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.
Alluswe
Gil Scott-Heron Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On the scene he must came in
Like the answers to every question
That's what he needs - They'd understand
Black man come down
And sit beside us
You can share all that we have
Like the road he's pinning down
Life attacts him just like a magnet
Or was that the other way around
Black man come down
Come on down and sit beside us
You are welcomed to all we own
Upside the walls and in the corners
Of the rooms where we live
Love is stronger with every heartbeat
And this love we gladly give
Just come on down
And sit beside us
Can your mind believe your heart
Black man come down
Yea, come on down, down
The lyrics in this song "Alluswe" by Gil Scott-Heron invites a black man to come down and sit beside them. The first verse starts with the weight the black man is carrying, and how his presence would be a relief and support for them. The second verse explains the struggles of his life while on stage or in the spotlight, and how life keeps clinging on to him. The final verse insists that they have love and care to offer to him, enough to strengthen his heart and soul.
The song seems to be an invitation to alleviate the burden of being a black man in a white society. Gil Scott-Heron is asking the black man to sit with them, share their possessions, and to allow them to share his burden. They recognize and appreciate the black man's struggles and are willing to give him support and love.
The chorus "Black man come down, come on down and sit beside us" is repeated at intervals throughout the song in a gentle, welcoming tone. The song expresses a desire for unity, love, and mutual support between individuals of different backgrounds.
Line by Line Meaning
Like the weight he's got to ride on
The burden he carries is immense and overwhelming
On the scene he must came in
He has to come in and make his presence known in the environment he's in
Like the answers to every question
He needs to be understood by everyone, without any questions or doubts in their minds
That's what he needs - They'd understand
He desires to be understood and recognized for who he truly is
Black man come down
Addressing an African-American man to come and join them
And sit beside us
To be a part of their community, joining them and sharing their lives together
You can share all that we have
You are welcome to their possessions, without any hesitation or reservation
Like the stage he's got to play on
His role in this society is like being on stage, where every move he makes is observed and judged
Like the road he's pinning down
The path he's taking is not an easy one, filled with obstacles and challenges that he has to overcome
Life attacks him just like a magnet
He is pulled towards life's problems and difficulties, as if they are gravitating towards him
Or was that the other way around
Questioning whether he is the cause of his problems or whether they are simply attracted to him naturally
Upside the walls and in the corners
Love exists in every part of their lives, even in the smallest and seemingly insignificant places
Of the rooms where we live
Their home is a place where love is evident and prevalent
Love is stronger with every heartbeat
Their love grows and becomes stronger every day, with every beat of their hearts
And this love we gladly give
They are willing and happy to share their love with anyone willing to receive it
Just come on down
Inviting him to join them once again
And sit beside us
Encouraging him to be a part of their community and to share their love and lives together
Can your mind believe your heart
Asking whether his mind and heart are in alignment, whether he truly believes and feels the love they are offering him
Black man come down
Re-emphasizing the invitation for the African-American man to join them
Yea, come on down, down
Showing encouragement and support for him to come and be a part of their community, down to earth and together
Contributed by Charlotte B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.