1. On Coming From A Broken Home (Pt. 1): 2:20
2. Me And The Devil: 3:33
""3. I'm New Here: 3:33""
4. Your Soul And Mine: 2:02
5. Parents (Interlude): 0:18
6. I'll Take Care Of You: 2:58
7. Being Blessed (interlude): 0:12
8. Where Did The Night Go: 1:14
9. I Was Guided (Interlude): 0:14
10. New York Is Killing Me: 4:29
11. Certain Things (Interlude): 0:08
12. Running: 2:00
13. The Crutch: 2:44
14. I've Been Me (Interlude): 0:16
15. On Coming From A Broken Home (Pt. 2): 2:15
Total Length of album: 28:16
Im New Here
Gil Scott-Heron Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That I did not want to be
But I'm new here
Will you show me around?
No matter how far gone you've gone
You can always turn around
No matter how far gone you've gone
Met a woman in a bar
Told her I was hard to get to know
And near impossible to forget
She said I had an ego on me
The size of Texas
Well I'm new here and I forget
Does that mean big or small?
No matter how far gone you've gone
You can always turn around
No matter how far gone you've gone
You can always turn around
And I'm shedding plates like a snake
it may be crazy
but I'm the closest thing I have
To a voice of reason
Turn around, turn around, turn around
And you may come full circle
And be new here again
Turn around, turn around, turn around
And you may come full circle
And be new here again
New here again
No matter how far gone you've gone
(New here again)
You can always turn around
(New here again)
No matter how far gone you've gone
(New here again)
You can always turn around
(New here again)
No matter how far gone you've gone
(New here again)
You can always turn around
(New here again)
No matter how far gone you've gone
(New here again)
You can always turn around
(New here again)
The first verse of Gil Scott-Heron's "I'm New Here" presents a paradox. He asserts that he didn't become someone new, but rather arrived in a new place. He didn't change who he was intrinsically, but he is searching for guidance and acceptance in a new environment. The repetition of "but I'm new here" highlights the contrast between who he is and the unfamiliar space he occupies. He is not oblivious to his identity, but he knows that he needs to find his bearings in this new place. This vulnerability is reflected in his request, "will you show me around?" He is reaching out for help, for someone to show him the way.
The second verse conveys a conversation between himself and a woman he meets in a bar. He tells her that he is difficult to get to know and impossible to forget, and she responds by calling him egotistical, stating that he has an ego the size of Texas. The repetition of "I forget" in the following line suggests that he is wondering if having a big ego is a good thing or not. This exchange illustrates how someone's perception of themselves can differ from how others perceive them. The chorus highlights the theme of redemption, indicating that no matter how far gone someone may feel, they can always turn their life around.
The final verse describes the process of "shedding plates like a snake," shedding his old self and becoming someone new, even if it seems irrational. He acknowledges that he may not have all the answers, but he is the closest thing he has to a "voice of reason." The repetition of "turn around" in the final lines reinforces the message that it's never too late to start again, to return to the beginning and start anew.
Line by Line Meaning
I did not become someone different
I did not change who I was
That I did not want to be
I did not become someone who I did not want to be
But I'm new here
I am in a new environment
Will you show me around?
Can you guide me through this new place?
No matter how far gone you've gone
No matter how much you have strayed away from who you are
You can always turn around
You can always come back to who you are
Met a woman in a bar
I met a woman in a place where people drink
Told her I was hard to get to know
I informed her that I am not easy to understand
And near impossible to forget
And very difficult to be forgotten
She said I had an ego on me
She remarked that I had a large ego
The size of Texas
As big as the state of Texas
Well I'm new here and I forget
Since I am new here, I have a question
Does that mean big or small?
Can you clarify whether it means a large or small ego?
And I'm shedding plates like a snake
I am getting rid of old, outdated parts of myself
it may be crazy
It may seem absurd
but I'm the closest thing I have
But I am the only thing I have
To a voice of reason
To someone who can sound logical
Turn around, turn around, turn around
Look back at where you came from
And you may come full circle
You may return to where you started
And be new here again
And feel like a newcomer once more
No matter how far gone you've gone
No matter how much you have strayed away from who you are
(New here again)
When you return to where you started
You can always turn around
You can always come back to who you are
(New here again)
When you return to where you started
No matter how far gone you've gone
No matter how much you have strayed away from who you are
(New here again)
When you return to where you started
You can always turn around
You can always come back to who you are
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Bill Callahan, Jimmy Roach
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@stevenschleps3747
Gil Scott Heron is a vital part of the fabric woven together which we called the United States. His music was introduced to me in the mid seventies. Only recently had I returned to his zeal. His insight, and more his insights into American society. He championed lost causes, with courage and conviction, and hope! He is more relevant today than any other time in his
career.He is still one of a kind. The closest
artist who also spoke, and sang with poetic justice.Was Bob Dylan. I was wondering this week how is. Or even if he lived. He is a genuine American icon. The drugs came close to destroying him completely. I am grateful he lives, and is still capable of producing more just music. But you can easily see the toll drugs have had on him. I hope he is happy. If your reading this Gil Scott. Thank you!!
What a sad, sad day(for those of us who cherish his message) it will be. When Sir Gil Scott passes on. He opened up many eyes. He belongs in the Hall of Fame.When he was a poet he was at his best.
He was a warrior.
From Vienna. All the best. And peace.
God bless Gil Scott.
Again, thanks for posting!!
Revolution.
Whities on the Moon.
Steven.
@xanthirudha
ANYWAY HERE
I did not become someone different
That I did not want to be
But I'm new here
Will you show me around
No matter how far wrong you've gone
You can always turn around
Met a woman in a bar
Told her I was hard to get to know
And near impossible to forget
She said I had an ego on me
The size of Texas
Well I'm new here and I forget
Does that mean big or small
No matter how far wrong you've gone
You can always turn around
And I'm shedding plates like a snake
And it may be crazy but I'm
The closest thing I have
To a voice of reason
Turn around, turn around, turn around
And you may come full circle
And be new here again
@raakhanaten1035
This man help me get through 63 years of life in America. I Love Gill-Scott-Heron ❤️.
@hibernatus4202
Im 25 and i realize how helpfull his words are to my reflections on life, he kept me goin through tough times
@Paulysworld2005
I have been a fan for, 35+ years; I was fortunate enough to meet the man & see him perform with Brian Jackson. I will never forget that night.
@ergbudster3333
"I may be crazy.. but I'm the closest thing I have to a voice of reason." Damn. That's brilliant.
@rockdamostone4236
Thanks to Bill Callahan/Smog..
@raakhanaten1035
Gill was a brilliant Man 👍🏿.
@GeGe-gg3zt
rockdamost hi. Why?
@bertdockx
@@GeGe-gg3zt Because Bill Callahan (who might be the most brilliant living songwriter) wrote the tune. It's a cover. But, as much as I'm a fan of Callahan (and I'm a huge fan), I actually prefer Gill Scott-Heron's interpretation over the original.
@plopperator
@@bertdockx This is definitely better.
@garygoodin8146
One of the most influential musicians of my lifetime. Ahead of his time. I wiped away tears upon news of his passing.