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.
Inner City Blues
Gil Scott-Heron Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Spend it on the have-nots
Money, we make it
Fore we see it, you'll take it
Oh, make you wanna holler
The way they do my life
Make me wanna holler
This ain't livin' this ain't livin'
No, no baby, this ain't livin'
No, no, no, no
Inflation, no chance
To increase finance
Bills pile up, sky high
Send that boy off to die
Oh, make me wanna holler
The way they do my life
Make me wanna holler
The way they do my life, oh baby
Hang ups, let downs
Bad breaks, set backs
Natural fact is
Honey, that I can't pay my taxes
Oh, make me wanna holler
And throw up both my hands
Yea, it makes me wanna holler
And throw up both my hands
Crime is increasing
Trigger happy policing
Panic is spreading
God knows where, where we're heading
Oh, they don't understand
Make me wanna holler
They don't understand
God bless you
And Lord keep you
And may you live, live, live a good life
God bless you
Lord keep you
And may you live, live, live a long long sweet life
Don't let the things get you down
Hold you hands, baby, walk around
Say God bless you
And I'll keep you
I'm praying a prayer for each and everyone of you
Heaven bless you
Heaven keep you
Gil Scott-Heron's Inner City Blues is a powerful critique of American society in the 1970s. The song's opening lines of "Rockets, moon shots, spend it on the have-nots, money, we make it, fore we see it, you'll take it," highlight the irony of the government spending enormous sums on the space race while so many Americans were living in poverty. The lyrics further lament the impossibility of financial advancement despite hard work: "inflation, no chance to increase finance, bills pile up, sky high, send that boy off to die." Scott-Heron's repetition of the phrase "make me wanna holler" expresses the despair and frustration felt by so many African Americans during this era.
The second verse of Inner City Blues explores the consequences of societal inequalities, particularly on black communities. "Hang ups, let downs, bad breaks, set-backs, natural fact is honey, that I can't pay my taxes" speaks to the cycle of poverty that plagues many in these communities. Scott-Heron also critiques the rise of police brutality and the resulting panic among communities of color. The repeated chorus of "God bless you, Lord keep you, and may you live a long long sweet life," is a poignant plea to a higher power for some relief.
Line by Line Meaning
Rockets, moon shots
The government spends astronomical amounts of money on space exploration but ignores the needs of the impoverished.
Spend it on the have-nots
The money should be spent on the marginalized and not on space exploration.
Money, we make it
We work hard to earn money.
Fore we see it, you'll take it
Taxes are so high that we hardly get to see our earnings.
Oh, make you wanna holler
The situation is so stressful that it makes you want to scream.
The way they do my life
The system is rigged against the poor and the marginalized.
Inflation, no chance
It's hard to keep up with rising costs because wages are not increasing.
To increase finance
It's difficult to find financial opportunities.
Bills pile up, sky high
Debt is overwhelming.
Send that boy off to die
The government sends poor people to war.
Hang ups, let downs
Life is filled with disappointments.
Bad breaks, set backs
Misfortunes can easily occur.
Natural fact is
It's a sad truth that cannot be avoided.
Honey, that I can't pay my taxes
I cannot afford to pay taxes.
And throw up both my hands
It makes me want to give up.
Crime is increasing
The crime rate is going up.
Trigger happy policing
Police officers are quick to use force.
Panic is spreading
Fear is spreading among the people.
God knows where, where we're heading
Nobody knows what the future holds.
Make me wanna holler
It makes me want to scream.
God bless you
May God bless you.
And Lord keep you
May God keep you safe.
And may you live, live, live a good life
May you lead a fulfilling life.
Don't let the things get you down
Don't let hardships defeat you.
Hold you hands, baby, walk around
Stay strong and keep moving forward.
I'm praying a prayer for each and everyone of you
I am wishing the best for everyone.
Heaven bless you
May Heaven bless you.
Heaven keep you
May Heaven keep you safe.
Lyrics Β© Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Marvin Gaye, James Nyx
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Steve Carmo
Before I die, I hope Gil gets his posthumous recognition for being one of the finest poets in the history of Humankind, ever. Full stop. Nothing less would do. Open your ears to the man's philosophy and genius or just revel in his musicality. Better still, do all of them.
Debbie Williams
I saw him once in San Francisco at Bimbo's Nightclub. I was front and center. His voice sounded like warm honey. It was an awesome show!
Himansu Patel
Gil was not only the creator of rap or poetry as it was known, that is true.
Don't forget he was alsoa big jazz music artist also and a fine singer .
Listen to this tune to realise it has everthing. With Gil you got everything !!!
Who is doing the same now ?
chuck mcgrucckin
Not only that, but he was completely switched onto the realities of social, political and cultural life - not just for black people, but for all of those who suffer under the system.
adysaxman77
Only Gil Scott Heron could have done a cover of this song and bossed it.
Rafael MoltΓ³
AMEN
Nick Alexopoulos
Dont y'all forget about that drummer too, puttin your ticker in check
dinobrya2
adysaxman77 Definitely Marvin's song. BUT Brother Gil put some cool touches on it. Awesome Spoken Word and dude on bass is cuttin' a fool.
Tika Is alive_in_da_ville
Just DEEP!!! Glad I am a 70's baby!!!
Judge Williams
I'm a 50's child. It's deep to me too!