Allen Ginsberg - Father Death Blues (FSCD version) - 1978

[sdabestani]

i sob every time

[lukeaslight]

@inauspiciousominous This is not "odd." That which is "odd" is by definition, "out of the ordinary." But we must understand that "ordinary," being used to define what should/should not be done in a moment of grief is far too blanket of a theorem. Death is the great black manifestation that none of us know anything about. How then can we grieve appropriately of that which we know nothing about?

[TheManolakis]

i flew black

[btancisback]

You can see the sadness in his eyes and hear it in his voice. What a wonderful man. And a wonderful performance.

[darkdubh]

I remember he performed this on a populer Irish chat show in the early 90's.I was watching it with my grandmother and she said why did they bring that depressing man on ?

[login211]

Love this blues.

---

It's a harmonium, just a smaller version of it.

And the chords are:

A

D

A, E, A

[1986dovic]

Oddio, ma quella era Nanda fra il pubblico? Nanda... spero tu sia con Ginsberg ora, e Fabrizio ovviamente... un abbraccio a tutti voi, amici.

[soufflekingsize]

Few writers can touch the subject of death with the right skill. here's one that did.

[welwise]

dear god. such beauty

[cdphatty]

my heart is still, as time will tell

wow

[jagara1]

This is a beautiful song - thanks for posting :)

[skuzzbunny]

a Harmonium can be either big and foot pedaled, or small and hand bellowed, it's the same concept, same name. check the Wikipedia article.

[tunetwnman]

I saw Allen read about a year before he left the body. The world is poorer for his leaving and richer for his having been with us...

[S2Cents]

We are our bodies and nothing more. Death is real.

[gardenvarietypenis]

@S2Cents thanks for your 2 cents of supposition

[killerskillet]

I wonder if the people in the audience realized how amazing this experience must have been. It sure looks like they were aware on some level judging by the blank stares...

[stiofanbreathnach]

The chords as printed alongside the poem, (which incedently is part 5 of 7 in a poem or series of poems called 'Don't Grow Old'), in his collected poems 1947-1980 are as follows: A Hey Father Death, Im fly - ing home D Hey poor man, you're all a - lone A  E Hey old daddy, I know where I'm going Fa - ther Death, don't cry any more D Ma - ma's there, under-neath the floor A E A Brother- Death, please mind the store

[cdylan]

i wish he was still around....

[joshgibson]

so much

[cyclos12]

@cdylan He will always be with us in spirit!

[filmerado]

Harmonium

[goaitsenvandervliet]

A harmonium is much bigger and has pedals, to be pushed by feet, not by hands.

[goaitsenvandervliet]

It's an Indian lap organ.

[mhotter]

@goaitsenvandervliet yes also called a shruti box i believe

[amsterdamshusi]

Anybody know what that instrument is? I want to say it's a harmonium..?

[CarrotFlowerKing]

O Children Deaths, go breathe your breaths

Sobbing breasts'll ease your deaths

Pain is gone, tears take the rest

I love this stanza

[donnywallberg]

CHORDS?

ANYONE

[Mattcc9]

This is my own interpretation so it may not be entirely accurate

C

Hey Father death im flying home

F

Hey poor man, you're all alone

C  G C

Hey old daddy, I know where im going

[spentomad]

absolutely wonderful! I just love Allen Ginsberg!!

[yourdentisthatesyou]

Death to everyone its gonna be, lookout where all gonna going home, this is our home,

[zerominusno]

absolutely wonderful!

[SensoryOssuary]

Oh wow... thank you so much for uploading this.

[marcelodamiani]

You don't know about the beauty of the child sleepin scene. Imagine with soul, mind and heart and transport yourself to your childhood when your mother sings for you. Pure beauty, inoscence. Imagine the child's dream...Think that...Seek the beautifull life's aspects.

Love for everybody

[SoaringEagle5344]

The film footage of Mr. Ginsberg's performance was disrespectful by focusing on sleeping children.

[goaitsenvandervliet]

Disrespectful for the children you mean?

[SoaringEagle5344]

The world is full of critics. Why don't you create instead of criticizing the artistic expression of others?

[goaitsenvandervliet]

Excuse me? I am not criticising Alan Ginsberg here. I really like this performance. And children are children and they need lots of sleep. Besides that, if you had taken the trouble to view some of my U2b-page, you would know I am a creator myself indeed. And so what? Are only creators allowed to criticize? Wake up, mister.

[SoaringEagle5344]

I misunderstood your earlier comment. Will you forgive me w/ a kiss?

[danrob10]

Why disrespectful? You know that Ginsberg narrated the film, yes? Your comment's superficial and for want of a better word, .......

[aminozuur]

Adembenemend Thanks VPRO !

[DragonWorshipper]

ik zag deze aflevering en ging gelijk op zoek..echt zo'n mooi nummer. Jammer genoeg heeft Ginsberg niet veel meer van dit soort nummers.

[saidhunter]

werkelijk... ongelovelijk prachtig!

Ik. Kan er geen genoeg van krijgen.