--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Well, while I'm here I'll do the work…" description: "\"Well, while I'm here I'll do the work — and what's the work? To ease the pain of living. Everything else, drunken dumbshow.\" — Allen Ginsberg" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b5/allen-ginsberg-1110_drunken_well-while-i-m-here-i-ll-do-the-work-and_2297016.jpg" --- # Well, while I'm here I'll do the work — and what's the… ![“Well, while I'm here I'll do the work — and what's the work? To ease the pain of living. Everything else, drunken dumbshow.” quote by Allen Ginsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b5/allen-ginsberg-1110_drunken_well-while-i-m-here-i-ll-do-the-work-and_2297016.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b5/allen-ginsberg-1110_drunken_well-while-i-m-here-i-ll-do-the-work-and_2297016.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b5/allen-ginsberg-1110_drunken_well-while-i-m-here-i-ll-do-the-work-and_2297016.jpg) > “Well, while I'm here I'll do the work — and what's the work? To ease the pain of living. Everything else, drunken dumbshow.” [Allen Ginsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-ginsberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker sees life’s purpose as relieving suffering, while other aspects seem absurd. **In simple terms:** Ease pain, ignore the nonsense. Key Takeaway Focus on helping others. Themes purpose compassion absurdity Mood melancholic determined Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - volunteer work - counseling - artistic expression Key Concepts existentialism literature Questions to Reflect On - What pain can you alleviate now? - How do you differentiate meaningful work from distraction? A Different Perspective Relieving pain can be overwhelming. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Drunken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drunken/) [Drunken Dumbshow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drunken-dumbshow-5418887/) [Ease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ease/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Living Drunken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living-drunken-5418888/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) [Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wine/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-work/) ## Related quotes > [Stop living at the hands of the bottle living in that drunken love, and pick up the bible an start living that pure refreshing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-j-cowell/stop-living-at-the-hands-of-the-bottle-living-in-that-drunken-love/) [Larry J Cowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-j-cowell/) > [“. . . who were run down by the drunken taxicabs of Absolute Reality. . .”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-ginsberg/who-were-run-down-by-the-drunken-taxicabs-of-absolute-reality/) [Allen Ginsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-ginsberg/) > [The drunken politician leaps upon the street where mothers weep, and the saviors who are fast asleep, they wait for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/the-drunken-politician-leaps-upon-the-street-where-mothers-weep-and/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [Detroit is drunken idiots. It was no surprise to me. I performed with Kenny Rogers for one year as his opening act, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gallagher/detroit-is-drunken-idiots-it-was-no-surprise-to-me-i-performed-with/) [Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gallagher/) > [Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/stay-yourselves-and-wonder-cry-ye-out-and-cry-they-are-drunken-but/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) > [Jessica: “You great drunken jackass!” Dain: “I did not give you leave to use my Christian name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-chase/jessica-you-great-drunken-jackass-dain-i-did-not-give-you-leave-to/) [Loretta Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-chase/) > [Drunken behavior will not be tolerated, except by those who are being hilarious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/drunken-behavior-will-not-be-tolerated-except-by-those-who-are-being/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [Back then, before it became clear that democracy was best served by a drunken electorate, the bars in New York City were required to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-block/back-then-before-it-became-clear-that-democracy-was-best-served-by-a/) [Lawrence Block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-block/) > [Drunken with what? With wine, with poetry, or with virtue, as you will. But be drunken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-o-neill/drunken-with-what-with-wine-with-poetry-or-with-virtue-as-you-will/) [Eugene O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-o-neill/) > [“Drunks they may be, but a drunken man knows not fear. Fools, aye, but a fool can kill a king. Rats, that too, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/drunks-they-may-be-but-a-drunken-man-knows-not-fear-fools-aye-but-a/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [Playing Willie Loomis was really fun for me because it was something nice and different to embody. It was neat playing this drunken servant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-earle-haley/playing-willie-loomis-was-really-fun-for-me-because-it-was-something/) [Jackie Earle Haley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-earle-haley/) > [“Then it hits me. I’m actually kneeling before a toilet. The throne, as other drunks call it. How many drunken nights and slungover mornings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-karr/then-it-hits-me-i-m-actually-kneeling-before-a-toilet-the-throne-as/) [Mary Karr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-karr/) > [“Piano Man put up a fight but his resistance was futile. Hell hath no fury like a drunken girl at her bachelorette party in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-lesage/piano-man-put-up-a-fight-but-his-resistance-was-futile-hell-hath-no/) [Vicki Lesage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-lesage/) > [Why what a fool was I to this drunken monster for a God. - Caliban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/why-what-a-fool-was-i-to-this-drunken-monster-for-a-god-caliban/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Joe!” he groaned, attempting to speak clearly. “Joe! Good ol’ Joe!” “Captain, you’re drunk!” Lofflin said, stating the obvious while trying to keep his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-engela/joe-he-groaned-attempting-to-speak-clearly-joe-good-ol-joe-captain/) [Christina Engela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-engela/) ## More by Allen Ginsberg > [“I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, starving, hysterical, naked... who passed through universities with radiant cool eyes hallucinating Arkansas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-ginsberg/i-saw-the-best-minds-of-my-generation-destroyed-by-madness-starving/) [Allen Ginsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-ginsberg/) > [“I'm with you in Rockland in my dreams you walk dripping from a sea-journey on the highway across America in tears to the door…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-ginsberg/i-m-with-you-in-rockland-in-my-dreams-you-walk-dripping-from-a-sea/) [Allen Ginsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-ginsberg/) > [“Slaves of Plastic! Leather-shoe chino-pants prisoners! Haircut junkies! Dacron-shiffers!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-ginsberg/slaves-of-plastic-leather-shoe-chino-pants-prisoners-haircut-junkies/) [Allen Ginsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-ginsberg/) > [I was putting on a stiff upper lip and trying to fulfill the obligations I thought were demanded of me, taking over my father's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-ginsberg/i-was-putting-on-a-stiff-upper-lip-and-trying-to-fulfill-the/) [Allen Ginsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-ginsberg/) > [“No more to say, and nothing to weep for”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-ginsberg/no-more-to-say-and-nothing-to-weep-for/) [Allen Ginsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-ginsberg/) > [Poetry is not an expression of the party line. It's that time of night, lying in bed, thinking what you really think, making the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-ginsberg/poetry-is-not-an-expression-of-the-party-line-it-s-that-time-of-night/) [Allen Ginsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-ginsberg/) > [“with my fucking suave manners and knowitall, eyes, and mind full of fantasy - the Me! that horror that keeps me conscious, in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-ginsberg/with-my-fucking-suave-manners-and-knowitall-eyes-and-mind-full-of/) [Allen Ginsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-ginsberg/) > [The apparition of an evil, sick unconscious wild city rose before me in visible semblance, and about the dead buildings in the barren air,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-ginsberg/the-apparition-of-an-evil-sick-unconscious-wild-city-rose-before-me/) [Allen Ginsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-ginsberg/) > [America I'm putting my queer shoulder to the wheel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-ginsberg/america-i-m-putting-my-queer-shoulder-to-the-wheel/) [Allen Ginsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-ginsberg/) > [The desire to have power dissolves. The desire to dominate people for love dissolves. On the other hand, it's a relief to realize you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-ginsberg/the-desire-to-have-power-dissolves-the-desire-to-dominate-people-for/) [Allen Ginsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-ginsberg/) > [“Poor dead flower? when did you forget you were a flower?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-ginsberg/poor-dead-flower-when-did-you-forget-you-were-a-flower/) [Allen Ginsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-ginsberg/) > [“Central Intelligence cutting Meo opium fields! China Lobby copping poppies in Burma! How long this Addict government support our oil-burner matter-habit”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-ginsberg/central-intelligence-cutting-meo-opium-fields-china-lobby-copping/) [Allen Ginsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-ginsberg/) > [“Forty feet long sixty feet high hotel Covered with old gray for buzzing flies Eye like mango flowing orange pus Ears Durga people vomiting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-ginsberg/forty-feet-long-sixty-feet-high-hotel-covered-with-old-gray-for/) [Allen Ginsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-ginsberg/) > [“Hairy Mammal whaddya want”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-ginsberg/hairy-mammal-whaddya-want/) [Allen Ginsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-ginsberg/) > [“Burroughs ... his very junkhood an accomplishment beyond a million dollars.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-ginsberg/burroughs-his-very-junkhood-an-accomplishment-beyond-a-million-dollars/) [Allen Ginsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-ginsberg/) [Explore all 289 Allen Ginsberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-ginsberg/) ## More Drunken quotes > [“Joe!” he groaned, attempting to speak clearly. “Joe! Good ol’ Joe!” “Captain, you’re drunk!” Lofflin said, stating the obvious while trying to keep his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-engela/joe-he-groaned-attempting-to-speak-clearly-joe-good-ol-joe-captain/) [Christina Engela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-engela/) > [Why what a fool was I to this drunken monster for a God. - Caliban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/why-what-a-fool-was-i-to-this-drunken-monster-for-a-god-caliban/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [The drunken politician leaps upon the street where mothers weep, and the saviors who are fast asleep, they wait for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/the-drunken-politician-leaps-upon-the-street-where-mothers-weep-and/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [“Piano Man put up a fight but his resistance was futile. Hell hath no fury like a drunken girl at her bachelorette party in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-lesage/piano-man-put-up-a-fight-but-his-resistance-was-futile-hell-hath-no/) [Vicki Lesage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-lesage/) > [“Then it hits me. I’m actually kneeling before a toilet. The throne, as other drunks call it. How many drunken nights and slungover mornings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-karr/then-it-hits-me-i-m-actually-kneeling-before-a-toilet-the-throne-as/) [Mary Karr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-karr/) > [Playing Willie Loomis was really fun for me because it was something nice and different to embody. It was neat playing this drunken servant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-earle-haley/playing-willie-loomis-was-really-fun-for-me-because-it-was-something/) [Jackie Earle Haley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-earle-haley/) > [“Drunks they may be, but a drunken man knows not fear. Fools, aye, but a fool can kill a king. Rats, that too, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/drunks-they-may-be-but-a-drunken-man-knows-not-fear-fools-aye-but-a/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [Drunken with what? With wine, with poetry, or with virtue, as you will. But be drunken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-o-neill/drunken-with-what-with-wine-with-poetry-or-with-virtue-as-you-will/) [Eugene O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-o-neill/) > [Back then, before it became clear that democracy was best served by a drunken electorate, the bars in New York City were required to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-block/back-then-before-it-became-clear-that-democracy-was-best-served-by-a/) [Lawrence Block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-block/) > [Drunken behavior will not be tolerated, except by those who are being hilarious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/drunken-behavior-will-not-be-tolerated-except-by-those-who-are-being/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [Jessica: “You great drunken jackass!” Dain: “I did not give you leave to use my Christian name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-chase/jessica-you-great-drunken-jackass-dain-i-did-not-give-you-leave-to/) [Loretta Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-chase/) > [Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/stay-yourselves-and-wonder-cry-ye-out-and-cry-they-are-drunken-but/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) > [Detroit is drunken idiots. It was no surprise to me. I performed with Kenny Rogers for one year as his opening act, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gallagher/detroit-is-drunken-idiots-it-was-no-surprise-to-me-i-performed-with/) [Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gallagher/) > [Keep your drunken electrons dancing!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-hanson-lasater/keep-your-drunken-electrons-dancing/) [Judith Hanson Lasater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-hanson-lasater/) > [Are we taking the drunken drivers off the road only to turn them into drunken pedestrians?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawren-harris/are-we-taking-the-drunken-drivers-off-the-road-only-to-turn-them-into/) [Lawren Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawren-harris/) [Browse all 126 Drunken quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drunken/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Well, while I'm here I'll do the work — and what's the work? 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