Walking down the railroad tracks in San Miguel de Allende that Neal Cassady may have collapsed on in 1968. www.pablosmoglives.com www.soundheartrecords.com
Neil Cassady lived his legendary life over the edge all the time, but it finally caught up to him. In the immortal words of Hunter S. Thompson: "The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know it are the ones who have gone over".
Thank you Pablo. I feel NC was a significant influence on several bigger influencers (before 'influencing' became a thing!), from Kerouac to the Grateful Dead. I heard a story that NC got into a discussion with someone at the wedding party over how many railroad sleepers there were to the next town. He wrote the number on a piece of paper and set off to count them. The piece of paper was found still clenched in his hand. I heard that Kesey wrote a short story titled with that number, about the closing days or hours of NC's life. Don't know if any scholars out there can corroborate any of this...?
I read one account saying that he had attended a wedding party in San Miguel and drank the local liquor called Pulque and of course he was on some drugs too. He always wanted to write but was just too hyper to sit down and write according to his wife Carolyn in an interview . He did write a lot of letters from prison serving two years for giving two marijuana joints to two undercover cops who picked him up hitchhiking to work as a conductor on the railroads. Apparently his writing style inspired Kerouac. His wife Carolyn was a lovely lady and very intelligent and there are some good interviews with her. She wrote a book called Off The Road.
IT , when you have to know , when you have to go , BE IT ! Vaya Con Dios Pablo may all around you be Happy & Healthy , and all who have gone up the Road have reached a BEAUTIFUL PLACE
Creativity is definitely cheap. It's even a title now, "creative." The further devaluation of culture and society. That's why so much art is fake; it isn't art at all. There can be "creative" solutions to accounting problems, mechanical problems, welding problems, etc, but there aren't artistic solutions to those problems. And so we have another generation of people who think most modern art is actually art, who think rappers are musicians, etc. The conditions are disheartening, and do indeed tempt people to dismiss others as, among many other things, "bug-eyed speed freaks," in this case. Whether it was true or not, and whether the Beatnik movement was a vibrant art/literary movement, or an excuse for a bunch of posers to get stoned, is debatable. There are always gems shining in the mire. Kerouac was one, Cassady was another, if not a writer or artist or musician himself. The tales about him in Ken Kesey's hippie bus book seem to point to a genuinely interesting person. Unlike many name-brand leeches in the movement, who are as numerous as they are famous. Anyway, they got the culture they paid for. The free music, "the song belongs to all of us" people. Leeches to a man. Descendents, perhaps, of the "chemistry pretending to be creativity" people. Everyone's a "creator" now. "Artist" isn't good enough, because it's non-inclusive. Anybody can "create." What's important is the title, not the thing being created. Which is why it is generally cheap, disposable, and sucks. Welcome to the future. Thanks for your comment. May you find something worth your while, before it's too late. The odds are stacked against all of us. If it's something in or of this world, I would bet against it. As they say in Spanish, To God,
@@pablosmoglivesbig Beat fan myself but also a Christ follower. Loved On the Road in my BC days. Tried to emulate the lifestyle but after coming to Jesus I see how foolish it is. But still loved the way Kerouac wrote.
@@theosophicalwanderings7696 I'm a huge fan of Kerouac's writing. Sober 10 years myself in a few months. I don't even smoke weed anymore. The world is a dead-end, and Jesus is the only way. But I still love Kerouac's writing.
Does anyone know where the wedding party was? That would be good way to narrow down the actual location. Not that it’s vitality important but I geek out in things like this. Hence finding this video.
I don't know. Good question, am curious myself now that you mention it. The tracks themselves are obviously new, but they take the same route that train tracks have always taken through that area, more or less. But the party could have taken place anywhere. I have no idea.
@@pablosmoglives that’s badass you physically went there. I’d only google earthed it to find the tracks and found some potential locations but if he was walking the length of the tracks you’re right it could be anywhere.
Exposure, actually. He collapsed from either drunkenness and/or pills, and it rained on him all night. They found him the next day and took him to a hospital, but it was too late.
Neither one..It is often warm in Mexico during the day, but in the mountains, like anywhere else at higher altitudes, it can get somewhat colder at night fairly fast. He was not prepared apparently, got rained on, probably real tired, could not finish the walk.
Randy - There are a few stories going around about his demise. There is the one about an irate husband/boyfriend. Neal was a weirdo that thought he could just take any women anytime he wanted. Many people did not like him. Then there is the Spooky Tooth ( with Peirce something, forgot his last name) album jacket. Jumpin Jack Flash which is a reflection of Neals birth & death which while it may be literary is still reflecting his murder. To notion that Neal could not hold a high in control is somewhat ridiculous. Of course there wasn't autopsy done so questions abound. The last thing anyone that knew him ever thought was that it was an overdose.
There are a few stories going around about his demise. There is the one about an irate husband/boyfriend. Neal was a weirdo that thought he could just take any women anytime he wanted. Many people did not like him. From those whom he took things from to the govt. Then there is the Pierre Henry & Spooky Tooth album. Jumpin Jack Flash, which is a reflection of Neals birth & death, while it may be literary is still reflecting his murder. The notion that Neal could not hold a high in control is somewhat ridiculous. Of course there wasn't autopsy done so questions abound. Mexican Police were not helpful. The last thing anyone that knew him ever thought was that it was an overdose.
@@mikeb8843 You're probably correct in assuming I don't know what I'm rambling on about but just as today there were more than enough bigots and social nazi's lurking back in the day. nevertheless the govt wanted him and got him. There were others whom he offended and if you investigate you'll find out that he did indeed make many enemies and some of them were those who he took sex from. Right here on YT you'll find people telling stories of Cassady's misadventures. He was a pushy arrogant knowitall to some while others, like you who thought & still think he was some sort of knight on a white horse, which he was in some ways. A real kid champeon for the masses! He was an outlaw in the eyes of many. It's possible to be 2 things, maybe more at once. A brilliant mind is debatable, he once said we should line up all extremists, left and right and do away with them all. That is an extreme solution and out of the mainstream for most. I noticed you didn't offer any of the things Neal did to make you admire him so much???
@@mikeb8843 I'm not the only one who thinks NC was a wild child. He did steal over 500 cars and went to reform school for it. Those 500 owners might have held a small resentment towards NC... Aztec 2 Step reflected this back to us about him. The Persecution and Restoration of Dean Moriarty Lyrics Well I can't understand what is wrong with the man Don't he know how he's acting is long ago banned Don't you think it's a shame, someone tell me his name If we let him continue things may get out of hand Look at him laughing and carrying on Like a hydrogen manic or an organic bomb He's alive like a child, so terribly wild He has way too much freedom, of course he is wrong, he's wrong yeah He was born on the road in the month of July And he'll live on the road 'til he sees fit to die 'Cause he learned from the road how humanity cries How society liеs, he sees with more than his eyеs Look at him running don't he know how to walk He's just too damned cunning you can tell by his talk You can tell he is rude, like a typical dude If you want my opinion he belongs under lock One look in his eyes and you know he's unsound There's no way to faze him he's nobody's clown He's as deep as the sea and he's equally free That's why I fear him and hate him and wish he were down, was down yeah Whether riding the rails out of Denver Or bumming his friends' cigarettes He's asking them all to remember Making sure that they'll never forget So you're curious friend 'bout this man who I speak For he tears you and scares you out of your sleep I am sure that you'll find, if you open your mind That it's you and not he who is really the freak Oh relax for a moment as you would for your hobby His beauty abounds in his mind and his body He's like the setting sun's hues, or the dust on his shoes He's living he's naughty, he's Dean Moriarty, yeah Whether riding the rails out of Denver Or bumming his friends' cigarettes He's asking them all to remember Making sure that they'll never forget Well, he may ride down the road at a hundred and ten Exclaiming his thoughts about prisons and men He may tell you his dream, maybe something obscene You can swear you’ve been through him but you don’t know just when He’s like the dancing gold prairies that will never be mowed Or the wind in the sail that’s about to explode He’s like fire and rain, bringing pleasure and pain And he learned all he knows from the ways of the road, yeah He was born on the road in the month of July And he’ll live on the road ‘til he sees fit to die ‘Cause he learned from the road how humanity cries How society lies; he sees with more than his eyes
That's how the legend goes. I knew him from 1967, here in San Miguel!
Cool!
Was he crazy like?
Neil Cassady lived his legendary life over the edge all the time, but it finally caught up to him. In the immortal words of Hunter S. Thompson: "The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know it are the ones who have gone over".
If you listen closely you can problem hear him expounding his last dying breath with words, narrating the transition
No it said he died. Pretty sure you won't hear him.
internet is amazing, back in late 80s when I discovered them and him Id neverve thought Id see the area where this happened. Thanks.
Appreciate the effort, gracias. (fellow SMA resident here)
If he was there at night I would think his view wasn't the same...
wow this is cool. thanks
Cassidy inspired alot of people, there should be a historical marker at the spot for this cool American folk hero.
Not a bad idea.
Thank you Pablo.
I feel NC was a significant influence on several bigger influencers (before 'influencing' became a thing!), from Kerouac to the Grateful Dead.
I heard a story that NC got into a discussion with someone at the wedding party over how many railroad sleepers there were to the next town. He wrote the number on a piece of paper and set off to count them. The piece of paper was found still clenched in his hand.
I heard that Kesey wrote a short story titled with that number, about the closing days or hours of NC's life.
Don't know if any scholars out there can corroborate any of this...?
I've never heard that, but maybe somebody out there will know. Thanks for the comment.
Influencing was always a thing since humanity began, for good or bad. Nothing new about it. Why would you say that? Makes no sense at all.
Nothing like it is today. People get paid to do it on social media. The White House has their own paid social influencers.
Your comment was just rude.
I read one account saying that he had attended a wedding party in San Miguel and drank the local liquor called Pulque and of course he was on some drugs too. He always wanted to write but was just too hyper to sit down and write according to his wife Carolyn in an interview . He did write a lot of letters from prison serving two years for giving two marijuana joints to two undercover cops who picked him up hitchhiking to work as a conductor on the railroads. Apparently his writing style inspired Kerouac. His wife Carolyn was a lovely lady and very intelligent and there are some good interviews with her. She wrote a book called Off The Road.
Yes I’ve heard that I think it was in
the book memory babe
RIP Neal! XOXO
IT , when you have to know ,
when you have to go , BE IT !
Vaya Con Dios Pablo may
all around you be Happy & Healthy ,
and all who have gone
up the Road have reached a
BEAUTIFUL PLACE
Thank you.
We don’t know what we don’t know…
RIP Neil
he died as a bug-eyed speed freak. a lot of "creativity" is chemistry.
Creativity is definitely cheap. It's even a title now, "creative." The further devaluation of culture and society. That's why so much art is fake; it isn't art at all. There can be "creative" solutions to accounting problems, mechanical problems, welding problems, etc, but there aren't artistic solutions to those problems. And so we have another generation of people who think most modern art is actually art, who think rappers are musicians, etc. The conditions are disheartening, and do indeed tempt people to dismiss others as, among many other things, "bug-eyed speed freaks," in this case. Whether it was true or not, and whether the Beatnik movement was a vibrant art/literary movement, or an excuse for a bunch of posers to get stoned, is debatable. There are always gems shining in the mire. Kerouac was one, Cassady was another, if not a writer or artist or musician himself. The tales about him in Ken Kesey's hippie bus book seem to point to a genuinely interesting person. Unlike many name-brand leeches in the movement, who are as numerous as they are famous.
Anyway, they got the culture they paid for. The free music, "the song belongs to all of us" people. Leeches to a man. Descendents, perhaps, of the "chemistry pretending to be creativity" people. Everyone's a "creator" now. "Artist" isn't good enough, because it's non-inclusive. Anybody can "create." What's important is the title, not the thing being created. Which is why it is generally cheap, disposable, and sucks. Welcome to the future.
Thanks for your comment. May you find something worth your while, before it's too late. The odds are stacked against all of us. If it's something in or of this world, I would bet against it.
As they say in Spanish,
To God,
@@pablosmogliveswhat a beautiful thought out response. You sound like a romantic.❤😊
You said it. All about finding The Lord Jesus Christ. Praying for Neal.
Amen.
@@pablosmoglivesbig Beat fan myself but also a Christ follower. Loved On the Road in my BC days. Tried to emulate the lifestyle but after coming to Jesus I see how foolish it is. But still loved the way Kerouac wrote.
@@theosophicalwanderings7696 I'm a huge fan of Kerouac's writing. Sober 10 years myself in a few months. I don't even smoke weed anymore. The world is a dead-end, and Jesus is the only way. But I still love Kerouac's writing.
Could've taken some whiskey and a joint to leave for his spirit1 :( I would've!
Does anyone know where the wedding party was? That would be good way to narrow down the actual location. Not that it’s vitality important but I geek out in things like this. Hence finding this video.
I don't know. Good question, am curious myself now that you mention it. The tracks themselves are obviously new, but they take the same route that train tracks have always taken through that area, more or less. But the party could have taken place anywhere. I have no idea.
@@pablosmoglives that’s badass you physically went there. I’d only google earthed it to find the tracks and found some potential locations but if he was walking the length of the tracks you’re right it could be anywhere.
It was definitely cool. These particular tracks ran up the shore of "La Presa," the large lake SW of town. @@Root1966
Did he get run over or was it an overdose?
Exposure, actually. He collapsed from either drunkenness and/or pills, and it rained on him all night. They found him the next day and took him to a hospital, but it was too late.
Neither one..It is often warm in Mexico during the day, but in the mountains, like anywhere else at higher altitudes, it can get somewhat colder at night fairly fast. He was not prepared apparently, got rained on, probably real tired, could not finish the walk.
Randy - There are a few stories going around about his demise. There is the one about an irate husband/boyfriend. Neal was a weirdo that thought he could just take any women anytime he wanted. Many people did not like him. Then there is the Spooky Tooth ( with Peirce something, forgot his last name) album jacket. Jumpin Jack Flash which is a reflection of Neals birth & death which while it may be literary is still reflecting his murder. To notion that Neal could not hold a high in control is somewhat ridiculous. Of course there wasn't autopsy done so questions abound. The last thing anyone that knew him ever thought was that it was an overdose.
There are a few stories going around about his demise. There is the one about an irate husband/boyfriend. Neal was a weirdo that thought he could just take any women anytime he wanted. Many people did not like him. From those whom he took things from to the govt. Then there is the Pierre Henry & Spooky Tooth album. Jumpin Jack Flash, which is a reflection of Neals birth & death, while it may be literary is still reflecting his murder. The notion that Neal could not hold a high in control is somewhat ridiculous. Of course there wasn't autopsy done so questions abound. Mexican Police were not helpful. The last thing anyone that knew him ever thought was that it was an overdose.
You clearly dont know much about Neal Cassady. By all informed accounts, one of the most brilliant and likeable human beings.
@@mikeb8843 You're probably correct in assuming I don't know what I'm rambling on about but just as today there were more than enough bigots and social nazi's lurking back in the day. nevertheless the govt wanted him and got him. There were others whom he offended and if you investigate you'll find out that he did indeed make many enemies and some of them were those who he took sex from. Right here on YT you'll find people telling stories of Cassady's misadventures. He was a pushy arrogant knowitall to some while others, like you who thought & still think he was some sort of knight on a white horse, which he was in some ways. A real kid champeon for the masses! He was an outlaw in the eyes of many. It's possible to be 2 things, maybe more at once. A brilliant mind is debatable, he once said we should line up all extremists, left and right and do away with them all. That is an extreme solution and out of the mainstream for most. I noticed you didn't offer any of the things Neal did to make you admire him so much???
@@mikeb8843 I'm not the only one who thinks NC was a wild child.
He did steal over 500 cars and went to reform school for it. Those 500 owners might have held a small resentment towards NC...
Aztec 2 Step reflected this back to us about him.
The Persecution and Restoration of Dean Moriarty
Lyrics
Well I can't understand what is wrong with the man
Don't he know how he's acting is long ago banned
Don't you think it's a shame, someone tell me his name
If we let him continue things may get out of hand
Look at him laughing and carrying on
Like a hydrogen manic or an organic bomb
He's alive like a child, so terribly wild
He has way too much freedom, of course he is wrong, he's wrong yeah
He was born on the road in the month of July
And he'll live on the road 'til he sees fit to die
'Cause he learned from the road how humanity cries
How society liеs, he sees with more than his eyеs
Look at him running don't he know how to walk
He's just too damned cunning you can tell by his talk
You can tell he is rude, like a typical dude
If you want my opinion he belongs under lock
One look in his eyes and you know he's unsound
There's no way to faze him he's nobody's clown
He's as deep as the sea and he's equally free
That's why I fear him and hate him and wish he were down, was down yeah
Whether riding the rails out of Denver
Or bumming his friends' cigarettes
He's asking them all to remember
Making sure that they'll never forget
So you're curious friend 'bout this man who I speak
For he tears you and scares you out of your sleep
I am sure that you'll find, if you open your mind
That it's you and not he who is really the freak
Oh relax for a moment as you would for your hobby
His beauty abounds in his mind and his body
He's like the setting sun's hues, or the dust on his shoes
He's living he's naughty, he's Dean Moriarty, yeah
Whether riding the rails out of Denver
Or bumming his friends' cigarettes
He's asking them all to remember
Making sure that they'll never forget
Well, he may ride down the road at a hundred and ten
Exclaiming his thoughts about prisons and men
He may tell you his dream, maybe something obscene
You can swear you’ve been through him but you don’t know just when
He’s like the dancing gold prairies that will never be mowed
Or the wind in the sail that’s about to explode
He’s like fire and rain, bringing pleasure and pain
And he learned all he knows from the ways of the road, yeah
He was born on the road in the month of July
And he’ll live on the road ‘til he sees fit to die
‘Cause he learned from the road how humanity cries
How society lies; he sees with more than his eyes