Thompson’s writing style and 'Gonzo Journalism' has been widely imitated; his influence on American Writers of the latter half of the 20th century is undeniable.
In his writing, he cultivated the persona of a dangerously absurd, drug-crazed journalist bent on comic self-destruction. While his fictional persona largely mirrored his actual life, Thompson noted that he sometimes felt obligated to live up to the fictional self that he had created.
Letter to William S. Burroughs & Ode To Jack
Hunter S. Thompson Lyrics
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Let us hope that the whores of evil no longer loiter on the doorsteps of your path beckoning you into the brothel of despair, and that hereinafter you may present them with the most rigid manifestations of a firm and manly will. Ad Astra Per Aspera
Yes, that's Jack's letter. Now I wanna tell you, ah
...Now I want to tell you about Jack. (mumbling) Jack was a great influence on me. But I wanna put mine, my poem to Jack. This is the "Ode to Jack Kerouac". Who was a ... remains one of my heroes. Ah, how about this? This is called...ah...let's see. Maybe Ode to Jack. Yeah, Ode to Jack. Alright.
Only three came back.
Two dogs died from guinea worm.
The other died from you.
Jack Kerouac.
Well Jack was not innocent.
He ran over dogs.
Just think of it man.
Nevermind.
Okay, that's well enough for now.
Thank you very much.
And ah ... yeah,
Jack was an artist in everyway.
I admire the dog thing most of all.
The lyrics of Hunter S. Thompson's "Letter to William S. Burroughs & Ode to Jack" are full of references to the Beat Generation and its defining themes. The opening line is a wish that Burroughs, who was notorious for his drug addiction and involvement with prostitution, has left behind his destructive habits and can now resist the temptation of the "whores of evil." The phrase "Ad Astra Per Aspera" means "to the stars through difficulties," a Latin slogan that could be seen as a statement of hope for Burroughs' future.
Thompson then switches to the subject of his "Ode to Jack Kerouac," another leading figure of the Beat movement. The first lines evoke an image of four dogs going into the wilderness, but only three returning, two of them dead from a parasitic disease known as guinea worm. The last dog's death is attributed to Jack himself, who ran over it. This bizarre anecdote is delivered with a mixture of irreverence and admiration for the author, who Thompson sees as an artist in every way.
Line by Line Meaning
Let us hope that the whores of evil no longer loiter on the doorsteps of your path beckoning you into the brothel of despair, and that hereinafter you may present them with the most rigid manifestations of a firm and manly will. Ad Astra Per Aspera
I hope that you are no longer tempted by vices and that you have developed a strong will to overcome any challenges. Ad Astra Per Aspera.
Now I want to tell you about Jack. (mumbling) Jack was a great influence on me. But I wanna put mine, my poem to Jack. This is the "Ode to Jack Kerouac". Who was a ... remains one of my heroes. Ah, how about this? This is called...ah...let's see. Maybe Ode to Jack. Yeah, Ode to Jack. Alright.
I want to talk about my hero, Jack Kerouac, who has greatly influenced me. I want to dedicate my poem called Ode to Jack to him.
Four dogs went to the wildnerness. Only three came back. Two dogs died from guinea worm. The other died from you. Jack Kerouac. Well Jack was not innocent. He ran over dogs. Just think of it man. Nevermind. Okay, that's well enough for now. Thank you very much. And ah ... yeah, Jack was an artist in everyway. I admire the dog thing most of all.
In memory of Jack Kerouac, four dogs went into the wilderness, but only three returned. Two died from disease and one died in a car accident caused by Jack. Despite this, I still admire him as an artist, and his love for dogs was truly inspiring to me.
Contributed by James T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.