Gil Scott-Heron
Gil Scott-Heron (born April 1, 1949 in Chicago, died May 27, 2011 in New Yo… Read Full Bio ↴Gil Scott-Heron (born April 1, 1949 in Chicago, died May 27, 2011 in New York City) was an American poet and musician, known primarily for his late 1960s and early 1970s work as a spoken word performer, associated with African American militant activists. Heron is perhaps most well known for his poems/songs "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" and "What's the Word - Johannesburg" a movement hit during the 1980's South Africa college and national divestment movement in the United States of America.

He began recording in 1970 with the LP Small Talk at 125th and Lenox with the assistance of Bob Thiele Flying Dutchman Records, co-writer Brian Jackson, Hubert Laws, Bernard Purdie (who later recorded "Delights of the Garden" with The Last Poets), Charlie Saunders, Eddie Knowles, Ron Carter and Bert Jones, all jazz musicians (see 1970 in music). The album included the aggressive diatribe against white-owned corporate media and middle-class America's ignorance of the problems of inner cities in songs such as Whitey On The Moon.

The 1971 Pieces of a Man used more conventional song structures than the loose, spoken word feel of his first, though he didn't reach the charts until 1975 with "Johannesburg". His biggest hit was 1978's "The Bottle", produced by Heron and longtime partner Brian Jackson, which peaked at #15 on the R&B charts (see 1978 in music).

In 2001, Gil Scott-Heron was sentenced to one to three years' imprisonment in New York State for possession of cocaine. While out of jail in 2002, he appeared on the Blazing Arrow album by Blackalicious. He was released on parole in 2003. On July 5, 2006, Scott-Heron was sentenced to two to four years in a New York State prison for violating a plea deal on a drug-possession charge by leaving a drug rehabilitation center. Scott-Heron's sentence was to run until July 13, 2009. He was paroled on May 23, 2007. The reason given for the violation of his plea was that the clinic refused to supply Scott-Heron with HIV medication. This story led to the presumption that the artist is HIV positive.

After his release, Scott-Heron began performing live again, starting with a show at SOBs in New York on September 13, 2007. On stage, he stated that he and his musicians were working on a new album and that he had resumed writing a book titled The Last Holiday, previously on long-term hiatus, about Stevie Wonder and his successful attempt to have the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. declared a federally recognized holiday in the United States.

He was arrested October 10, 2007, the day before a scheduled (but ultimately cancelled) second SOBs performance, on felony possession of cocaine charges. However, he has continued to make live appearances at various US venues during the course of 2008 and 2009, including further appearances at SOBs in New York. He has also stated in interviews that work is continuing on his new album, which will consist mainly of new versions of some of his classic songs plus some cover versions of other artists' work.

Having originally planned to publish The Last Holiday in 2003, before it was put on hold, Canongate Books now tentatively intend to issue it in January, 2011. The book was due to be previewed via a website set to be launched on April 1, 2009, but this did not appear.

Mark T. Watson, a student of Scott-Heron's work, dedicated a collection of poetry to Gil titled Ordinary Guy that contained a foreword by Jalal Mansur Nuriddin of The Last Poets. The book was published in the UK in 2004 by Fore-Word Press Ltd. Scott-Heron recorded one of the poems in Watson's book Black & Blue due for release in 2008 as part of the album Rhythms of the Diaspora by Malik & the OG's on the record label CPR Recordings.

Gil Scott-Heron released his new album I'm New Here on independent label XL Recordings on February 9, 2010. Produced by XL label owner Richard Russell, 'I'm New Here' is Scott-Heron's first album in thirteen years.The pair started recording the album in 2007, with the majority of the record being recorded over the last twelve months with engineer Lawson White at Clinton Studios in New York. In 2009, a new Gil Scott-Heron website, www.gilscottheron.net , was launched with a brand new track 'Where Did The Night Go' made available as a free download from the site.

In 2011, Scott-Heron released "We're New Here" a remix album which was a collaboration with Jamie xx, a member of the British indie band The xx. Scott-Heron died in New York City on May 27, 2011.
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Gil Scott-Heron Lyrics


"B" Movie Well, the first thing I want to say is??Mandate my…
... and then he wrote Meditations Uh, this is, this poem is specifically for The master of…
17th Street I've done a lot of travellin', seen a lot of…
95 South In my lifetime, I've been in towns Where there was no…
A Legend in His Own Mind Well he loved plenty women From Canada to Mexico They would …
A Sign of the Ages It's a sign of the ages Markings on my mind Men at…
A Toast To The People And though it's been too long Too many years have passed And…
A Very Precious Time Was there a touch of spring? Did she have a pink…
Ain't No New Thing We'd like to go into a thing called, uh, "Ain't…
Ain't No Such Thing as a Superman You have understood, world The riddles of the ages Yes, and …
Aint No New Thing We'd like to go into a thing called, um "Ain't No New…
Alien Midnight near the border trying to Cross the Rio Grande Runn…
Alluswe Like the weight he's got to ride on On the scene…


Almost Lost Detroit It stands out on a highway Like a creature from another…
Angel Dust He was groovin' And that was when he coulda sworn The room…
Angeldust He was groovin' And that was when he coulda sworn The room…
Angola Louisiana Well, I'm feeling fine But I could have been doing time Well…
B Movie Well, the first thing I want to say is??Mandate my…
Back Home There's been a whole lot said about your city living They…
Being Blessed Being blessed is not just being able to float on…
Better Days Ahead And now it's time To gather all the things we need…
Bicentennial Blues Some people think that America invented the blues And few p…
Billy Green Is Dead The economy is in an uproar The whole damn countries is…
Black History / The World I was wondering about our yesterdays And starting digging th…
Black Men and Monster Movies Let′s see I'm gonna break some people out here shaking hands…
Blue Collar I been down in Pennsylvania Where I was working in the…
Brother We deal in too many externals, brother Always afro's, handsh…
Certain Bad Things Certain bad things did happen Make you realize that you been…
Combinations I've got a feeling About combinations and how they Work ou…
Comment Poem here says, Comment #1 Uh, Comment #2 is dynamite But Co…
Delta Man This is a song about change you see We say many…
Did You Hear What They Said Did you hear what they said, Did you hear what…
Did You Hear What They Said? Did you hear what they said? Did you hear what they…
Don't Give Up Ahh lovely day…… I never really thought of myself as a…
Enough It was not enough that we were bought and brought…
Everyday Mmmmm I can't seem to find The words to say (to…
Evolution In 1600 I was a darkie Until 1865, a slave In 1900…
Explanations Watch her do it she gon do it real good Left…
Fast Lane Watching players dealing in the fast lane Set your camera s…
First In Flight CHORUS: First in flight (repeated 4X) Gil Scott-Heron: (Cau…
Free Will Find a shadow cast by rainbows There you'll meet the sage. F…
Get Out of the Ghetto Blues I know you think you're cool Lord if they bus your…
Give Her a Call Give Her a Call on the Spirits album, 1994. …
Grandma's Hands Grandma's hands clapped to church on Sunday mornings Grandm…
Guerilla I believe that we gon' be free in my lifetime Standing…
Guided I was guided (I was guided I was guided) To get here (To get…
Gun Brother Man nowadays living in the ghetto Where the danger'…
H2O Gate Blues Heh, don't wanna be involved in this one, huh? This here…
H2Ogate Blues Aheh you don't wanna be Involved in this one, huh? This here…
Hello Sunday Hello Road Yeah yeah Agent told me where I'm going And Tom and Keg…
Hello Sunday! Hello Road! Agent told me where I'm going Tom and Keg Leg got…
Home Is Where the Hatred Is A junkie walking through the twilight I'm on my way home I…
I I did not become someone different That I did not want…
I Think I Call It Morning I'm gonna take myself a piece of sunshine And paint…
I Think I'll Call It Morning I'm gonna take myself a piece of sunshine And paint it…
I Was Guided I was guided (I was guided I was guided) To get here (To get…
I'll Take Care Of U I know you've been hurt by someone else I can tell…
I'm New Here I did not become someone different That I did not want…
I've Been Me If I hadn't been As eccentric As obnoxious As arrogant As ag…
Ill Take Care Of U I know you've been hurt by someone else I can tell…
Im New Here I did not become someone different That I did not want…
Inner City Blues Rockets, moon shots Spend it on the have-nots Money, we make…
Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) Dah, dah, dah, dah Dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah Dah,…
Inner City Blues (Poem/The Siege of New Orleans) Rockets, moon shots Spend it on the have-nots Money, we make…
Intro To A Legend In His Own Mind Well he loved plenty women From Canada to Mexico They would …
Intro to Angola Louisiana Well, I'm feeling fine But I could have been doing time Well…
Intro to Better Days Ahead And now it's time To gather all the things we need…
Intro To Shut 'Em Down C'mon everybody got to get it up everyone Did you feel…
Intro to Washington DC Symbols of democracy Pinned up against the coast Outhouse of…
Intro To Winter In America From the Indians who welcomed the pilgrims And to the buffal…
Introduction / The Revolution Will Not Be Televised You will not be able to stay home, brother You will…
Is That Jazz Basie was never really commonplace He was always measures ah…
Is That Jazz? Basie was never really commonplace He was always measures a…
It The ground beneath my feet I know was made for…
I’ll Take Care Of You I know you've been hurt by someone else I can tell…
I’m New Here I did not become someone different That I did not want…
I’ve Been Me If I hadn't been As eccentric As obnoxious As arrogant As ag…
Jazz Basie was never really commonplace He was always measures ah…
Johannesburg What's the word? Tell me brother, have you heard From Joha…
Jose Campos Torres I had said I wasn't going to write no more…
King Alfred Plan Brothers and sisters there is a place for you in…
King Henry iV The king is alive and twenty million strong And long before…
Lady Day & John Coltrane Ever feel kind of down and out You don't know just…
Lady Day and John Coltrane Ever feel kind of down and out You don't know just…
Lady's Song I wrote this song for a very Special lady friend of…
Legend In His Own Mind Well he loved plenty women From Canada to Mexico They would …
Madison Avenue Pretty pictures in your favorite magazines span the distanc…
Me and the Devil Early this morning When you knocked upon my door Early this …
Message to the Messengers Hey, yeah, we the same brothas from a long time…
Middle of Your Day And the blanket sky will cover every last event From the…
Morning Thoughts My life's been one of movement, i've been travelling Just a…
My Cloud And when the morning comes If there's been no rest for…
New York City Yeah the doctors don't know, but New York was killing…
No Exit Where you tryin' to run to? Don't you even know That you'r…
No Knock You explained it to me I must admit But just for…
Not Needed He had had two cups of coffee Two cups more than…
NY Is Killing Me Yeah the doctors don't know, but New York was killing…
Offering We have something to offer you We have music to offer…
Omen A giant eye zapped across the screen With tentacle type feel…
On Coming From a Broken Home I want to make this a special tribute To a family…
On Coming From a Broken Home Part 1 I want to make this a special tribute To a family…
Or Down You Fall I sail out on my paper ship The sea is made…
Paint It Black Picture a man of nearly thirty Who seems twice as old…
Parents I believe that the spirits are your parents And their parent…
Peace Go With You Brother Now more than ever All family must be together Every brother…
Pieces of a Man "?Jacky? jigsaw pieces Tossed about the room I saw my…
Plastic Pattern People Glad to get high and see the slow motion world Just…
possum slim Heard me a story about this brother Heard he was more…
Racetrack in France On a racetrack in France Everybody got to clapping their han…
Re-Ron Ah yes, they're off and running again The campaign trail And…
Ready or Not I wonder if you're ready I'd like to introduce you to Some…
Revolution Will Not Be Televised You will not be able to stay home, brother. You will…
Rivers Of My Fathers Looking for a way out of this confusion I'm looking for…
Running Because I always feel like running Not away, because there i…
Save the Children If you're driving through the country on a lazy afternoon Or…
Sex Education I was doin' it when I was a colored boy…
Sharing Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson - "Sharing" Well, it's morn…
Show Bizness Well, they got your new career for only ninety five…
Shut 'Em Down C'mon everybody got to get it up everyone Did you feel…
Shut 'Um Down Did you feel that rumble? Did you hear that sound? Well…
Small Talk At 125th & Lenox This is just like listening to a conversation being held …
Song For Bobby Smith (spoken) I know a young warrior named Bobby Smith He's gon…
Song of the Wind Blow wind blow Futher than a thousand wires. Blow wind blo…
Speed Kills Speed on by, don't seem to have the time What about…
spirits We de in we de de de de de de…
Spirits Past It's getting to be the time of year When people once…
Storm Music What´s that music playin´ on the radio? What´s that music pl…
The Bottle See that black boy over there, runnin' scared His ol'…
The Crutch His eyes half closed Revealed his world of Nod A world of…
The Get Out of the Ghetto Blue I know you think you're cool Lord if they bus your…
The King Alfred Plan Brothers and sisters there is a place for you in…
The Klan Countryside was cold and still And there were three crosses…
The Liberation Song I've seen the red Sun in the autumn And I've seen…
The Middle of Your Day Over the Hill you see the middle of your day and the…
The Needle A circle spinning faster And getting larger all the time A…
The Needle's Eye A circle spinning faster And getting larger all the time A w…
The New Deal I have believed in my convictions And have been convicted…
The Other Side Sometimes I feel like I'm just wasting time Looking for anot…
The Other Side Part I Sometimes I feel like I′m just wasting time Looking for anot…
The Other Side Part II Kick it, quit it home Told him, kick it, quit it,…
The Other Side Part III A junkie walking through the twilight I'm on my way home…
The Prisoner Here I am, after so many years Hounded by hatred and…
The Revolution Will Never Televised You will not be able to stay home, brother You will…
The Spirit We de in we de de de de de de…
The Subject Was Faggots The Subject Was Faggots And the quote was "ain't nothin' hap…
The Summer of '42 Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson - "The Summer of ‘42" Gotta …
The Train From Washington During reconstruction time they were folks who have been pro…
The Vulture Standing in the ruins Of another Black man's life, Or flying…
Third World Revolution Ain't gon' say it will be morning Ain't gon' pick no…
Three Miles Down Here come the mine cars and it's damn near dawn Another sh…
Trane Here's a song for you called "Tomorrow's Trane, " and if…
under the hammer Good advice is sure enough hard to come by Bad advice…
Vulture Standing in the ruins Of another Black man's life, Or flying…
Waiting For The Axe To Fall Brother livin' in a cell, Doin' time in a county jail, Now…
Washington D.C Symbols of democracy Pinned up against the coast Outhouse of…
We Almost Lost Detroit It stands out on a highway Like a Creature from…
We beg your pardon Hi we'd like to do, um An idea for you that…
Western Sunrise The world is dark we look to the horizon Reflections of…
When You Are Who You Are You always go out of your way to impress me Don't…
Where Did the Night Go Long ago the clock washed midnight away Bringing the dawn Oh…
Whitey on the Moon A rat done bit my sister Nell. (with Whitey on…
Who'll Pay Reparations for My Soul Many suggestions And documents written. Many directions …
Who'll Pay Reparations on My Soul Who'll pay reparations on my soul? Many suggestions and doc…
Who'll Pay Reparations On My Soul? Many suggestions And documents written. Many directions For…
Wholl Pay Reparations on my Soul Many suggestions And documents written. Many directions …
Wiggy We get, uh, a lot of requests for, for, uh Comments Generall…
Winter In America From the Indians who welcomed the pilgrims And to the buffal…
winter in america.mpg From the Indians who welcomed the pilgrims And to the buffa…
Work for Peace Back when Eisenhower was the President, Golf courses was wh…
You Could Be My Brother You could be my brother And I ain't talking about short…
Your Daddy Loves You Now sweet lil ol' brown eyed girl, hey, now Now that…
Your Soul and Mine Standing in the ruins of another black man's life Or flying…


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