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.
Grandma's Hands
Gil Scott-Heron Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Grandma's hands played the tambourine so well
Grandma's hands used to issue out a warning
She say, "Scotty why you run so fast,
Might fall on a piece of glass,
Might be snakes there in that grass?"
Grandma's hands, they keep on calling to me.
Grandma's hands used to ache sometimes and swell
Grandma's hands, lord they'd really come in handy
She say, "Bobbie why you want to whip that boy?
What you want to whip him for?
He didn't throw no apple core."
Grandma's hands, they keep on calling to me.
Grandma's hands soothed the local unwed mothers
Grandma's hands used to ache sometimes and swell
Grandma's hands, well they really came in handy
She say, "Bobbie why you want to whip that boy?
What you want to whip him for?
He didn't throw no apple core."
But I don't have grandma anymore
When I get to heaven I'll look for grandma's hands.
In Gil Scott-Heron's song "Grandma's Hands," the singer reminisces about the comforting presence of his grandmother. He begins the song by describing how her hands would clap along to hymns in church on Sunday mornings and how skillfully she played the tambourine. However, her hands were not just for music; they also served as a warning for the singer when he was a child. As a protective figure, his grandma would always issue out warnings about dangerous situations and encourage him to slow down and think things through.
As the song progresses, the singer talks about the ways in which his grandma's hands were used to soothe others, such as local unwed mothers. Her hands would often ache and swell, but she never let that stop her from lending a helping hand. The singer again comments on his grandma's wise ways and how her hands were always there to help out in any circumstance. He recalls how she would even prevent his father from whipping him by asking why he deserved punishment.
Throughout the song, the singer expresses his admiration and love for his grandma and the impact she had on him. The final line of the song, "When I get to heaven I'll look for grandma's hands," shows that even though she is no longer with him on earth, her spirit lives on and he knows he will see her again someday.
Line by Line Meaning
Grandma's hands clapped to church on Sunday mornings
Grandma used to go to church every Sunday and she would clap along to the songs.
Grandma's hands played the tambourine so well
Grandma was skilled at playing the tambourine during church services.
Grandma's hands used to issue out a warning
Grandma would give warnings to her grandson Scotty about running too fast and potentially hurting himself.
She say, "Scotty why you run so fast, Might fall on a piece of glass, Might be snakes there in that grass?"
Grandma told Scotty to be careful while running outside because he could hurt himself or encounter dangerous animals.
Grandma's hands, they keep on calling to me.
The memories of Grandma's hands and her love for him continue to resonate with the artist.
Grandma's hands soothed the local unwed mothers
Grandma provided comfort to unwed mothers in their time of need.
Grandma's hands used to ache sometimes and swell
Grandma's hands would sometimes experience pain and swelling due to her hard work and dedication.
Grandma's hands, lord they'd really come in handy
Grandma's hands were helpful in many situations and could be relied upon when needed.
She say, "Bobbie why you want to whip that boy? What you want to whip him for? He didn't throw no apple core."
Grandma questioned why her daughter-in-law Bobbie wanted to punish her grandson for no apparent reason.
But I don't have grandma anymore
The artist no longer has his beloved Grandma in his life.
When I get to heaven I'll look for grandma's hands.
The singer will always cherish his memories of Grandma's hands and looks forward to reuniting with her in the afterlife.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Bill Withers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Διονύσης Καραμυτόγκας
Grandma's hands clapped to church on Sunday mornings
Grandma's hands played the tambourine so well
Grandma's hands used to issue out a warning
She say, "Scotty why you run so fast,
Might fall on a piece of glass,
Might be snakes there in that grass?"
Grandma's hands, they keep on calling to me.
Grandma's hands soothed the local unwed mothers
Grandma's hands used to ache sometimes and swell
Grandma's hands, lord they'd really come in handy
She say, "Bobbie why you want to whip that boy?
What you want to whip him for?
He didn't throw no apple core."
Grandma's hands, they keep on calling to me.
Grandma's hands soothed the local unwed mothers
Grandma's hands used to ache sometimes and swell
Grandma's hands, well they really came in handy
She say, "Bobbie why you want to whip that boy?
What you want to whip him for?
He didn't throw no apple core."
But I don't have grandma anymore
When I get to heaven I'll look for grandma's hands
Martin Haughey
This dude got soul , rythym, and top top lyrics.
RIP to one of the best EVER
T DB
It's a Bill Withers' song
Gutsfiend
lol ain’t really a track where you can give credit to his lyrical prowess
2ndEndingVintage
Fantastic rendition of Bill Withers' classic. This was GSH at his zenith, this album followed by Moving Target album. Amazing stuff...if only society had paid more attention to his messages....
round about midnight
Agreed, this is a phenomenal album. I didn't know that this tune is a cover of Withers'! Still, Gil made it his own in the way that true artists do.
Knickertwist Copperby
The Godfather of Rap, a poet and a genius.. Saw him play seven times in London during the 1980s - we followed him from gig to gig..This is even better than Bill Withers' original (in my humble opinion)..
TheRarebird12
We must have seen you there - we did the same in London in the 80s - also saw him in Paris several times. Missing him still - always will. May he rest in power and light.
Terence Smith
Bill withers version was excellent. (He authored it.) But this is hella otherworldly/cosmic ... It transports your heart and soul to some good high spiritual places. 💛 I 1st heard it on vinyl in the early 90s and was immediately hooked. 👍👍💛💛😎
Rev. Charles Rogers
Of the many artists produced in the Americas, Gil Scott-Heron is by far one of the least credited. Perhaps many would say he was too radical or others may say he was years before his time, but the truth is Brother Gil was on time at the right time. Whether one of his originals or a sample of some other artists material, no one, not anyone contributed such a volume of pure raw artistic excellence at this brother did.
Spacely Hendrix
❤❤❤❤🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥