He is generally allied with the Beats, and while he was close friends with the true Beats like Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac, his writing never fit with the Beatnik style. His first couple of novels, Junkie (or Junky) and Queer, were written in a style reminiscent of hard-boiled detective novels. As he became more comfortable with expressing himself through writing, his "routines" were assembled into his most famous work, Naked Lunch , published in 1959. His "cut-up" technique, developed subsequently with fellow inventor-poet Brion Gysin, took over his literary style to produce a number of lesser-known works. With the publication in 1981 of the trilogy starting with Cities of the Red Night he embarked on a further development of style aimed at achieving his expressed intent to "write the great American novel".
Such a vast amount could be written about Burroughs' life and legacy; perhaps "lives and legacies" would be more appropriate. His influences are uncountably and immeasurably wide-reaching; it has been argued that without his tape cut-ups, we'd not have thought of sampling and therefore we'd never have had techno. Equally, without his transgressive, libertarian, shocking subject matter, we may never have had punk or industrial. In his later life he was championed and courted by these fringe elements of society and art.
No More Stalins No More Hitlers
William S. Burroughs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I tried to but I couldn't wait
And now I've got another date
So I won't be home no more
You're just in time to miss the boat
So don't take off your hat and coat
Be on your way, that's all she wrote
'Cause I won't be home no more
I stood around a month or two
And waited for your call
Now I'm too busy pitchin' woo
So come around next fall
I scratched your name right off my slate
And hung a sign on my front gate
You're just in time to be too late
And I won't be home no more
Well, you're just in time to turn around
And drive your buggy back to town
You looked me, up I turned you down
And I won't be home no more
You're just in time to change your tune
Go tell your troubles to the moon
And call around next May or June
'Cause I won't be home no more
I used to be the patient kind
Believed each alibi
But that's all done, I've changed my mind
I've got new fish to fry
Well, you're just in time to celebrate
The things you didn't calculate
You're just in time to be too late
And I won't be home no more
The lyrics to William S. Burroughs’s song “No More Stalins No More Hitlers” are written from the perspective of someone who has moved on from a past love, and is unapologetic about it. The opening lines, “Well, you’re just in time to be too late, I tried to but I couldn’t wait, and now I’ve got another date, so I won’t be home no more” sets the tone for the rest of the song. It is a classic tale of a new love interest, and the singer doesn't waste any time on goodbye; she is too busy moving forward. She is not only closing the door on the past love but going as far as letting them know that they are too late.
The lyrics are blunt to the point that they may appear rude, but it's most possibly that the singer was done with the emotional investment and did not want to engage in a painful exchange. The song continues in the same vein, with the singer conveying a message that their interest in the past lover is over: “I scratched your name right off my slate and hung a sign on my front gate, you're just in time to be too late and I won't be home no more.” It is said with a feeling of finality that absolute closure. Basically, what the singer wants the ex-lover to do is to leave her alone and not come back.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, you're just in time to be too late
You came back to me, but it's already too late as I have moved on.
I tried to but I couldn't wait
I waited for you, but I had to move on because you took too long.
And now I've got another date
I found someone else to be with.
So I won't be home no more
I won't be coming back to you anymore.
You're just in time to miss the boat
You came back too late as I have already left.
So don't take off your hat and coat
Don't bother staying, you won't be welcome here.
Be on your way, that's all she wrote
Leave now, and don't expect any more communication from me.
'Cause I won't be home no more
I have moved on and won't be returning.
I stood around a month or two
I waited for you for a long time.
And waited for your call
I hoped you would come back to me or reach out to me.
Now I'm too busy pitchin' woo
I have found someone else to love, so I don't have time for you anymore.
So come around next fall
If you want to see me again, maybe come back in a few months.
I scratched your name right off my slate
I have deleted you from my life and thoughts.
And hung a sign on my front gate
I am warning you not to come back to me again.
Well, you're just in time to be too late
You came back too late as I have already moved on.
And I won't be home no more
I won't be coming back to you anymore.
Well, you're just in time to turn around
You can go back home now.
And drive your buggy back to town
Go home, and don't bother staying here.
You looked me, up I turned you down
You wanted me back, but I rejected you.
And I won't be home no more
I won't be coming back to you anymore.
You're just in time to change your tune
You can still change your mind about wanting me back.
Go tell your troubles to the moon
Don't talk to me about your problems or feelings anymore.
And call around next May or June
Maybe try contacting me again in a few months.
'Cause I won't be home no more
I have moved on and won't be coming back to you.
I used to be the patient kind
I used to wait around for you and be understanding.
Believed each alibi
I trusted your excuses in the past.
But that's all done, I've changed my mind
I am no longer patient or trusting with you.
I've got new fish to fry
I have found new things to focus on and new people to love.
Well, you're just in time to celebrate
You can be happy that I have moved on.
The things you didn't calculate
You didn't think I would ever leave you for good.
You're just in time to be too late
You came back too late as I have already left.
And I won't be home no more
I have moved on and won't be returning.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HANK WILLIAMS SR.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind