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 Part 1
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
The song "On Coming From a Broken Home Part 1" by Gil Scott-Heron is a tribute to his grandmother Lily Scott, who raised him and gave him the foundation to become who he is. The song starts with Scott-Heron paying tribute to his family, who went against what was expected of them and raised him with love and care. He reflects that he came from a broken home but with his grandmother's love and wisdom he was able to overcome the obstacles that come with being part of a dysfunctional family.
The next verse describes how he had to go and live with his grandmother when his uncles and grandfather passed away. Scott-Heron points out that despite not having a strong male figure in his life, his grandmother was the anchor that held him together. She was a wise and sensual woman who had a natural sense that taught him more than any book could. The song ends with Scott-Heron being hurt and shocked by his grandmother's sudden death and realizing that he truly came from a broken home.
Overall, this song is a beautiful tribute to the resilience of the human spirit and how love and care from a wise and nurturing figure can provide a foundation in life.
Line by Line Meaning
I want to make this a special tribute
I intend to pay homage to a family that defied the norm
To a family that contradicts the concepts
To a family that went against societal expectations
Heard the rules, but wouldn't accept
They were aware of the expectations but rejected them
And womenfolk raised me
I was brought up by my female relatives
And I was full-grown before I knew
It was much later in life when I came to realize
I came from a broken home
That my family was not the typical nuclear family
Sent to live with my grandma down south
I was relocated to my grandmother's home in the southern region of the US
When my uncles was leaving
When my uncles were departing
And my grandfather had just left for heaven
And my grandfather had recently passed away
They said and as every-ologist would certainly note
It was suggested, as any expert would attest
I had no strong male figure, right?
That I lacked a prominent male role model, is that correct?
But Lily Scott was absolutely not your mail-order, room-service
However, my grandmother, Lily Scott, did not conform to stereotypes
Typecast, black grandmother
She was not the typical portrayal of a black grandmother
I was moved in with her
I went to live with her
Temporarily, just until things were patched
It was meant to be short-term, until issues were resolved
Till this was patched and till that was patched
Until various problems were fixed
Until I became at 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10
Until I reached the ages of 3 through 10
The patch that held Lily Scott who held me and like them four
The solution that kept Lily Scott, who held me and her four children
I become one more and I loved her from the absolute marrow of my bones
I became one more person she cared for, and I loved her deeply
And we was holdin' on
We were trying to hold on
She had more than the five senses
She possessed qualities beyond the standard five senses
She knew more than books could teach
She possessed knowledge unattainable from books
And raised everyone she touched just a little bit higher
She positively impacted everyone she came into contact with
And all around her there was a natural sense
There was a natural aura around her
As though she sensed what the stars say, what the birds say
As if she could understand the messages conveyed by the stars and birds
What the wind and the clouds say
Or the messages conveyed by the wind and clouds
A sensual soul and self, that African sense
She had an instinctual and spiritual understanding, grounded in African roots
And she raised me like she raised four of her own
She treated me as one of her own, along with her four children
And I was hurt and scared and shocked when Lily Scott left
I was devastated when Lily Scott suddenly passed away
Suddenly one night
Without warning, one night
And they sent a limousine from heaven to take her to God
It seemed as if a heavenly vehicle took her to the divine realm
If there is one
Assuming one exists
So I knew she had gone
This made it clear that she had passed away
And I came from a broken home
I was reminded that I came from a non-traditional family
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ERIC HUDSON, GIL SCOTT-HERON, KANYE WEST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Opethian4
I want to make this a special tribute
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
When my uncles was leaving
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
@DAFTJUSTICE1
Mr. West samples Mr. Heron. And now Mr. Heron samples Mr. West. can't get any better than this.
@mondola
This is giving me chills, man. So powerful!
@Carpettower
1:08
"And I loved her from the absolute marrow of my bones"
wow T_T this is beautiful
@augustcruise4108
O.O
@Carpettower
August Cruise I KNOW
;-; I'm a pussy so a lot of things make me emotional
but come on this is too great T_T
His way with words is incredible
@augustcruise4108
lolol nothing wrong with a little home-alone sobbing bro. emotion is good.
@Carpettower
August Cruise Agreed sonny.
@Penguins569
Such an amazing track from an amazing album. Thank you Gil for your voice, you will be greatly missed but your words and music will live on forever. RIP
@syahirashri5214
RIP Gil-Scott Heron Thank you Mr. West.
@Opethian4
I want to make this a special tribute
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
When my uncles was leaving
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