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.
Words Of Advice For Young People
William S. Burroughs Lyrics
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Well, here are a few simple admonitions for young and old, man and beast.
Never interfere in a boy and girl fight.
Beware of whores who say they don't want money. The hell they don't.
What they mean is that they want more money; much more, these are the most expensive whores what can be got.
If, after having been exposed to someone's presence, you feel as if you've lost a quart of plasma, avoid that presence. You need it like you need pernicious anemia.
We don't like to hear the word "vampire" around here; we're trying to improve our public image. Building a kindly, avuncular, benevolent image; "interdependence" is the keyword -- "enlightened interdependence".
Life in all its rich variety, take a little, leave a little. However, by the inexorable logistics of the vampiric process they always take more than they leave -- and why, indeed, should they take any?
Avoid fuck-ups. Fools, I call them. You all know the type -- no matter how good it sounds, everything they have anything to do with turns into a disaster. Trouble for themselves and everyone connected with them.
A fool is bad news, and it rubs off -- don't let it rub off on you.
Do not proffer sympathy to the mentally ill; it is a bottomless pit. Tell them firmly, "I am not paid to listen to this drivel -- you are a terminal fool!" Otherwise, they make you as crazy as they are.
Above all, avoid confirmed criminals.
They are a special malignant strain of fool.
William S. Burroughs's song "Words of Advice for Young People" is a cautionary message that offers simple and direct advice on how to navigate the world. It opens with Burroughs stating that he is often asked for advice and then launches into a series of warnings that range from the humorous to the serious. His first warning is to never interfere in a boy and girl fight, which suggests that it is best to stay out of other people's business.
Burroughs then offers advice for dealing with various types of people, including whores, religious individuals, and mentally ill individuals. He warns that it is important to beware of whores who say they do not want money, as they are likely to be the most expensive. He advises that it is essential to avoid doing business with religious individuals who are not trustworthy and to avoid people who drain your energy.
Burroughs concludes by warning his listeners to avoid the influence of fools and criminals, who are a malignant strain of fool. The song ultimately communicates a message of caution and self-preservation, encouraging listeners to be wary of those who would exploit or harm them.
Line by Line Meaning
I am sometimes asked if I have any words of advice for young people.
People sometimes want my advice for young folks.
Well, here are a few simple admonitions for young and old, man and beast.
Everyone could use these simple warnings.
Never interfere in a boy and girl fight.
Don't get involved in a romantic conflict.
Beware of whores who say they don't want money. The hell they don't.
Be wary of prostitutes who say they don't require payment because they want more than you think.
If you're doing business with a religious son of a bitch, get it in writing; his word isn't worth shit, not with the good Lord telling him how to fuck you on the deal.
If you're doing business with a religious person, make sure to get everything in writing because their word is unreliable.
If, after having been exposed to someone's presence, you feel as if you've lost a quart of plasma, avoid that presence. You need it like you need pernicious anemia.
If someone makes you feel drained after being around them, avoid their company because it's harmful like anemia.
We don't like to hear the word "vampire" around here; we're trying to improve our public image. Building a kindly, avuncular, benevolent image; "interdependence" is the keyword -- "enlightened interdependence".
We don't want to be called vampires because we're trying to have a better reputation by appearing kind, helpful, and enlightened.
Life in all its rich variety, take a little, leave a little. However, by the inexorable logistics of the vampiric process they always take more than they leave -- and why, indeed, should they take any?
Life is about give and take, but vampires take more than they give, and there's no reason why they should take anything at all.
Avoid fuck-ups. Fools, I call them. You all know the type -- no matter how good it sounds, everything they have anything to do with turns into a disaster. Trouble for themselves and everyone connected with them.
Stay away from people who always mess things up, also known as fools; they bring trouble to everyone around them.
Do not proffer sympathy to the mentally ill; it is a bottomless pit. Tell them firmly, "I am not paid to listen to this drivel -- you are a terminal fool!" Otherwise, they make you as crazy as they are.
Don't give excessive sympathy to people with mental health issues because it can be draining. You need to set appropriate boundaries and avoid letting them make you feel crazy.
Above all, avoid confirmed criminals.
Most importantly, stay away from known criminals.
They are a special malignant strain of fool.
Criminals are an especially harmful type of fool.
Contributed by Declan K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.