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.
The Sermon On The Mount 2
William S. Burroughs Lyrics
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And stood in the midst and said unto them, Peace Be Unto You.
Not how you doing? Not yo, what's up? Peace BE. He made it a noun
But to keep our power, brothers and sisters, To be a testimony, to be a light to one Another....
We must not be afraid to use the Peace that God has given us.
You as a believer
You as whatever label, sect, denomination You want to call yourself
You must remember this Universe was Made by God
And God was present before anyone ever Gave it a thought
About a name called Christian, black, white, American, African
And so, all these statements from Jesus and Many others before and after him and yet to Come
Peace Be Unto You. We say this term in Church and churches of all the Abrahamic Faiths use it
What is about this universal expression that John had the guts to write about it
That crosses time and space? And I say guts Because to tell the truth back then as now
You become an enemy. You become an Enemy of those that wish to enslave the Human being
That wish to enslave the human soul. They Wish to keep you in your box
Safe, locked away, to be controlled, to be Manipulated.
The lyrics of William S. Burroughs's song "The Sermon On The Mount 1" delve into the concept of peace and its significance in both spiritual and societal contexts. The song begins with a reference to the disciples being gathered in fear, indicating a tense situation where Jesus enters and addresses them with the phrase "Peace Be Unto You." The song highlights the power of peace, emphasizing that it should not be just a casual greeting but rather a transformative force that believers should actively utilize.
Burroughs suggests that in order to maintain their power and positively impact others, individuals should not shy away from embracing and employing the peace that God has bestowed upon them. Regardless of one's religious or social affiliations, the message remains universal: humans must use the peace within them to uplift and bring light to one another. Burroughs also explores the idea that this concept of peace, represented by the phrase "Peace Be Unto You," holds a significant role across time and space, extending beyond any specific religious label or denomination. By questioning why this expression is able to transcend boundaries, he implies that it possesses a layered depth and meaning that goes beyond its surface interpretation.
Line by Line Meaning
Where the disciples were assembled in fear
In a place where the disciples gathered, filled with fear
Of the soldiers, came Jesus
Jesus arrived despite the presence of soldiers
And stood in the midst and said unto them, Peace Be Unto You.
He stood in the center and spoke to them, wishing them peace
But to keep our power, brothers and sisters,
To maintain our strength, fellow believers
To be a testimony, to be a light to one Another....
To serve as evidence and illumination for each other
We must not be afraid to use the Peace that God has given us.
We should not hesitate to utilize the peace bestowed upon us by God
You as a believer
As a person who has faith
You as whatever label, sect, denomination You want to call yourself
Regardless of the specific group or affiliation you identify with
You have to use the Peace that God gave You.
It is necessary to employ the peace granted by God
You must remember this Universe was Made by God
Always keep in mind that God created this Universe
And God was present before anyone ever Gave it a thought
God's existence predates any human contemplation
About a name called Christian, black, white, American, African
Including names such as Christian, black, white, American, African
And so, all these statements from Jesus and Many others before and after him and yet to Come
Therefore, all these declarations made by Jesus and numerous others in the past, present, and future
Peace Be Unto You. We say this term in Church and churches of all the Abrahamic Faiths use it
We utter the phrase 'Peace Be Unto You.' in our places of worship, and it is employed by all Abrahamic faiths
What is about this universal expression that John had the guts to write about it
What is it about this universally recognized expression that prompted John to courageously document it?
That crosses time and space? And I say guts Because to tell the truth back then as now
Why does it transcend time and physical boundaries? And I use the term 'guts' because speaking the truth, then as now,
You become an enemy. You become an Enemy of those that wish to enslave the Human being
You become an adversary. You are perceived as an enemy by those who seek to oppress humanity
That wish to enslave the human soul. They Wish to keep you in your box
Their desire is to subjugate the human spirit. They aim to confine you within limitations
Safe, locked away, to be controlled, to be Manipulated.
Secured, imprisoned, subjected to control, and manipulation
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: William Worsley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind