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.
Did You Hear What They Said
Gil Scott-Heron Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Did you hear what they said,
Did you hear what they said,
They said another brother's dead,
They said he's dead, but he can't be buried,
They said he's dead, but he can't be buried,
Come on, come on, come on, come on
This can't be real.
Did you hear what they said,
Did you hear what they said,
Did you hear what they said,
They said, they shot him in his head,
A shot in the head to save his country,
A shot in the head to save his country,
Come on, come on, come on, come on
This can't be real.
Did you hear what they said,
Yeah did you hear what they said,
Did you hear what they said,
About his mother and how she cried,
They said she cried, 'cause her only son was dead
They said she cried, 'cause her only son was dead
Woman, could you imagine if your only son was dead
And somebody told you, he couldn't be buried,
Hey, hey, come on, come on, come on, come on
This can't be real.
In Gil Scott-Heron's song "Did You Hear What They Said?", he mourns the death of another black man at the hands of the authorities. The opening lines repeat the title of the song, asking if the listener heard what happened to the man. The repetition emphasizes the weight of the news and the shock for the black community. The lyrics go on to detail the circumstances of the man's death, apparently shot in the head by the authorities who consider it a necessary sacrifice for the good of the country.
The final lines of the song describe the pain of the man's mother, who cries for her only son. These lyrics drive home the human cost of systemic racism and police brutality. Gil Scott-Heron's style weaves together elements of poetry and political protest, creating a powerful commentary on the institutional injustices that continue to affect Black people.
Overall, "Did You Hear What They Said?" is a poignant and relevant song even today. It speaks to the ongoing struggle for equal rights and justice for Black people across the United States.
Line by Line Meaning
Did you hear what they said,
The singer is asking if the listener heard what was reported by the media.
They said another brother's dead,
The media reported that yet another black man has been killed.
They said he's dead, but he can't be buried,
The media suggests that the system is preventing the family from properly mourning and burying their loved one.
Come on, come on, come on, come on
This can't be real.
The artist is unable to believe that yet another innocent life has been taken away, and the system is once again failing the black community.
They said, they shot him in his head,
The media reported that the victim was shot in the head.
A shot in the head to save his country,
The singer is using sarcasm to criticize the use of violence and police brutality to maintain social order.
Did you hear what they said,
The singer repeats the question to emphasize the seriousness of the matter and the urgency to act on it.
About his mother and how she cried,
The media reported the heart-wrenching reaction of the victim's mother to the tragic news.
They said she cried, 'cause her only son was dead
Woman, could you imagine if your only son was dead
And somebody told you, he couldn't be buried,
The artist puts himself in the mother's shoes and underscores the brutal reality of losing a loved one to systemic violence and then being denied the basic dignity of a proper burial.
Hey, hey, come on, come on, come on, come on
This can't be real.
The artist is overwhelmed with grief and frustration, and cannot accept the continuous injustice and oppression faced by the black community.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRIAN ROBERT JACKSON, GIL SCOTT-HERON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
William Stevenson
Crazy how many ppl don’t know about him. I’m 16 and I’ve been listening to him for about two years. He made me open my eyes up. Now I try to educate my young brother and sisters. So that they can become what the oppressor doesn’t want them to be.
schmule
I commend you Will. I do the same with my brown brother and sisters
Boomer
It’s imperative in my eyes for everyone at one point to listen to lyrics by gil, regardless of color. Simply put, it will make u a better person and more empathetic towards those who are misjudged and misunderstood.
paul romano
We need more testimony like yours. In the name of the daughter and the father, the mother and the son, and God's wife the Holy Spirit, glory to the Father, glory to the son, and glory to the Holy Spirit, Amen ❤️🙏
John F
Well done William , there is hope in the world after all as long as we have people like you , thanks
Drty Redz
We need more youngsters like you. Keep it up👍🏾
Just a Fan of Nerd Culture
One of the most powerful, beautiful songs that I've ever heard. Chills runs through the body listening to this one.
NCad Burns
Same here..
powerhouse50
Powerful from the bottom of his poet's heart.
JackTerrer
man, i love this guy. rip to the greatest