This was the first of two bound sets of 8-1/2" x 14" sheets printed
on one or two sides that were each titled "Free City." The
cover illustration depicts a Hopi "Running Man" symbol against a Sun-Ray
mandala. The inside sheets contain news of the Free community, poetic
pronouncements, and philosophical diatribes.
We can date the
publication of this first set by an announcement in the Berkeley Barb.
The September 29, 1967, issue contained a notice which read:
"Free
City," the San Francisco Diggers free newspaper-magazine-rap sheet, is
due to hit the streets at any moment. A pre-release copy of the
multi-color Gestetner publication reached BARB's hands. Included in the
first edition is:
A list of dozens of free things and places from Haight
to Berlin.
A rap called "Daytime Paranoia Becomes a Joke at Night,"
beginning "Some false-bottom fear holds downtown day in a hopeless
comicstrip."
A rap on the merits of long hair.
A rap on hierarchies and free.
"Here Lies Bob Dylan."
"The Underground Press Syndicate is a Self-Indulgent Bore
& Rigged-Up Bullshit Fraud."
Poems and graphics.
An enumeration of 87 erotic postures.
This first set would be followed by a second "bound" set, similarly
titled. The order of these pages is how we received them in 1972 with
metal clip intact. Thus, it may be assumed that the
listing of transcribed pages (below) is the original pagination.
The cover sheet (right) depicts what the Diggers called the 'Hopi Running Man symbol' with the Four Directions
against a Sun-Ray Mandala. The same symbol appeared on the free edition
of the Digger Papers the following year.
Sheet #1
News of the day * News
This is a political newspaper
This is not a political newspaper
This newspaper is your fantasy
Long-hairs mob Romney in Panhandle. Who is the leader?
Statement of revolution by prominent Cuban: "We don't talk very
much of Marxism anymore. Our goal is a free society, a genuine democracy
in which all the people are intergrated through their own constant, active
participation in the continuing struggle required for a man to feel free
and be free. To achieve the basis of that kind of society, man must first
defeat his exploiter. To do so, in view of the reality that the exploiter
is always richer, stronger, bigger, each man must particularize the
struggle into his personal life and generalize his personal commitment, if
he can, he can defeat any exploiter whose motivation is greed and
possession. That is why the Vietnamese cannot be defeated by the armed
technological might of the United States. Each Vietnamese fights for his
revolution. His own and all of theirs together. He fights for himself, for
his country, and for his vision of a just world. That combination is
undefeatable. We, too, in the Americas, are gaining such a
combination."
How to make a fire bomb: Fill a glass bottle about one-fifth to
one-fourth full with sulphuric acid. Fill the remainder with gasoline,
kerosene, or a combination of both. Add water to potassium chlorate and
sugar mix, and soak rags in the mix. Wrap the rags around the bottle, tie
in place, and allow to dry. When thrown the bottle will break, the acid
will ignite the chlorate sugar saturated rags, which in turn will ignite
the fuel. Caution!! Improvised explosives are much more dangerous to
handle than conventional explosives. Such mixtures as above can be ignited
or detonate by a single spark, excessive heat, or merely by friction
generated by stirring or mixing ingredients together. Danger in handling
these items cannot be overemphasized!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Flash. .l . .Straight Theater to become public domain. . . .Daily Free
community worship. . . .
Winter Solstice [about December 21 or 22] is the Saturnalia!!!
San Francisco to be first Free City on the planet by end of '68 or
middle of 1969 the latest.
News from the Other. . . Absolutely nothing. . .
The ghost of Malcolm X walks down Broadway, Anytown, U.S.A.
Private property; geographical, sexual, intellectual, spiritual,
commodity, now being expropriated for public domain. All prisons,
creations of property statements, breaking under strain. Estimated over
80% of world-prisoners released upon liberation of property.
Extra::::::: Death of the Hippie October 6. Birth of the Free-Man
October 7.
Free prisoners San Quentin light show and rock dance in a month.
Nationwide caravan to Washington arrive Oct. 21 for Exorcism of
Pentagon.
When acting and actor disappear all actions become correct.
Sheet #2, Recto
Strange Angel —
You're As Holy As You'll Ever Be —
If You're Not
Free Now, Why Not? —
Who's Got Your String —
Let It Burn —
Let It Run —
Let It Go —
Holy Is A Peacock Mind —
Angel Is A State Of Grace —
Angel
Karma Is A Coat Of Stars —
The Ground You Stand On Is Liberated Territory
—
Hermaphroditic Deities Fuck Forever —
Free —
Free —
Free
Sheet #2, Verso
It's being unusually dark the other morning, I went downtown to the
framestore where the salesman, who was very polite, showed me a fine old
1914 model, a racy '23, and a simple but practical '38. I thanked him
but told him I wasn't a collector and what I really needed was the 1967
model.
Also the Sun
He said that he understood but that the '67 wasn't
expected until sometime early in the next century. When I asked why he
said that I would have to be patient since these things take time, you
know, and money. I told him that all of that was well and good but that
it was 1967 and it was only logical that...and he said that we should be
grateful, you know, because the world's leading scientists and
technicians were hard at work on the 1946 model.
'04 BArch -- Robert C. Dunbar lives with his
daughter Mary (Mrs. H. S. Strandness), Jamestown College Box 82,
Jamestown, N.D. He is still an ardent Cornellian--singing the Alma Mater
and other Cornell favorites daily. He says his brain is going haywire
and his eyes are only ornaments, but as long as the sun rises and the
rivers flow, he will not forget Cornell.
Which, he felt, would rival even the classic 1866. When I
said that all I wanted to do was keep count he told me I was lucky to
have the choices that I did and that in China and Africa, you
know......and, after all, while he and I might be ready for a '48 model
or even a '49, the average sun-worshipper could hardly be expected, you
know......too hot, you know, to handle, you know and then
That's when he called the police and had me busted for
disturbing the peace; claimed I'd smashed up an elegant old '28 he'd
been saving for his wife.
Sheet #3, Recto
What Image Gaping From The Cunts of America
Run With It
Tumble To It
the thing that has to
happen
in 68 the new awareness is going to spread like wildfire
Just Looking Around
hippie digger white-nigger- gypsy not indian hunkie seller
motherfucker----------BROTHERS.......
news too no mater what you watch fall guy xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"your too young"
"because you fucking people stink"
"because you fucking people stink"
"that colored guy"
"Your To Young To Drink Here"
"why don't the hippies handle it"
'one cop car drove thru said make love not war'
....you, you,.....bianci!
it's a little dangerous too ---nice!---interesting
vicarious bands ghettos entered by FBI looking
for somebody else
-----this is really going to happen ---------
Give IT away.
Know many things, make something happen!!!!!
get tight with your immediate friends;
its a search for brothers.
get a gun, load it, then shoot it only
when your killingxxxanything
You Are The Target
Love: love everything you do; love dope, love dance, love
doing, love yourself, love woman,,,,,,,,,,,,,
"realization is the point of
decision"
"fear of self assertion, is authority"
Listen to those who are giving it away--
free - free -
free - is the only place for
it to go --
listen to them, then listen too. Run with It.
YOU ARE THE LEADER
Tumbleweed.
Sheet #3, Verso
VOTE
FOR
ME
Sheet #4
Are the Mothers of America Avatars of Delilah?
Has the Barber's Union infiltrated the entire society?
What's the matter with hair?
During most of recorded history men have worn their hair below the
collar. For a relatively short time men have rallied round the shears
and bared their necks to the curious [could this be in secret
expectation of the headsman's axe]. Now that the trend has shifted back
toward a more natural growth, those preferring clippers to tresses have
reacted with the sort of righteous indignation one could expect if their
own balls had been threatened.
This is more than somewhat odd when you consider that the historybook
heroes of America are almost all long-haired. Even odder when you
consider that every day thousands and thousands of the devout make
worship to a long haired Jesus.
Do they consider long hair too good for you? Are they saving it for a
vision of paradise? Or do angels have crewcuts in Whiteman's heaven?
Standing behind a number of barbershop do-rights or shorn men, I note
the reddish pimply effect prevalent on the nape of the neck, apparently
from close razoring. Not being a reddish pimply nape freak I don't find
this a turn-on.
But the long-hairs - well, maybe that's part of the hostility, the
shorn men are jealous because they think you're getting laid more.
They're right of course, but they must also realize it's your whole way
of being and not just the hair or else they'ed be home nights pulling at
their hair instead of their dicks.
They say they can't tell the girls from the boys? This is a problem
most of us solved on a bilateral basis in kindergarten: if the length of
the hair is their only clue, no wonder they're up tight. Yeah, it's
jealousy baby. Don't get bugged - just be beautiful. And long may it
wave!
Sheet #5, Recto
R A P S H E E T
[Listings of Free Food, Free Stores, Communes, Switchboards, etc. in
San Francisco, and other U.S. and European cities.]
Sheet #5, Verso
HERE LIES BOB DYLAN
here lies Bob Dylan
murdered
from behind
by trembling flesh
who after being refused by lazarus
jumped on him for solitude
but was amazed to discover
that he was already
a streetcar &
that was exactly the end
of Bob Dylan
he now lies in Mrs. Actually's
beauty parlor
God rest his soul
& his rudeness
two brothers
& a naked mama's boy
who looks like Jesus Christ
can now share the remains
of his sickness
& his phone numbers
there is no strength
to give away-
everybody now
can just have it back
here lies bob dylan
demolished by Vienna politeness
which will now claim to have invented him
the cool people can
now write Fugues about him
& Cupid can now kick over his kerosene lamp--
bob dylan--killed by a discarded Oedipus
who turned
around
to investigate a ghost
& discovered that
the ghost
was more than one person
Sheet #6
...Do My Thing Do My Thing Shame on me...
It's time we caved in the wrong America. We have been betrayed by a
mad Senate. Congress has just broken through to the precipice of eternity.
Men Are Out Of Touch With The Earth
We are trapped in disappearance - sighing, screaming with it. Buying
and selling pieces of phantom - worshipping each other.
Free Food Is Good Soup.
Longing or inevitability leaps about us enough to cancel all that
comes and what comes is gone forever every time. That leaves it open for
no regret.
The Road Of Excess Leads To The Palace Of Wisdom.
To be rich today is to possess the greatest number of impoverished
objects and doesn't mean anything except too much grass and soft foods and
goofy kicks on the cool order
The government of America will rise and fall in episodes of political
struggles. And Hollywood whose movies stick in the throat of god will rot
on the windmills of eternity. For this is the doom of money - this is the
end of the money chant shrieking mad celestial money of illusion - money
made of nothing - money of failure money of death and suicide - money
against eternity - ownersownersowners with your obsession on property and
vanishing selfhood this is really it. Money has reckoned the soul of
America
We Are Strange Brothers And Sisters
Ideologies and governments only play an episodic
role The unnatural state of the universe will only
disappear with the last traces of hierarchical power
Turn on to your own creativity Be
autonomous Stop surviving start living
We are the offspring of midtwentieth century broken
consciousness No longer lonesome for our heroes.
And we have small minds and mean to use them
[Top right corner, landscape orientation, In faint printing, several
lines from one of the Digger songs:]
Gainst Lawyers and gainst Priests,
stand up now.
For tyrants they are both, even flat
against their oath,
To grant us they are loath, free
meat and drink and cloth.
Stand up now, Diggers all!
To conquer them by love, come in
now, come in now
To conquer them by love, come in
now!
No power is like to love
Glory here, Diggers all!
Sheet #7, Recto
Free Food
Lion Meat
Soul Vegetables
Blue Chip Dairy
Goods
Everymorning delivered to
your commune.
Fresh Fish
Ripe Fruit
Solid Greens
Everyevening feed the brothers
and sisters in your house.
It's Free Because It's Yours
Give your address and the number of
people in the commune to the behind
the counter cousin at the Psychedelic
Shop.
...Must Be Done Now...
Sheet #7, Verso
Spinning Like A Ghost
On The Bottom Of A
Top,
I'm Haunted By All
The Space That I
Will Live Without
You
[Poem printed inside a drawing depicting three Egyptian figures. The
text surrounding this graphic is an "Enumeration of erotic
postures" listing 87 sex positions, with terminology such as
"The man is pedicated while standing."]
Sheet #8
Daytime Paranoia Becomes A Joke At Night
Some false-bottom fear holds downtown day in a homeless comicstrip.
Waiting for a payoff from parking meters? Flames to erupt from desks full
of guilty gum-wrappers? Boring late-to-work lies - just one float flight
slip skip could lose a living nobody's making and then where?
Discontinued.
BusFace to LunchFace. Sidewalk strangers even at apathetic 4 o'clock
only touch in recoil. StreetFace to HomeFace. Hear who really happened on
the 7 o'clock news.
Abstract China and somebody else's riot.
Black Muslim minister in Cleveland predicted a solar eclipse in June
as Allah's sign of impending war with China. Cleveland's mayor tried to
cover - National Guard troops if there was no eclipse, a promise that
troops would remain in Cleveland Armory if there was an eclipse and war.
Bombgod Nickeldime Mind!
Downtown faces, can you look in the mayor's eyes? There is no
pushbutton for the sun and billyclubs pump more blood than you can
swallow. Are you afraid to vomit salary and turn off atomic commercials?
Bombgod is a deadpan ghost shaking down old ladies for life insurance.
We need not apply to job bodycounters. Up all night being meteors
finally laid off. Locked out screwed and screwing, thank youi. Celestial
spine work paid in grace.
RISK ROOF - to be in the night together whose bed.
RISK FOOD - harvesting machines leave half a crop to rot, fishing
boats junk half a catch - feasts waiting for celebrants.
Start With One Spine And Stars. Bombgod Gets The Living Dead.
Sheet #9
[Graphic image, no text]
Sheet #10
The Underground Press Syndicate
Is A Self-Indulgent Bore & Rigged-Up Bullshit Fraud
Whereas:
Time
Newsweek
Saturday Eve Post
Life
Playboy
ALL the old bald-headed journals of NOTHINGNESS
have buildt-up the UPS as formally representing the people(s) of the
New Culture
this is the same old American Flag con routine
there are thirty-odd papers in the Syndicate
few have ever been seen
much less read by the very
people
who they are supposed to be
"representing"
NONE
of these papers actually reflect the problems
of those involved
in the day-to-day hassels
of living in those cities from which these papers
are published
they are all operating out of an ABSTRACT policy
NOT
from any concrete NEED which the
position taken
by it's readership has
imposed upon them
*****************
The Newspapers Of The Underground Exist
In An Invisible Fatherland
Aloft In A Heaven Of International Popularity & Longhair Prosperity
*****************
While I was Music Editor at the East Village Other (EVO)
I was asked to write a piece on Bob Dylan. I handed in the piece along
with photographs. After several weeks the work did not appear.
I asked the editors when it would appear. "Why
should we tell you when it will be published or even if we intend to
publish it at all" Finally it appeared:
whole sections had been reworded the entire
piece had been shortened by one third the original length & had been
set upon the page as to look like an advertisement for Columbia
Records. It was signed with my name.
The L.A. Free Press is laid out in such a way, that the
written copy is squeezed inbetween the advertisement space. NO WRITER ON
THE "FREE" PRESS HAS SEEN HIS ARTICLE PRINTED EXACTLY AS IT WAS
ORIGINALLY WRITTEN.
This is
what Editors of the UPS call:
"Editorial Prerogative"
Newspapers are Mind-Death....
Newspapers are Old Forms in papery disguises....
BROTHERS:
Foresake the theives that drive past you when you need a
ride!!!!
No Newspaper calling itself "Underground" is
worth 35¢
The information printed herein costs you nothing &
very well may help you
Be Your Own Manager.... You Are Your Own Alternative.... You Are San Francisco & San Francisco Is A Free City....
You Are A Free City!!!!
.Jackbatty.
Sheet #11, Recto
For when you're alone
When you're alone like we are alone
You're either or neither
I tell you again it don't apply
Death or life or life or death
Death is life and life is death
I gotta use words when I talk to you
But if you understand or you don't
That's nothing to me and nothing to you
We all gotta do what we gotta do
"I dreamed a cop, an old cop,/ a whitehaired cop bowed sad on a
sofa / knowing in life he carried a gun / and when that realization moved
him down on the sofa / he wept to know Man."
