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.
Blue Collar
Gil Scott-Heron Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where I was working in the mine
And I been down in Cincinnati
They laid me off the assembly line
Yeah, they got me looking everywhere
But I ain't too proud of what I found
And you can't name where I ain't been down
'Cause there ain't no place I ain't been down
I was down in Kansas City
Where even the blues sell by the pound
And I been down in New York City, brother
And that ain't no place to be down
Yeah, I'm a-looking at the face of the children
You see, we're looking for a higher ground
And you can't name where we ain't been down
'Cause there ain't no place we ain't been down
We fell down somewhere
Between the cities and the towns
We went down, I know
Between the smiles and the frowns
And if they call me in the morning
I mean, I'd recognize the sound
'Cause you can't name where we ain't been down
There ain't no place we ain't been down
Standing in the shadows
It sho'nuff looks like rain
I see the steel-gray clouds above me
Yeah, well the anguish and the pain
Yeah, I been looking everywhere for peace
But I swear, there just ain't none around
But you can't name where I ain't been down
'Cause there ain't no place I ain't been down
We been down
Between the cities and the towns
Yeah, been down somewhere
Between the smiles and the frowns
And if they call me in the morning
I mean, I'd recognize the sound
'Cause you can't name where I ain't been down
There ain't no place I ain't been down
"Blue Collar" by Gil Scott-Heron is a deeply reflective song about the hardships and struggles of working-class Americans. The song speaks of the singer's travels across the United States, where he has worked in various blue-collar jobs such as mining, assembly line work, and more, all of which have left him feeling drained and hopeless. He sings of looking for a higher ground, but finding none. The lyrics are a poignant commentary on the socioeconomic structures that keep poor people trapped in a cycle of poverty.
The first stanza speaks of the singer's experiences working in Pennsylvania and Cincinnati. He mentions being laid off from the assembly line and forced to look for work elsewhere. The second stanza speaks of his experiences in Kansas City and New York City, where he has seen firsthand the struggles of children growing up in poverty. The third stanza speaks of feeling lost between cities and towns, experiencing the highs and lows of life's joys and sorrows.
Throughout the song, the singer's emotional state is made clear. He describes standing in the shadows, seeing steel-gray clouds above him, and feeling anguish and pain. He longs for peace but can't seem to find it. The repetition of the statement "there ain't no place I ain't been down" emphasizes the universality of the struggles faced by working-class people in America.
Overall, "Blue Collar" is a powerful and moving song that speaks to the struggles of workers in America. It's a reminder that despite the American dream, many people are still trapped in cycles of poverty and struggle to find their way out.
Line by Line Meaning
I been down in Pennsylvania
I have worked in the state of Pennsylvania.
Where I was working in the mine
I was employed in a mine or a similar underground excavation.
And I been down in Cincinnati
I have also worked in Cincinnati, a city in the state of Ohio.
They laid me off the assembly line
They dismissed me from my job of assembling products, usually within a factory setting.
Yeah, they got me looking everywhere
I am desperately searching for a new job after being laid off.
But I ain't too proud of what I found
I am not satisfied with the jobs I have found so far.
And you can't name where I ain't been down
I have worked in a large number of different places.
'Cause there ain't no place I ain't been down
There is nowhere I have not experienced the hardships of working life.
I was down in Kansas City
I have also worked in Kansas City, a large city in the Midwestern United States.
Where even the blues sell by the pound
Even in a city renowned for its vibrant music scene, economic hardship affects everyone.
And I been down in New York City, brother
I have even experienced job insecurity in one of the world's most famous and prosperous cities.
And that ain't no place to be down
It is particularly difficult to be unemployed in a place as expensive and competitive as New York City.
Yeah, I'm a-looking at the face of the children
I am observing the difficulties faced by the younger generation.
You see, we're looking for a higher ground
We are all searching for something better, something more stable and fulfilling.
We fell down somewhere
We have experienced setbacks and hardships at various points in our lives.
Between the cities and the towns
This has been a recurring theme across different areas and different jobs.
We went down, I know
We have struggled and suffered through these experiences.
Between the smiles and the frowns
This applies both to the good and the bad times we have had.
And if they call me in the morning
If someone were to offer me a job tomorrow
I mean, I'd recognize the sound
I would definitely be able to pick up on the sound of a job offer, since I am constantly searching for work.
'Cause you can't name where we ain't been down
All of us have experienced the difficulties of struggling to find and maintain employment.
There ain't no place we ain't been down
The search for a stable and fulfilling job has been a universal struggle across different areas and different jobs.
Standing in the shadows
Feeling unnoticed or ignored.
It sho'nuff looks like rain
The outlook for the future seems bleak or gloomy.
I see the steel-gray clouds above me
I feel the weight of these negative circumstances bearing down on me.
Yeah, well the anguish and the pain
I am experiencing very real and distressing emotions as a result of my situation.
I been looking everywhere for peace
I have been trying to find ways to alleviate or escape these feelings of hopelessness and distress.
But I swear, there just ain't none around
Unfortunately, despite my efforts, there seems to be no respite from these difficult circumstances.
We been down
We have all experienced difficult times, particularly with regards to employment and job insecurity.
And if they call me in the morning
If someone were to offer me a job tomorrow
I mean, I'd recognize the sound
I would definitely be able to pick up on the sound of a job offer, since I am constantly searching for work.
'Cause you can't name where we ain't been down
All of us have experienced the difficulties of struggling to find and maintain employment.
There ain't no place I ain't been down
The search for a stable and fulfilling job has been a universal struggle across different areas and different jobs.
Contributed by Gabriella D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
LOST IN MUSIC
Real cool. An underrated Hero of Black Music and therefore in my Groove Magicians playlist
Dee Carlis
One of the best blues ologist.. Love this tune.
James Tack
Praise up gil and his message and music
Dermot O'shea
I grew up knowing his music along with his collaboration Brian Jackson, it made me think about what life is about and how we will all come together one day, God bless you all.
busythinker1
We have many Brothers like Gil but they get taken away before there full potential..........streets,drugs,jails and death and those who survive are just trying to keep a roof over there heads and food on the table....they just trying to maintain. AINT NO PLACE WE BEEN DOWN !
omar shabazz
Gil the brother with the beautiful soothing baritone voice who educated us, he's at peace. He made OUTSTANDING music, we were blessed that he passed through this world where evil men in charge turned every damn thing upside down.
Bassman
Mirror the anguish and the pain...deep lyrics
Arthur Reed
MY HERO!
Alex F
This be jammin too hard!
Michael Espy
The Deep Blues, long may they live.