H2O Gate Blues
Gil Scott-Heron Lyrics

Heh, don't wanna be involved in this one, huh?
The singer is hesitant to discuss the upcoming topic, suggesting it will be controversial.

But first I wanna do a little bit of background on the Blues And say what it is.
The singer introduces the topic of the Blues and wants to provide some background information about it.

Like, there are 6 cardinal colors And colors have always come to signify more than that particular shade.
The singer is drawing a comparison between the way people attribute qualities to colors and the way the Blues works in association to life experiences.

That's where you apply somethin to a color, to express what you're trying to say.
The artist explains that adding a specific label or association to a color is a way of expressing a particular sentiment.

So, there are 6 cardinal colors: Yellow, Red, Orange, Green, Blue, and Purple. And there are 3,000 shades.
The artist is highlighting the vast number of variations among the Blues, represented through the Black experience.

And if you take these 3,000 and divide them by 6, you come up with 500. Meaning that there are at least 500 shades of The Blues.
The singer breaks the numbers down to convey that despite only a few categorizations, there are hundreds of ways the Blues can be expressed.

For example, there is... The "I ain't got me no money, blues". There is the "I ain't got me no woman, blues". There is the "I ain't got me no money AND I ain't got me no woman". which is the double blues.
The singer provides examples of specific types of Blues that relate to a lack of these common resources and experiences.

And for years it was thought that Black people was the only ones who could get the blues. So the Blues hadn't come into no international type of fame.
The artist notes that there was a perception that only Black people could experience the Blues and for this reason, it had not gained international recognition.

But lately we had.. The Frank Rizzo with the "Lie Detector Blues". We had the United States government talkin bout the "Energy Crisis Blues".
The artist mentions specific events that have helped the Blues gain recognition, including political scandals and crises related to energy.

And we gonna dedicate this next poem here to Spearhead X. The Ex-Second in Command in terms of this Country. (He GOT the blues.)*laughter* And the poem is called the "H2O G-A-T-E Blues". And if H2O is still water And G-A-T-E is still gate What we gettin ready to deal on is the "Watergate Blues"... (Yeah~ YEAH~ haha~)*scattered applause* (Rated X!) Lemme see if I can dial this number....
The artist dedicates the next poem to a specific person, introduces the title, explains the meaning of the title, and makes a joke about it and Nixon's involvement in the Watergate scandal.

Click! Whirr ... Click! "I'm sorry, the government you have elected is inoperative ... Click! Inoperative!"
The singer adds an audio element to the piece as a way of conveying the corruption that is present in the government.

Just how blind will America be? The world is on the edge of its seat Defeat on the horizon. very surprisin' That we all could see the plot and still could not... -- let me do that part again.
The artist is addressing the inability of Americans to see the impending danger due to corrupt politicians and political scandal.

Just as Vietnam exploded in the rice snap, crackle, and pop (Uh Oh!) Could not stop people determined to be free.
The singer draws a parallel between the looming political disaster and the Vietnam War, suggesting that people will always fight for freedom despite political obstruction.

The shock of a Vietnam defeat Sent Republican donkeys scurrying down on Wall Street And when the roll was called it was: Pepsi-Cola and Phillips 66 Boeing, Dow & Lockheed Ask them what we're fighting for and they never mention the economics of war.
The singer points out the hypocrisy of capitalist corporations for supporting the war and politicians, and also notes that the economic motivations for war are often not discussed.

Above all else destroy the land! If we can't break the Asian will We'll bomb the dykes and starve the man!
The singer notes that destruction of land and people is a dominant theme, and mentions the disregard of actual war casualties and destruction caused by military action.

America! The international Jekyll and Hyde The land of a thousand disguises Sneaks up on you but rarely surprises (Yeah!) Plundering the Asian countryside in the name of Fu Man Thieu.
The artist introduces the idea that America has many faces and operates through deception, particularly through political alliances with other countries like Vietnam.

Afraid of shoeless, undernourished Cambodians While we strike big wheat bargains with Russia Our nuclear enemy
The artist notes that despite the focus on defeating communist enemies abroad, America still has skeletons in the closet when it comes to economic and political alliances.

But tell me, who was around where Hale Boggs died? And what was the cause of LBJ's untimely demise? And what really happened to J. Edgar Hoover?
The singer calls attention to unanswered questions and conspiracy theories surrounding political figures, suggesting corrupted motives and deceitful practices.

The thing that seems to justify all of our fears Is that all of this went down in the last five years.
The singer reaffirms the gravity of the current political situation and acknowledges that it is a source of fear and concern.

Richard Daley, imperial Napoleonic Mayor of Chicago. who took over from Al Capone and Continues to implement the same tactics.
The artist calls out corrupt figures in American politics, including the mayor of Chicago who may be using the same tactics as a notorious gangster.

And there are those who say America's faith is drowning Beneath that cesspool-Watergate.
The artist introduces the idea that America's values and beliefs may be suffering due to pervasive political corruption and deceit, particularly as seen through the Watergate scandal.

How much more evidence do the citizens need That the election was sabotaged by trickery and greed? And, if this is so, and who we got didn't win Let's do the whole goddamn election over again! (YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!)
The artist suggests that an election was won through fraud and deceit, and calls for a new election to be held.

The thing that seems to justify all of our fears Is that all of this went down in the last five years.
The singer reaffirms the gravity of the current political situation and acknowledges that it is a source of fear and concern.

But Agnew knew enough to stay out of jail What really happened to J. Edgar Hoover?
The artist notes that even corrupt politicians are able to find ways to escape criminal prosecution, and questions the handling of the case of J. Edgar Hoover.

And there are those who swear they've seen King Richard (who? who?) King Richard (who?) King Richard- (Yeah!)
The singer makes a reference to a mythologized figure, questioning if such a figure truly exists and if they have any chance to solve the ongoing political troubles.

Four more years, Four more years of THAT?
The singer questions the prospect of more years of the same political unrest and corruption.