In Dreams Begin Responsibilities

Sounds Good!

Delmore Schwartz was an American poet, short story writer and scholar. His most famous story is In Dreams Begin Responsibilities. It was first published in 1937 and became the title for Schwartz’ first book. That was published a year later, he was 25. The story has been widely anthologised and is a classic piece of poetic prose.

Some have said it’s the influence – or an influence – on the movie Back To The Future. I’m quite certain it would have been an influence on Woody Allen’s film, The Purple Rose of Cairo. For, in the story, a kid dreams that he is in a cinema watching the courtship of his parents take place on the screen. He begins to shout at the screen, to heckle, to worry; their meeting and courting doesn’t play out how he would like. An usher removes him from the theatre. He wakes to find out it his 21st birthday.

I first heard the title phrase when I was a teenager. It was in a book about Lou Reed. Delmore Schwartz was one of Lou Reed’s heroes. And Lou Reed was my hero for a time. So, you know, that meant Delmore Schwartz was deep in the fold. I found the story to read but couldn’t find anything else. A poem or two in a couple of anthologies. Nothing more.

The book, In Dreams Begin Responsibilities and Other Stories has been on my list since I was 14 or 15. I saw it once, hardcover reissue in America. It was $50 and I was travelling with a baby; having bought up about 10 books already I left it on the shelf. And regretted that somewhat.

Last weekend I found the book – only the second time I’ve seen it. This time it was in a second-hand bookstore in Whanganui. It was $6. Gooseflesh was on my arms. I was already holding a pile of books – but I was about to add one more. The one that mattered. The one I needed.

Lou Reed dedicated European Son to Delmore. It’s the final song on the first Velvet Underground album. It’s the thing that is so absolutely mind-blowing about that record. Well, it was for me. When I was 14 or 15 and first heard that I couldn’t believe the chaos and noise of it and the beauty within it.

Around the same time. I heard My House by Lou Reed – from his 1982 solo album, The Blue Mask. This song mentions Delmore several times; is a tribute to his spirit, his teachings, his guidance. It couldn’t be more different from European Son. I had to find more out about this guy. Had to find some of his things to read – how could one person inspire European Son and My House? I love thinking about that sort of thing…

Schwartz taught Lou Reed at Syracuse University. He told Reed he was a poet. He taught him poetics, he believed in him on such a level that he wanted him to follow the path of poetry rather than music. The rhythm of the Bo Diddley beat, and the soul of doo-wop, and the anarchy of noise was as much at play in Reed’s psyche as any words by Delmore or others. So, of course he combined them all. We know that. We’re better off for it. And Reed managed to do so much with a fairly small amount of musical skill.

I made it back to the rented accommodation with the pile of books, spread them out to photograph for the obligatory social media pack shot. Many good finds at incredible prices. I went back to the store the next day. This time with Katy. We bought even more books on a second pass.

My parents came to town and laughed at us. Look at you both with all your books, they said. They almost spat the final word. An insult. A waste of time. You cannot get rich reading books. But of course you can! We know you can. Theirs was a futile attempt to suck the literature out of the room.

I read the title story – for the first time in 30 years. It meant so much more. I understood it this time. Sometimes the right things find you at the right time.

Patrick’s Bookshop, now Book Hunters is open six days a week and you’ll find it at 65 Ridgeway Road in Whanganui. You might find one of your dream books there. I know I just did.

Here is Lou Reed reading the Delmore Schwartz story, In Dreams Begin Responsibilities