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.
On Coming From a Broken Home
Gil Scott-Heron Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To a family that contradicts the concepts
Heard the rules, but wouldn't accept
And womenfolk raised me
And I was full-grown before I knew
I came from a broken home
Sent to live with my grandma down south
And my grandfather had just left for heaven
They said and as every-ologist would certainly note
I had no strong male figure, right?
But Lily Scott was absolutely not your mail-order, room-service
Typecast, black grandmother
I was moved in with her
Temporarily, just until things were patched
Till this was patched and till that was patched
Until I became at 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10
The patch that held Lily Scott who held me and like them four
I become one more and I loved her from the absolute marrow of my bones
And we was holdin' on
I come from a broken home
She had more than the five senses
She knew more than books could teach
And raised everyone she touched just a little bit higher
And all around her there was a natural sense
As though she sensed what the stars say, what the birds say
What the wind and and the clouds say
A sensual soul and self, that African sense
And she raised me like she raised four of her own
And I was hurt and scared and shocked when Lily Scott left
Suddenly one night
And they sent a limousine from heaven to take her to God
If there is one
So I knew she had gone
And I came from a broken home
Gil Scott-Heron's "On Coming From a Broken Home" is a poignant tribute to his grandmother, Lily Scott, who raised him in the absence of any strong male figures. The song is a reflective and nostalgic account of his tumultuous childhood, as he grappled with the realization that he came from a broken home. The opening lyrics set the tone for the song, as Scott-Heron acknowledges his family's unconventional approach to child-rearing. Despite hearing the rules, his family refused to accept them, resulting in a fractured household that left Scott-Heron without a strong male role model.
The second half of the song, however, focuses on Scott-Heron's grandmother, Lily Scott. Described as a sensual and intuitive woman with a deep understanding of the world around her, Lily instilled in Scott-Heron qualities that would stay with him for the rest of his life. Scott-Heron's intense love for his grandmother is palpable in the lyrics, as he describes her as the patch that held him together during a difficult period in his life. The song ends on a melancholy note, as Scott-Heron laments the loss of his grandmother and the end of his childhood.
"On Coming From a Broken Home" is a deeply personal and emotive song that speaks to Scott-Heron's experiences growing up. It is a tribute to the influence of strong women in his life, particularly his grandmother, who played a pivotal role in shaping his character. The song is a testament to the enduring power of familial love in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
I want to make this a special tribute
I wish to dedicate this song in a distinctive manner.
To a family that contradicts the concepts
To a family that challenges societal norms and beliefs.
Heard the rules, but wouldn't accept
Acknowledged the norms but didn't conform to them.
And womenfolk raised me
I was brought up by women in my family.
And I was full-grown before I knew
I didn't realize until later in life.
I came from a broken home
I was raised in an environment defined by broken familial relationships.
Sent to live with my grandma down south
I was sent to live with my grandma in the Southern United States.
When my uncles was leaving
When my uncles were departing.
And my grandfather had just left for heaven
And my granddad had recently passed away.
They said and as every-ologist would certainly note
As they said, and as any expert would agree.
I had no strong male figure, right?
I lacked a dominant male role model, correct?
But Lily Scott was absolutely not your mail-order, room-service
However, Lily Scott belonged to neither the stereotype of passively subservient women nor to the stereotype of hired help.
Typecast, black grandmother
Categorized as a black grandparent with predetermined characteristics.
I was moved in with her
I was shifted to live with her.
Temporarily, just until things were patched
Temporarily, until things were set right.
Till this was patched and till that was patched
Until one issue was resolved, and then another.
Until I became at 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10
Until I turned 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10.
The patch that held Lily Scott who held me and like them four
The solution that brought Lily and me together, just like the way she brought up four other children.
I become one more and I loved her from the absolute marrow of my bones
I became another one of her many children and loved her deeply.
And we was holdin' on
And we were clinging to each other.
She had more than the five senses
She possessed an extraordinary sixth sense beyond the conventional five.
She knew more than books could teach
She had wisdom that books couldn't impart.
And raised everyone she touched just a little bit higher
And she elevated the lives of everyone she came in contact with.
And all around her there was a natural sense
There was a natural aura about her.
As though she sensed what the stars say, what the birds say
As if she understood the language of the stars and birds.
What the wind and and the clouds say
What the wind and clouds speak of.
A sensual soul and self, that African sense
A spiritual soul and self, evoking an African understanding.
And she raised me like she raised four of her own
She raised me like any of her other four children.
And I was hurt and scared and shocked when Lily Scott left
Lily Scott's sudden departure left me pained, frightened, and astounded.
Suddenly one night
One night, all of a sudden.
And they sent a limousine from heaven to take her to God
And they metaphorically sent a heavenly limousine to drive her to God.
If there is one
If there is a God.
So I knew she had gone
So I concluded that she had departed.
And I came from a broken home
And I realized that I belonged to a family defined by broken familial relationships.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ERIC HUDSON, GIL SCOTT-HERON, KANYE WEST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mindful Arts
This was an amazing album
Sir Smoke Alot
I would love to hear the thoughts he forgot. The things he never wrote down but said to himself. The images he seen as he nodded off them the drugs that freed him. You would never under stand him if you have never been the patch....
sourxtimes
So beautiful.
TheCullousus
Powerful spoken word here.
Roderick Bryce
I dedicate this to my Mother Maxine J. Bryce. I love you Mom.
Bobby Alirezai
amazing!!
Emma
incredible
Michael Thomas
The brother was so deep.
Darren Roocroft
Brilliant, poor guy x
laos nascimento
lindeza meu pai,mui grato por zentir ezza luz aberta,caotica e amorosa