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.
New York Is Killing Me
Gil Scott-Heron Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bunch of doctors coming 'round, they don't know
That New York is killing me
Yeah well I need to go home and take it slow in Jackson, Tennessee
Let me tell ya city ain't living all
It's cracked up to be
Fast city living ain't allIt's cracked up to be
Yeah seem I need to go home
And slow down in Jackson, Tennessee
Yes I lay down, I lay down
The doctor, try to take it all in
Yeah lay down, lay down
To try to take it all in
(Take it all in)
Yeah you got eight million people
And I didn't have a single friend
Don't you know, don't you know
New York was killing me
Yes, I was standing nearly dying here
New York was killing me
Seems like I need to start over
And go back home to Jackson, Tennessee
Lord have mercy, mercy on me
Yeah Lord have mercy, have mercy on me
Tell him to bury my body back home in Jackson, Tennessee
Yeah Lord have mercy, have mercy on me
Yeah I need to be back home, need to be back home
Need to be back home, need to be back home yeah
Born in Chicago but I go home Tennessee
Yeah I born in Chicago but I
go home to Tennessee
In Gil Scott-Heron's song New York Is Killing Me, the musician seems to be expressing his exhaustion with the fast-paced, stressful lifestyle of New York City. He suggests that the city is "killing" him, and that despite the doctors not being able to diagnose the issue, he knows that he needs to slow down and go back home to Jackson, Tennessee to truly heal. The repetitive chorus of "lay down, lay down, to try to take it all in" could be interpreted as the singer's attempt to pause, reflect, and absorb his surroundings, while also acknowledging the overwhelming nature of his situation.
The lyrics also touch on the loneliness and isolation that can come with living in a large city. The singer notes that despite the population of eight million people, he doesn't have a single friend. This sentiment feels especially poignant during the COVID-19 pandemic, where many people are feeling isolated and disconnected from their communities. Overall, the song seems to be a powerful commentary on the toll that living in a big city can take on one's mental and physical health, and the importance of slowing down and taking care of oneself in the face of these stresses.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah the doctors don't know, but New York was killing me
The medical professionals are baffled by my condition, yet the overwhelming pressure and energy of New York City are draining my spirit.
Bunch of doctors coming 'round, they don't know
Despite the numerous medical experts examining me, they fail to grasp the emotional and mental toll that the city imposes.
That New York is killing me
The fast-paced, relentless lifestyle of New York City is taking a severe toll on my well-being.
Yeah well I need to go home and take it slow in Jackson, Tennessee
I yearn to return to a simpler, more peaceful life in Jackson, Tennessee, where I can find solace.
Let me tell ya city ain't living all
I want to emphasize that urban life isn't as fulfilling or glamorous as often portrayed.
It's cracked up to be
The reality of city life doesn't match the grand expectations society places upon it.
Fast city living ain't all
The hustle and bustle of city life is not as great as it's made out to be.
It's cracked up to be
People often underestimate the challenges that come with living in such a hectic environment.
Yeah seem I need to go home
It appears that returning to my roots is essential for my peace of mind.
And slow down in Jackson, Tennessee
I long for a slower pace of life in Jackson, where I can recharge.
Yes I lay down, I lay down
I find myself collapsing, overwhelmed by the pressures around me.
The doctor, try to take it all in
The physician attempts to understand the full extent of my struggles.
Yeah lay down, lay down
I continue to succumb to the heavy weight of my reality.
To try to take it all in
I am desperately trying to comprehend the chaos swirling around me.
(Take it all in)
This is a plea to fully acknowledge my emotional and physical state.
Yeah you got eight million people
New York is densely populated, teeming with millions of individuals.
And I didn't have a single friend
Despite the crowd, I feel profoundly isolated and alone.
Don't you know, don't you know
It's hard to believe how disconnected one can feel in such a bustling metropolis.
New York was killing me
The city’s demands and lack of emotional connection are suffocating me.
Yes, I was standing nearly dying here
I feel like I'm on the brink of collapse, suffocated by the city's intensity.
New York was killing me
The relentless environment of New York is detrimental to my health and happiness.
Seems like I need to start over
I realize that I must reset my life to reclaim my well-being.
And go back home to Jackson, Tennessee
Returning to Jackson feels like the necessary step for healing and rejuvenation.
Lord have mercy, mercy on me
I call out for compassion and relief from my suffering.
Yeah Lord have mercy, have mercy on me
I plead for divine intervention to alleviate my pain.
Tell him to bury my body back home in Jackson, Tennessee
I wish for my final resting place to be in the comforting familiarity of Jackson, reflecting my deep connection to home.
Yeah Lord have mercy, have mercy on me
Once again, I seek solace and understanding in my time of distress.
Yeah I need to be back home, need to be back home
The urgency of returning to my true home grows stronger as I feel lost in this city.
Need to be back home, need to be back home yeah
I can't shake the feeling that I must return to where I truly belong.
Born in Chicago but I go home Tennessee
Although my origins are in Chicago, my heart longs for the peace of Tennessee.
Yeah I born in Chicago but I
My identity is influenced by my birthplace, yet my soul longs for a different place.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Gil Scott-Heron
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@carloolivari1072
If I'm not mistaken, this song was one of Gil Scott-Heron's last.
I think it's clear what he's singing about here: this album was composed in his final days.
He had HIV. He knew he was going to die. And perhaps most importantly, he knew death was coming to him soon.
I believe, some people, know when their time is coming. I guess sometimes, mortality can inspire a creative spark.
A great poet, writer, misician, and leader. And this was his dying wish. To "go back home to Tennessee".
Lord, have mercy.
@the_local_bigamist
Rest in Power! What an absolute legend who understood struggle - you can relate no matter your ethnic background, he just got to the bottom of struggle and you can hear the pain of experience in his voice.
This album was a beautiful finale for an under-appreciated talent who will go down as one of the great poets, writers, singers, thinkers and artists of modern times.
@theeladyk3314
R.I.P. my big Cuz. Say hello to your grandma Lily, my Aunt, and the rest of the Hamilton-Scott Family in Heaven. Its some of us in the FAM carrying on the Gifts that is on our Bloodline of singing rap writing music even dance. We miss you but haven't forgotten you dear Cuz. I love reading the wonderful comments made by the many people all over the globe who love you. Also, tell my granddaddy Flynn, your Unc, that I love him. Rest Easy Cuzn Gil.
@1993patos
related?
@tonys9796
TheeLadyK 🙏✊
@fatihahsunni-ali3312
TheeLadyK he was my Godfather...my dad was Spirit of The Midnight Band
@zackpumpkinhead8882
I'm honestly kinda jealous, even tho I don't need to be. It's still dope you're related to him
@Deedee-ee1sg
Incredible song from a great artist. Immense. I love everything about this track, the voice, the handclaps, the vibe and the message.
@MsFrancois1
Those handclaps! That choir, it's all beautiful
@Serknox
Truly inspiring person, music, poetry. Rest in peace, Gil Scott-Heron.
@pmrooter
Rest in peace, Gil Scott Heron. You were an icon who paved the way for many poets, and modern rap(not the shit on the radio). If a poet, soul/jazz artist or anyone who belongs to part of the movement which is hip hop doesn't know of your legacy then they need to learn to be able to truly continue in their craft. Repost this on many videos if you can.