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.
Lady Day and John Coltrane
Gil Scott-Heron Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You don't know just what to do?
Living all of your days in darkness
Let the sun shine through
Ever feel that somehow, somewhere
You lost your way?
And if you don't get help quick
You won't make it through the day?
Could you call on Lady Day?
Could you call on John Coltrane?
Now, 'cause they'll, they'll wash your troubles
Your troubles, your troubles, your troubles away!
Plastic people with plastic minds
Are on their way to plastic homes
No beginning, there ain't no ending
Just on and on and on and on and on
It's all because they're so afraid to say that they're alone
Until our hero rides in, rides in on his saxophone
Could you call on Lady Day?
Could you call on John Coltrane?
Now, 'cause they'll, they'll wash your troubles
Your troubles, your troubles, your troubles away!
All right
Ever feel kind of down and out
You don't know just what to do?
Living all of your days in darkness
Let the sun shine through
Ever feel that somehow, somewhere
You lost your way?And if you don't get help quick
You won't make it through the day?
Could you call on Lady Day?
And could you call on John Coltrane?
Now, 'cause they'll, they'll wash your troubles
Your troubles, your troubles, your troubles
Your troubles, your troubles, your troubles
Your troubles, your troubles, your troubles away
They'll wash your troubles away
They'll wash your troubles away
Your troubles, your troubles, your troubles, your troubles away
Yeah, they'll wash your troubles away
They'll wash your troubles away
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
The lyrics of Gil Scott-Heron's "Lady Day and John Coltrane" is a call for help and a tribute to two of the most influential African American musicians of the 20th century. The song starts with the singer acknowledging the feeling of being lost and helpless: "Ever feel kind of down and out/You don't know just what to do?" However, he quickly offers a solution, implying that the listener could call upon the spirits of Lady Day (Billie Holiday) and John Coltrane, two jazz giants who left a significant mark on the history of music. The singer believes that these two artists could help the listener overcome their troubles and offer guidance: "Now, 'cause they'll, they'll wash your troubles/Your troubles, your troubles, your troubles away!" The lyrics also highlight the artificiality of modern society, as the singer describes people with "plastic minds" and "plastic homes" who are afraid to admit their loneliness - and how these issues can be resolved through the power of music and the memory of great artists.
Line by Line Meaning
Ever feel kind of down and out
Have you ever felt low and helpless?
You don't know just what to do?
You are clueless about what actions to take?
Living all of your days in darkness
Every day feels like a struggle with no hope in sight
Let the sun shine through
Allow some positivity and hope to come through
Ever feel that somehow, somewhere
Have you ever had a sense of being lost and directionless?
You lost your way?
Do you feel like you have no idea about what to do in life?
And if you don't get help quick
If you don't get assistance soon enough
You won't make it through the day?
You may not survive the current situation
Could you call on Lady Day?
Can you seek help from Billie Holiday?
Could you call on John Coltrane?
Can you reach out to John Coltrane?
Now, 'cause they'll, they'll wash your troubles
Because they, Lady Day and John Coltrane, can help you solve your problems
Your troubles, your troubles, your troubles away!
You can get rid of your problems
Plastic people with plastic minds
Shallow and superficial people with no depth of thought
Are on their way to plastic homes
They are heading towards a life marked by artificiality and fakeness
No beginning, there ain't no ending
Their lives have no purpose, no start or end
Just on and on and on and on and on
A never-ending cycle of monotony
It's all because they're so afraid to say that they're alone
Their inability to acknowledge their loneliness adds to their misery
Until our hero rides in, rides in on his saxophone
But when the hero or someone who can help arrives, he will do so with his saxophone
Could you call on Lady Day?
Referencing the earlier line as Lady Day (Billie Holiday) can help in times of need
And could you call on John Coltrane?
Referencing the earlier line as John Coltrane can help in times of need
Now, 'cause they'll, they'll wash your troubles
Reiterating the help that Lady Day and John Coltrane can offer
Your troubles, your troubles, your troubles away!
They can get rid of all your problems
All right
Expression of agreement, as if saying okay to following lines
They'll wash your troubles away
Repeating Lady Day and John Coltrane's ability to help with your problems
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Expression of excitement and enthusiasm on this ability to offer help
Lyrics © CARLIN AMERICA INC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Gil Scott-Heron
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@rhythmfield
Musicians: Gil Scott-Heron – guitar, piano, vocals
Hubert Laws – flute, saxophone
Brian Jackson – piano
Burt Jones – electric guitar
Ron Carter – bass
Bernard Purdie – drums
Johnny Pate – conductor
Production
edit
Bob Thiele – production
Bob Simpson – mixing
- credits provided by Greg Burrows
@harrisda1
In ‘75-‘76 I was doing Field Promotion for the fledgling Artista Records in Texas (based in Houston). Sometime in that 12-18 months Clive Davis signed Gil Scott-Heron and we released his “1st Minute of a New Day” album. I was already aware of him because of his participation in Last Poets oeuvre in the late ‘60s - early ‘70s.
I’m not even sure our R&B stations in Texas played Gil’s record. Can’t recall. However, I remember driving him one night to KPFT, the Pacifica radio station in Houston. My ride was a totally restored 1953 Chevy. Seems I may have been sporting a homburg at the time.
He wasn’t sure what to make of me - a white kid in an old car and an old man’s hat. But he was cool as cool could be and had his way of letting me know he dug me finding a mic and some airtime for him. He was very easy to like. I think walking in to KPFT with Gil gave me near rockstar cred with the Pacifica crew. Ha!
I will always treasure having had that opportunity.
Today, July 17 is the anniversary of the passing of both Billie “Lady Day” Holiday (1959) and John Coltrane (1967). So hearing this again today has special meaning for me.
Rest in peace sweet Sister Lady, Brother John and Brother Gil. Thank for all the Beauty, Goodness and Truth you gave us!
I am currently trying to finish my Jazz poetry collection. Perhaps I need to add a poem for Gil~
@chamomile08
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
Ever feel kind of down and out
You don't know just what to do?
Living all of your days in darkness
Let the sun shine through
Ever feel that somehow, somewhere
You lost your way?
And if you don't get-a help quick
You won't make it through the day?
[Chorus]
Could you call on Lady Day?
Could you call on John Coltrane?
Now, ‘cause they'll, they'll wash your troubles
Your troubles, your troubles, your troubles away!
[Verse 2]
Plastic people with plastic minds
Are on their way to plastic homes
No beginning, there ain't no ending
Just on and on and on and on and on
It's all because they're so afraid to say that they're alone
Until our hero rides in, rides in on his saxophone
[Chorus]
Could you call on Lady Day?
Could you call on John Coltrane?
Now, ‘cause they'll, they'll wash your troubles
Your troubles, your troubles, your troubles away!
[Interlude 1]
All right
[Verse 3]
Ever feel kind of down and out
You don't know just what to do?
Living all of your days in darkness
Let the sun shine through
Ever feel that somehow, somewhere
You lost your way?
And if you don't get-a help quick
You won't make it through the day?
[Chorus]
Could you call on Lady Day?
And could you call on John Coltrane?
Now, ‘cause they'll, they'll wash your troubles
Your troubles, your troubles, your troubles
Your troubles, your troubles, your troubles
Your troubles, your troubles, your troubles away
They'll wash your troubles away
They'll wash your troubles away
Your troubles, your troubles, your troubles, your troubles away
Yeah, they'll wash your troubles away
They'll wash your troubles away
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah...
@carlbowles1808
My troubles are washed away every time I hear this song and it's August 2024. RIP GILL SCOTT HERON.
@ramonrios3811
Indubitably!
@rohamsheikhani1537
Gill Scott-Heron was a prophet for a new race of man kind. I'm still a follower.
@kellygoines7448
I'm also a follower for years. Is there anyone close. An artist like gil or close to it
@kalsangdrolkar
Me, too! He was a major hero of my life!
@naomic6009
Me too
@JL-kk9hl
He was a messenger from the future.
@ricashy7302
Indeed he was.
@dwightlove3704
This man needs a film made about him
@Twobuckets321
He had a tumultuous life. He’d be much better served not having a biopic.