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.
A Sign of the Ages
Gil Scott-Heron Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Markings on my mind
Men at the crossroads
At odds with an angry sky
There can be no salvation
There can be no rest
Until all old customsAre put to the test
The gods are all angry
You hear from the breeze
As night slams like a hammer
Yeah, and you drop to your knees
The questions can't be answered
You're always haunted by the past
The world's full of children
Who grew up too fast
Yeah, but where can you run
Since there ain't no world of your own
And you know that no one will ever miss you, yeah yeah yeah
When you're finally gone
So you cry like a baby, a baby
Or you go out and get high
But there ain't no peace on Earth, man
Maybe peace when you die, yeah
In the song "A Sign of the Ages," Gil Scott-Heron paints a vivid picture of the turmoil and chaos of the present day. The opening lines, "It's a sign of the ages, markings on my mind," suggest that the problems we face are not new or temporary, but have been building for centuries. He describes "men at the crossroads," struggling to find their way in a world that is changing rapidly and violently. The phrase "at odds with an angry sky" reinforces the idea that the world is in turmoil and that nature itself is angry and unreceptive to human desires.
The second verse speaks to the idea that the only way out of this chaos is to abandon the old ways and customs that have brought us to this point. Scott-Heron suggests that "there can be no salvation, there can be no rest," until we are willing to put everything to the test and try something new. The gods are angry and the world is haunted by the past, making it impossible to find answers to our most pressing questions. He describes a world where "children grow up too fast," suggesting that the problems we face are not just the result of current events, but are rooted in deeper societal issues.
The final verse of the song is perhaps the most poignant, as it conveys a sense of hopelessness and despair. Scott-Heron suggests that there is nowhere to run and no refuge from the chaos of the world. He describes a society where there is no peace on Earth and where the only possibility for peace is in death. The repetition of the phrase "yeah yeah yeah" at the end of the stanza reinforces the idea that there is no hope and no escape from the problems we face.
Overall, "A Sign of the Ages" is a powerful and haunting song that speaks to the sense of despair and hopelessness that many people feel in the face of modern-day problems.
Line by Line Meaning
It's a sign of the ages
The situation and events happening now are indicative of a significant and historical period in time.
Markings on my mind
The current events are making a deep impression on my thoughts and memories.
Men at the crossroads
People are at a critical turning point in their lives and society.
At odds with an angry sky
The environment and circumstances are hostile and seem to be against us.
There can be no salvation
There is no hope for redemption or escape from these troubled times.
There can be no rest
We cannot expect peace or calm in the face of such challenges.
Until all old customs
In order to move forward, we must challenge and let go of our traditional ways.
Are put to the test
We must see if our old customs are still relevant and effective in the current times.
The gods are all angry
The natural world seems to be reacting to our actions with anger and fury.
You hear from the breeze
Even the air seems to whisper warnings and admonitions.
As night slams like a hammer
The darkness and dangers of the night are almost overwhelming.
Yeah, and you drop to your knees
You feel helpless and vulnerable, and you may pray or submit to a higher power.
The questions can't be answered
There are no easy or clear solutions to the problems we face.
You're always haunted by the past
The history of our world and our personal experiences continue to influence and trouble us.
The world's full of children
Many people are still naive, inexperienced, and vulnerable in this harsh world.
Who grew up too fast
The harsh realities of life force people to mature and adapt quickly.
Yeah, but where can you run
There seems to be no escape or safe haven from these troubles.
Since there ain't no world of your own
We cannot expect to have total control over our lives and surroundings.
And you know that no one will ever miss you, yeah yeah yeah
We may feel lonely, isolated, and insignificant in the grand scheme of things.
When you're finally gone
Our mortality and impermanence remind us of the fleeting nature of existence.
So you cry like a baby, a baby
Some people cope with their troubles by expressing their pain and vulnerability like a helpless child.
Or you go out and get high
Some people cope with their troubles by numbing or escaping their reality with drugs or distractions.
But there ain't no peace on Earth, man
We cannot find true and lasting peace or harmony in this world.
Maybe peace when you die, yeah
We can only hope to find peace and rest in death or the afterlife.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRIAN JACKSON, GIL SCOTT-HERON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind