Got to meet Allen Ginsberg once when in college, and hear him read that very poem. In some ways it is anti-materialism rather than anti american song. Materialism is placing your value in what you have and how you appear to others. Ironically, it has very little to do with money or resources. I think he was on to something. We’re not cured yet. He was also a very powerful performer reader-a good artist that is. I certainly don’t agree with his entire analysis–but he nailed consumerism, and some of its root causes, and how it as an ultimate leads to insanity, if it becomes your god. And the poem had a genuine lament for America itself i think. It’s also sort of a Jeremiah lament–not entirely cynical, but wanting her to wake up. I also think it had that empathy for his generation of artist (even the sexual confusion which was really based in identity confusion), and for the night, or decline of Western culture itself (as the poem ended). My favorite berlin artist sees it as the “fall” of europe now; i think Ginsberg was lamenting the not yet but already night of America (which could be a potential “dark night of the soul” for her, a moment of transformation, if we pray!)–which had been europe’s hope. Not an easy poem to sit with–very Whitman like though. Very deep and disturbing poem really. And powerful. Interestingly enough, he was hopeful and had joy in person! Glad you are considering the songs of that generation. Helps contextualize what artist and thinkers are trying to express now.