Ballad Of The Skeletons

This is a clip of the song Ballad Of The Skeletons from the

[@AmirAharoni]

I saw it on MTV Europe some time around 1997. It was about 4am, in a late-night dance program. ("Dance" in Europe essentially meant "electronic" then.) Clubbing + poetry. It worked once.

[@rowiedee]

This song was No.8 on the 1996 Australian Radio Station 3JJJ, "Triple J Hottest 100" album. It's an intellectual and witty song by a great American, who was a prolific writer, poet, anti Vietnam War campaigner, political and gay rights activist.

[@ThePassionOfTheMarc]

I saw him perform this before he passed away at some club in San Francisco. Might have been the DNA Lounge. Kind of forgot about this until I saw him on TV just now and then I remembered this song.

[@blissbite]

RIP Allen Ginsberg: lovely human being and magnificent substitute grandfather in my time with you.

[@ClusterFoxtrot]

Heard this on Triple J and it surely has the most clever lyrics I've ever heard in a song.

[@Stubert222]

Thanks for sharing, I spent ages trying to find this.

[@AusRapArchives]

this osng was big in australia, was it also very popular elsewhere?

[@CopiousDoinksLLC]

Remember hearing this on Triple J waay back in the day. Always lost it at the "muck you in the face" line.

[@shayneoneill1506]

Rip Ginsberg. The dude wrote my favorite poem of all time, Howl. Losing him was a major loss.

[@claudiotinoue]

Wow, never knew Gus Van Sant directed this video!

[@adrianbingham8603]

Am surprised no-one mentions the band behind Mr Ginsberg, If memory serves me correct its the New Barbarians, Keith Richards and Ron Woods side project outside the Rolling Stones

[@alexpolls505]

Allen Ginsberg With Paul McCartney: www.openculture.com/2012/04/the_ballad_of_the_skeletons_allen_ginsbergs_1996_collaboration_with_philip_glass_and_paul_mccartney.html

[@Timmybear]

Howl. He also did two other great albums.

[@pirilampa]

So awesome. Great poem, great song! Is this from any specific album? I'd totally buy it!

[@sadolan1]

Why would have Gus Van Sant included images of Soekarno? I doubt such images have much resonance to most people in the US today; what does he represent here? (Could any populist leader -- Nasser, perhaps -- represent the same?)

[@cosmictywlite]

allen ginsberg ,he`s old school & he`s fucking good ,cheak out dylan`s ,subterranean home sick blues,Ginsberg is in that video from 1964,that`s how long this dude has been around & a bit longer back 2 the early 50`s

[@fly86]

Did Michael Stipe of R.E.M. have a role in this video? Heard a rumor that he produced some videos for Ginsberg

[@gemmaskate]

I kinda wanna hear this sung in a melody.

[@JonathanDavisKookaburra]

post the link when you've recorded it ;)

[@gemmaskate]

Jonathan Davis Haha I might just do that!

[@arthurderas]

does anyone know where to download this ?

[@Borbatr]

fucking great.

[@felipesclassroom]

Hi Liquid, if you have the time you should google his name. you might be surprise by some great things you will come across. Cheers,

[@madz2323]

classic.

[@stu11977]

Word!

[@Drapnoodle]

unfortunately, not his best work.