambla. Because people will find their favorite flaw in someone else and use it to discredit them in whole -- saving the closed mind from the threat of expansion. End of a story greater than you may ever tell.

[@geminikb]

Listening right now. 21:45, July 4th, 2021. Fireworks backdrop. Nice.

[@fathimaniha.]

14:59 july 14 2023❤

[@joshuajones634]

Love ginsberg, his sentiments then are eerily similar today and it's 2022. I said the same thing over a decade ago.

[@cromcoffee3229]

Way ahead of its time!

[@cromcoffee3229]

Still relevant!

[@runeferrous8748]

I love this man.

[@nick451]

The Key to understanding this poem is the line "I Don't Want To Work". It exposes Ginsberg's character. The poetry of the "Free Ride" so prevalent through the 1960s. They should be laughing.

[@averidesmarais3657]

Came Out Swinging brought me here, and I'm glad it did. :)

[@HSTOZA]

So many great poems, especially Tom Waits, but surprised that "On the nickel" wasn't included. But thank you, thank you for so many great readings.

[@robertjamesselbyMTV]

great reading of this one... love the audience vibe xxx you can feel a' change comin' on

[@МарияПреображенская-ж8ш]

When can i go into the supermarket and Busy something with my good look? It is a great question.

[@troypfaff9777]

Thank you, The Wonder Years

[@AngelCintiaRockgirl]

America, you made me want to be a saint.

[@olivei2484]

"I'm obsessed with time magazine"

[@jimdursosingersongwriter9470]

Brilliant. Dude layed out a new word/prophecy

[@Renbencannan]

So inspired. 'When will we end the human war'

[@trollsthatlol1]

Indeed. Apparently not yet though..

[@1060michaelg]

Just as relevant today...We NEED Allen and William and all the Angels Lost.

[@1060michaelg]

Heh, no ,you know who I mean-- don'cha?

[@1060michaelg]

Daniel nc Actually, I was referring to William S. Burroughs.

[@1060michaelg]

Daniel nc You little scamp! lol...

[@Udaywhatisthisbehaviour]

I honestly thought you meant William Carlos Williams

[@gokhanaytekin]

good times, good people

[@JTdogzone666]

I love how ironic he is about such serious topics. He allows audiences to discuss difficult subjects by making them approachable.

[@RicardoMartinez-oh9sq]

As a man who in my teenage years was a Trostkyist abroad, yet who plans to vote for President Trump against war, I love these lines: America when will you be angelic? When will you take off your clothes? When will you look at yourself through the grave? When will you be worthy of your million Trotskyites? I think it is Ginsberg's best poem.

[@Vondur]

What year was this reading? I love the audience reaction, it totally changes the tone of the poem from other readings

[@edscottdotblog]

Worry not - I found a source, this is from "Holy soul jelly roll: poems and songs"

[@Properdrainage]

An absolute treasure

[@drrbrt]

Glorious!

[@mothmansboyfriend8021]

I remember the first time I read this poem and I nearly screamed because of how iconic it is. Legend behavior

[@amherst88]

How far have we fallen . . .

[@edscottdotblog]

Can anyone provide me with some sort of citation for this recording? It'd be really useful, as I'd like to use it as a source. Thanks in advance

[@pantalaemon]

I love how Ginsberg is sitting there, ranting his wonderful poetry, and in his tone you can hear the wonderful, the timeless outcry: Haters Gonna Hate

[@eddygci8]

pantalaemon I think he’s drunk

[@damianfuentes6566]

The Wonder Years is the reason I'm here.

[@joshuajones634]

"It occurs to me that I am America, I am talking to myself again!"

[@luigiserafino8343]

i cant stand my own mind. and after 20 years this sentence is still true. love you allen. we will never meet someone like you again

[@PattyO.N.Company]

America, im giving up on you.

[@chrismo9473]

02:20 hilarious!

[@jmcusack]

"America, is this correct?" - AG

[@nikolaihowley]

The whole album is a reference to this poem. Many of the song titles come from lines from this poem. That band shines lyrically, in a genre overrun by mopey 18 year olds.

[@jcthefluteman]

Nikolai Howley ... what album?

[@madeleinetaylor96]

@@jcthefluteman I’m pretty sure he’s talking about “Suburbia I’ve Given You All and Now I’m Nothing” by The Wonder Years!

[@gholder2551]

Why is the audience laughing at every line? It's a satirical but serious commentary on the contemporary sorry state of America and the world

[@spoochlove1]

Geoffrey Higgins they're giggling with joy at the energy of the thing, and laughing at the moment

[@allfieldsrequired1]

They're as high as he was!

[@Q_the_guitar_god]

Ginsberg was a genius!

[@shanedeschambeault7654]

alain gisberg was punk befor punk

[@gabrielbowater7290]

my first love

[@excelsior999]

Bob Dylan called this "poet" a "Con-Man Extraordinaire." (BTW, "It takes one to know one.")

[@patrickciacco1083]

Allen Ginsburg... A Transandental Beatnik Poet?... Yep!... That was Allen's calling in life.

[@balthasardenner5216]

Anybody know the year of this recording

[@jb10566]

this is genius

[@davidwingate]

To David Christian : Yes there are several improvised lines that are different from the poem that was included in the City Lights original-Christs substituted for Trotskyites was the first one I noticed...San Francisco subbed for Berkeley at another point -He was working the room like the showman that he was . Considering that G-berg was hounded out of Czech & Cuba by state police some of the cheers struck me as uninformed . Probably a very young crowd -or was this reading from before he was expelled ?

[@edscottdotblog]

I did, and got my essay in fine. Thanks for your support!

[@alexverheek2645]

i was just about to ask

[@isaacw101]

Only came out swinging? That whole album references this haha

[@rozieramati]

2:02

[@DanielFoland]

I work 16 hours a day. America, help!

[@jacobloving6765]

Daniel Foland hows it going now ?

[@doyasteve]

Thanks for sharing this.

[@kevinkac101]

@geoffrey Higgins Dude they were all drunk, it was a Ginsberg reading.

[@JeremiahFernandez]

poets were the real punks back then

[@MrDanty64]

this is not the same version in "The Beat Reader" or the Norton Anthology of Modern Poetry (1973). Yes many of the same lines are used but they are not all in the same sequence. There is a ton of stuff in this reading that in them.

[@joebiddle8148]

What a classic poem. I remember when I first found this poem at my college library. I recently added a rare audio recording of an unreleased poem by Ginsberg. It's on my channel. It is definitely worth a look!

[@ProjectGuitarmanbear]

kinda looks like an old version of soupy

[@ericcrawford9827]

Not 3 years ago, just now.

[@triplucid3563]

GREAT!

[@blissbite]

And players gonna play. (And Allen certainly did that for a good 72 years.)

[@roadkillScientist]

Does somebody know, when and where this was recorded?

[@insight8881]

i'm sure they'd like to hear his little boy Nambla poems.... no?

[@collj86]

The main reason i looked this up is because of the bob dylan interview, paraphrasing: You know the kind of people who subscribe to time magazine? Its clear, concise it has pictures in it. Its written for a certain class of people I thought this was a kerouack poem. But can anyone enlighten me on ginsburg’s reference to time magazine? I thought bob dylan was playing on this poem. And i have heard they referred to eachother as conmen, tricksters But i thought it was bob’s way of putting ginsburg down but at the same time praising him Also if your in a community of poets i could see using each other in further poetry

[@thomasmele4760]

Who's here because of the wonder years?

[@ceeb420]

Ginsberg even looks like Dan in this picture.

[@JuliaSpeaksWithWords]

You can still love this poem and condemn his actions.

[@triplucid3563]

that WAS a GOOD SHOW BUT WHY WONDER YEARS? PLEASE EXPLAIN.... I'd Love to know & look into it friend..

[@ethangainey2012]

@@triplucid3563 not the show, the band

[@danielcoon2680]

Just wanna thank you for posting this, too few views...

[@deelightandbrite]

AWESOME

[@SoulOfTheGeneration]

well, at least he's honest!!!

[@gerardd333]

A Tribute to Mairtín Crawford: Poets are nothing but darkness. Poets are political agitators. Poets see beauty, injustice and despair Poets are arse holes who die young. Poets are terrorists on the run Poets are soldiers without need of a gun. Some poets turn into/become jokers, (politicos?) Some despair I, do not care, For MC who brought the Ginsberg to Belfast in 1993.

[@DanielHoward-aka-dannyman]

Sometimes I despair at Donald Trump's America and this poem helps me relax. This is not my favorite version but I am enjoying it nonetheless. "My ambition is to be President despite the fact that I'm a Catholic."

[@a_ChildOfChrist]

What about "Donald Trump's America" makes you despair?

[@yashsinojia6170]

This is so great and fucking funny!

[@Patiencez12]

Nice poetry...

[@bridgetisadreamer]

I can't understand why this is funny, the laughter makes it seem ironic to me...

[@coy0te9]

Is my faulty memory or was Allen improvising bits?

[@MrSnazzy01]

This was an early draft of the poem

[@brenlyd]

can you open to crowd source corrections to subtitles? thank you

[@deeperthansnacks]

this is like stand up

[@maxdaae]

lol kind of XD

[@MrBennett1234]

and Harry potters going to play him in an up coming film.. apparently.. which is likely to result in the portrayal Allen Ginsberg as a man with one facial expression... for every occassion..

[@colinsmith8891]

I'm addressing you