I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends - Allen Ginsburg

I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed,
angry, prowling the negro streets at dawn - looking for a fix.- Allen Ginsburg, “Howl”

Washington – A few years ago, U.S. Senators conducting hearings into the question of whether LSD should be outlawed as an illicit narcotic summoned Mr. Allen Ginsburg before their committee.

In his testimony, Mr. Ginsburg revealed that he had taken the mind-bending hallucinogenic drug many times – to good effect, he said.

In numerous questions, the Senators elicited Mr. Ginsburg's testimony that he believed in a love at first sight, that when he turned out the light, what he saw was all his, and that, to sum up, he had a right to his own mind. Love, Mr. Ginsburg testified, is the key to all fears and tribulations. Furthermore, affiant saith not.

Finally, frustrated by all the lame questions, the author of the epic poem, “Howl,” which became the object of a U.S. Supreme Court decision on obscenity in 1957, donned his finger symbols and told the tribunal that he would sing his answers. He began to chant and sing, whereupon, the Senators arose as one, adjusted their coats and ties, and strode from the hearing chamber in high dudgeon, as Mr. W.C. Fields was so fond of saying.

When Mr. John Lennon of The Beatles heard of the incident, he wrote, “With A Little Help From My Friends” and included it on the seminal concept album, “Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.”

Thus, it was proven, once and for all, that all the young dudes carry the news, you see.

Furthermore, she got a hubcap diamond star halo. She dirty-sweet and she my girl.

Yeah, man! A hubcap diamond star halo, now. Count on that, fellers. She dirty-sweet and she my girl.

- The Legendary