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.
I Think I'll Call It Morning
Gil Scott-Heron Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And paint it all over my sky
Be no rain
Be no rain
I'm gonna take the song from every bird
And make em sing it just for me
Bird's got something to teach us all
Be no rain
Be no rain
And I think I'll call it morning
From now on
Why should I survive on sadness
And tell myself I got to be alone
Why should I subscribe to this world's madness
Knowing that I've got to live on ( 3 times)
Yeah I think I'll call it morning
From now on
I'm gonna take myself a piece of sunshine
And paint it all over my sky
Be no rain
Be no rain
I'm gonna take the song from every bird
And make em sing it just for me
Cause why should I hang my head
Why should I let tears fall from my eyes
When I've seen everything there is to see
And I know there is no sense in crying
I know there ain't no sense in cryin'
Yeah I think I'll call it morning
From now on
I'll call it morning from now on, yeah
Cause there ain't gonna be no rain
Be no rain
Be no rain
From now on
In Gil Scott-Heron's song “I Think I'll Call It Morning,” the singer expresses his determination to take control of his life and create a new reality for himself. He starts by saying he's going to take a piece of sunshine and paint it all over his sky, slowly erasing any trace of sadness and depression he might be feeling. As he repeats the phrase “be no rain,” he emphasizes his desire to get rid of anything that could ruin his newfound positivity. He then mentions he wants to take the song from every bird and make them sing it just for him, as birds have something to teach us all about being free, a metaphor for the liberation he's chasing.
As the song progresses, Scott-Heron continues to advocate for his newfound outlook on life. He rejects the notion that he should accept the world's madness and sadness, insisting that he will no longer subscribe to it. He uses repetition to stress his desire to call it morning from now on and to emphasize that there won't be any rain to deter him from living a happy life. Finally, Scott-Heron concludes by telling us that he knows there is no point in crying since he's seen everything there is to see, and he knows that he can create his reality because there won't be any rain from now on.
Through the use of vivid imagery and repetition, “I Think I'll Call It Morning” encourages listeners to take control of their lives and shape their reality. Scott-Heron's lyrics remind us that we have the power to make our world brighter and more beautiful, and instead of accepting defeat, we should strive to find our own piece of sunshine and paint it all over our sky.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm gonna take myself a piece of sunshine
I will find happiness and positivity in life
And paint it all over my sky
I will spread this positivity and happiness everywhere
Be no rain
There will not be any negativity in my life
I'm gonna take the song from every bird
I will find inspiration in everything around me
And make em sing it just for me
I will find joy in the simplest things
Bird's got something to teach us all
Nature has a lot to offer and teach us
About bein' free, yeah
Freedom is important and we should appreciate it
And I think I'll call it morning
I will start anew and see every day as a bright morning
From now on
I will stick to this positive outlook in life
Why should I survive on sadness
Happiness and positivity should be our driving force
And tell myself I got to be alone
Solitude is not the only way to find oneself
Why should I subscribe to this world's madness
We should question the injustices around us
Knowing that I've got to live on ( 3 times)
Despite the challenges, we must keep going
Cause why should I hang my head
We should hold our heads high and be confident
Why should I let tears fall from my eyes
We should not let negativity affect us
When I've seen everything there is to see
Life is full of experiences, good and bad
And I know there is no sense in crying
Crying won't solve anything, only positivity will help
I know there ain't no sense in cryin'
We should stop focusing on the negatives and look for the positives
Yeah I think I'll call it morning
Every day is a new beginning
From now on
I will remain positive and hopeful
Cause there ain't gonna be no rain
I will not let negativity or sadness affect me
Be no rain
Positivity and happiness will be my constant state of mind
Be no rain
I will not let anything dull my spirit
From now on
I will live my life to the fullest
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: BRIAN JACKSON, GIL SCOTT-HERON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@martinlaplanche
🎶🎶 I'm gonna take myself a piece of sunshine
And paint it all over my sky
BE NO RAIN
BE NO RAIN ❤❤
I'm gonna take the song from every bird
And make em sing it just for me
Bird's got something to teach us all
About bein'free, yeah
BE NO RAIN
BE NO RAIN ❤❤
And i think i'll call it morning
From now on
Why should i survive on sadness
And tell myself i got to be alone
Why should i subscribe to this world's madness
Knowing that i've got to live on
Knowing that i've got to live on
Knowing that i've got to live on
Yeah i think i'll call it morning
From now on
I'm gonna take myself a piece of sunshine
And paint it all over my sky
BE NO RAIN
BE NO RAIN ❤❤
I'm gonna take the song from every bird
And make em sing it just for me
Cause why should i hang my head
Why should i let tears fall from my eyes
When i've seen everything there is to see
And i know there is no sense in crying
I know there ain't no sense in cryin'
Yeah i think i'll call it morning
From now on
I'll call it morning from now on, yeah
Cause there ain't gonna be no rain
BE NO RAIN
BE NO RAIN ❤❤
From now on 🎶🎶
@BBTITUDEBRIGITTE
Je sais que ça ne sert à rien de pleurer
I know there ain't no sense in crying
Ouais, je pense que je vais l'appeler
Yeah, I think I'll call it
Matin à partir de maintenant
Morning from now on
Ouais, je l'appellerai matin à partir de maintenant, ouais
Yeah, I'll call it morning from now on, yeah
Parce qu'il n'y aura pas de pluie
‘Cause there ain't gonna be no rain
Il n'y aura pas de pluie
Be no rain
Il n'y aura pas de pluie, il n'y aura plus de pluie à partir de maintenant, ouais
Be no rain, be no rain from now on, yeah
Source : LyricFind
Paroliers : Brian Jackson / Gil Scott-Heron
@sonyalonnieclark9392
we lost our son three years ago this song brings us peace
@bigtmney
I'm deeply sorry for your loss, may his soul guide you
@justafanofnerdculture7602
So very, very sorry for your family's loss. Glad to know that this beautiful song provides peace for you. RIP to your son. 🙏
@viccarter2149
I lost my best friend yesterday and yes, this song brings me peace.
@justafanofnerdculture7602
@Vic Carter I'm, very, very sorry to hear that. My prayers and thoughts go out to you and your best friend's family. RIP to your best friend. 🙏
@ohegypsy
Bless you and your family!
@LeeBee-hs6mj
Just discovering Gil Scott-Heron and every track is pure gold.
@user-vo5ty1xf6s
Facts 💯💯💯
@jamesa.hamilton269
Enjoy! He was my contemporary and roommate of friend I grew up with at Lincoln U. outside Philly. Pained, but absolutely brilliant musician-poet!
@City2x
This song is so deep. Black Happiness while living in the struggle. Gil I miss you brother. We need your voice in 2023. 🙏🏿