San Francisco Blues

by Jack Kerouac

gift sized paperback book

Genres: Poetry, Classics, Fiction, American, Collections, Music, Literature

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

Jean-Louis Lebris de Kérouac, known as Jack Kerouac, was an American novelist and poet who, alongside William S. Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg, was a pioneer of the Beat Generation.

Of French-Canadian ancestry, Kerouac was raised in a French-speaking home in Lowell, Massachusetts. He "learned English at age six and spoke with a marked accent into his late teens." During World War II, he served in the United States Merchant Marine; he completed his first novel at the time, which was published more than 40 years after his death. His first published book was The Town and the City (1950), and he achieved widespread fame and notoriety with his second, On the Road, in 1957. It made him a beat icon, and he went on to publish 12 more novels and numerous poetry volumes.
Kerouac is recognized for his style of stream of consciousness spontaneous prose. Thematically, his work covers topics such as his Catholic spirituality, jazz, travel, promiscuity, life in New York City, Buddhism, drugs, and poverty. He became an underground celebrity and, with other Beats, a progenitor of the hippie movement, although he remained antagonistic toward some of its politically radical elements. He has a lasting legacy, greatly influencing many of the cultural icons of the 1960s, including Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Jerry Garcia and The Doors.
In 1969, at the age of 47, Kerouac died from an abdominal hemorrhage caused by a lifetime of heavy drinking. Since then, his literary prestige has grown, and several previously unseen works have been published.

Reviews

[Steven Godin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Falling off in wind.

I got the San Francisco
blues
Bluer than misery
I got the San Francisco blues
Bluer than Eternity
I gotta go on home
Fine me
Another
Sanity

I got the San Francisco
blues
Bluer than Heaven's gate,
mate,
I got the San Francisco blues
Bluer than blue paint,
Saint,—
I better move on home
Sleep in
My golden
Dream again

[Julie Ehlers · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure what the occasion was, but about 20 years ago Penguin Classics put out these little 100-page books, small enough to fit in your back pocket. Most of them were just single short stories, but this one was a poem cycle that was part of Jack Kerouac's collection of "blues" poems. I liked that the book was self-contained but could serve as an intro to the larger project, so I put down my 95 cents (no lie--that was the cover price!) and promptly forgot about it. I wasn't really much of a poetry reader back then, but I am now, so when I found this in a box of books in the back of my closet recently, I was psyched and read it soon after.

Unfortunately, this book was a disappointment. If I'm understanding this correctly, the "blues" poems are actually meant to mimic the rhythm of the blues, kind of bringing poetry and music together. Maybe I just don't know that much about blues music, but I definitely didn't feel it in most of these poems, and a lot of the language was uninspired. I think, fairly or not, I was holding this to the standards of other poets of the time (Ginsberg, O'Hara), and there was no way this could compete. If I'm being honest here, I enjoyed On the Road and I'm sure Kerouac has written some other great stuff, but with some of his shorter pieces I feel like he's only half trying. San Francisco Blues did not disabuse me of this notion. I've canceled any vague plan I may have had to read the entire Book of Blues and will stick to Kerouac's novels for the foreseeable future.

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's Kerouac, man, it gets 2 stars just for being his and being beat, in my universe. And I like the tiny book format, it fits in the palm of your hand. I just picked it up at a used book sale so sat down to read it right away. I love tiny books as City Lights puts out.

The trouble for me is that while Kerouac is an often great writer of autobiographical fiction, I never liked his poetry. He loved jazz and blues and tried to emulate it in his writing, and there's quite a bit of blues poetry from him, and none of it seems to be any good. I listened to the blues as I read this, so that made the reading a happening, the kind of live, hip experience he would have liked, but the poetry, Jack, it doesn't match the improv conception you have in your head about it.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't planning on reading another Kerouac right now but a few weeks ago I passed a box of free books on my street and this was on top of the pile. I've read a handful of works from Kerouac and none of them have really wowed me. I found books like On The Road and Dharma Bums to be fun and adventurous stories that capture the US in the mid 20th century but ultimately nothing more in terms of literary prowess. I've read books like Dr Sax that showcase more of Kerouac's more literary prose but in terms of a compelling story I wasn't as drawn in.

I've never read any of Kerouac's poetry so I was willing to check this out and see if this side of Kerouac is more of my thing. To an extent I would say that I enjoyed this more but it still wasn't a well crafted new favorite. San Francisco Blues is a collection of 80 "choruses", essentially short poems that replicate the lyrics of a blues song. Kerouac does a good job of capturing this feeling on a blues song with words but I wouldn't say he knocks it out of the park.

Out of all 80 choruses only about half a dozen really hit for me. I felt like you have to really get into the rhythm of the prose and that took the first 30 to really get down where the words would flow from one chorus to the next. I enjoyed some of the more absurd stories but some just felt like a flash of words with no hook. Some of the more descriptive choruses did a good job of capturing the city life of 1950s San Francisco, and it was impressive to see this done in a few short words, but many times it fell flat.

If you are a musician looking for song lyric inspiration I think this would be a good recourse as it definitely got the creative inspiration going for me but when it came to its own lyrical merit, I wasn't as impressed.

In typical Kerouac fashion, there is a lot that hasn't aged well, or was never great to begin with. For as few words as there are in this book there are plenty of racist or sexist stereotypes portrayed, particularly about Black people. This is especially notable as he is trying to emulate a Black artform and utilizes a sort of dialectic impression of a Black Blues singer with this poem collection. He seems like he admires Black culture but also has a lot of conflicting ideas about Black people simultaneously. This is a common theme I've noticed in other Kerouac books, and a part of why I really haven't loved any work from him. You can consider the time period in which this was written and sure it isn't anything too egregious but it stands out due more than usual due to its strange contradiction.

Beyond these major issues, what I enjoyed most about this book was how much it felt like the blueprint for Richard Brautigan. After reading A Confederate General From Big Sur you can see how much Brautigan was influenced by Kerouac but this feels more in line with what Brautigan would do after. Personally, I much prefer Brautigan but this feels like a proto version of his works, which was insightful to my enjoyment of Brautigan.

[Adam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jack Kerouac's San Francisco Blues isn't for me.

Kerouac's language is beautiful. I did enjoy his wordplay and imagery. That's as far as my enjoyment goes.

For me, reading San Fransico Blues was akin to sitting in a class where I had no idea what was going on. Everyone knows the feeling of getting lost during a teacher's lesson. No matter how hard you try to pay attention, nothing makes sense.

That's how I felt reading San Francisco Blues.

At one point, I thought to myself, "Will this book ever end?" It's only 80 pages!

Maybe if I knew more about San Francisco, or if I understood more of Kerouac's references, I would have enjoyed the book more.

[Detroit Hamell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kerouac’s prose is better. I know this was intended to be written like a blues song - loose, rambling, etc. But I think the quality of the poems suffers because of it. With that being said, I think Chorus #10 is a strike of magic.

“Dig the old sad bum
No money
Presuming to hit the store
And buy his cube of oleo
For 8 cents
So in cheap rooms
At A M 3 30
He can cough & groan
In a white tile sink
By his bed
Which is used
To run water in
And stagger to
In the reel of wake up
Middle of the night
Flophouse Nightmares-
His death no blackern
Mine, his Toast’s
Just as well buttered
And on the one side.”

Unfortunately, a lot of the collection isn’t like that. But that doesn’t mean Kerouac doesn’t also tap into some great (depressing?) imagery to encapsulate San Fran in the 50s. So, cool.

[olivia 🐇 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Her lips are like cherries
Her cheeks just purse them out
All the more to kiss them
And suck their juices out.

[Vicky · Rating 3 out of 5]

These first poems by Kerouac are way better to carry around than to read. He composed them all in a notebook that could fit into his breastpocket and used the space limitations of the small page as if they were chords, or was it choruses, of blues/jazz, that required being spontaneous and responding to your surroundings. I was insistent to read them only while I took the train so that I could feel the movement more than indoors since this is no book to read in bed. It was perfect timing for me to remember that I have this book because I've been hopping on the Red Line and riding it with no destination in mind, feeling like it'd be appropriate for me to try one of Bernadette Mayer's writing experiments where I write one line for each station stop or something, which is kind of what he is doing here. I dis/like Kerouac, though. I've seen one episode of Mad Men so far and Kerouac is basically that Don Draper 50s character. There are more than a few lines in here related to enjoying his carefree time, letting women cook his supper, and other -ist lines that can make you uncomfortable. That's why I'll give this 3 stars for "m'eh" (because it IS m'eh) yet it's going to be shelved under my "favorites."

[Mitch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I prefer Kerouac's poetry to his prose, and this book, like Mexico City Blues, is a superb example of why. Arranged in choruses, meant to be heard like a chorus in a jazz piece by, say, Charlie Parker, simply rolls along a sharp melodic line, blasting consonants and stretching vowels like a good solo does, here Kerouac is amazing. Can't quite figure out why these poems were left unpublished for so long.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

San Francisco Blues
Written in a rocking chair
In the Cameo Hotel
San Francisco Skid row
Nineteen Fifty Four.

This pretty white city
On the other side of the country
Will no longer be
Available to me
I saw heaven move
Said "This is the End"
Because I was tired
of all that portend.

And any time you need
me
Call
I'll be at the other
end
Waiting
at the final hall

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love penguin pocket editions for their size and ability to move with me.

Secondly, Penguin always presents the best of writers, sometimes with their most obscure works.

San Fran Blues doesn't dissappoint. These poems are great snacks for the hungry reader.

[Adrian Todd · Rating 3 out of 5]

i am looking forward to seeing san francisco

[Jeannie-marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short and thoughtful.

[Karlene Olesuk · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is jazz in poetry.

[Nilo Di Stefano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Musica
E' musica , non solo poesia. Il blues lo senti , lo assapori e lo mandi giù come una tequila.

[ronny · Rating 3 out of 5]

wow. i read a book.

[Josh Simpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

read these out loud, the sound & wordplay dances across the brain & draws never before seen shapes in the air as with a cosmic yet bedraggled sparkler

[Sheri Fresonke Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each of the poems is a chorus in a bluesy song that tells of the people of San Francisco and of the many experiences. This is quite different from "On the Road".

[Edward Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this little volume of poems. tHIS MUST BE THE 12TH TIME i HAVE READ IT...OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

[Richard Downey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kerouac is much better writing prose than poetry but still, this is a lot of fun.

[Marvin Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

In some ways, which I won't get into as to be vague, this is better than Mexico City Blues. In other ways, as stated above, is not as good at Mexico City Blues.

[Darinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jack Kerouac poetry. Written as choruses reminiscent of blues music. Interesting.

[Jack Malik · Rating 4 out of 5]

33 Choruses out of 80 I liked.

Wished I had read this before I wrote my first poetry collection.

[Jacki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading this I felt i missed out on something.
I didn't enjoy it, but kept hoping or wishing maybe that I would.
And by the end I realized it was the format in which it was read, that perhaps was the disappointment.
I wish id been in a dark bar, listening to it being read by Tom Waits, with a whiskey on a table and a cigarette in hand. And his voice would have read the words in the rhythm they were intended to be, jazz like. The blues spoken word about a city on the edge, read, in a way that would have made it seem more an ode, or a feeling rather than a smattering of words.
Perhaps i will read it again at some point, look up all the things Kerouac mentions.
maybe then ill see what he means, or hear it better.

[Donald · Rating 3 out of 5]

“It’s all gotta be non stop ad libbing within each chorus, or the gig is shot.”
- Jack Kerouac

I’ve not been a fan of his poetry, but this collection had the vibe of The City I live near, so I liked a bit more than usual.

from the 27th Chorus:

San Francisco
San Francisco
You’re a muttering bum
In a brown beat suit
Can’t make a woman
On a rainy day

And from the last page, the 80th Chorus:

San Francisco Blues
Written in a rocking chair
In the Cameo Hotel
San Francisco Skid row
Nineteen Fifty Four

[Crickets · Rating 1 out of 5]

A bookshop owner convinced me to get a couple of Jack Kerouac's books when I was in San Francisco a few years ago. This tiny book fits in the palm of my hand, and this copy in particular is practically my age. I wanted to like it, but I did not manage to.

It tries to be jazz and blues, but I don't think it turned out that well in practice. It took me several days to get through one afternoon's worth of material. I preferred "On the Road", if you want to get familiar with the "Beat movement" in the USA.

[Pseudointelektualac · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second-best thing about this booklet is that it's actually one lengthy poem that can be read separately. Even though some bits were honestly hard to get through, I still like the way they sound. One can clearly see the influence blues and jazz had on a poet's rather refined ear. The best thing is that, while reading it, I could see Kerouac's San Francisco everywhere, and the world felt like a giant city ready to implode under the heat of its own being. To that, I was completely indifferent. It was beautiful.

[heidola · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quando leggo poesie straniere è difficile e pericoloso esprimere quello che penso. È come se mi sentissi di non poterle capire in fondo, le poesie di questo autore però, anche nella versione che ho letto, sono scritte con l’intento di dare al lettore una esperienza che andasse oltre al sondarne un senso compiuto. Esse sono prima di tutto una esperienza musicale, che forse la traduzione non può permettere di cogliere a pieno. Divorato in ogni caso, in poche ore.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

San Francisco Blues

Written in a rocking chair

In the Cameo Hotel

San Francisco Skid row

Nineteen Fifty Four


This pretty white city

On the other side of the country

Will no longer be

Available to me

I saw heaven move

Said 'This is the end'

Because I was tired

of all that portend




And any time you need

me

Call

I'll be at the other

end

Waiting

at the final wall.

[Dan Foy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mexico City, it ain’t.