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.
Or Down You Fall
Gil Scott-Heron Lyrics
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The sea is made of fire
I ride my horse of nuts and bolts
We made to never tire
The world is just a simple circle
I've got to keep on turning, yeah
I've got to keep on turning'Til I fall
Down to the top of a mountain
Inside a hollow stone
I pretend that I'm an iron man, yeah
Instead of flesh and bone
The world is just a simple circle
And it keep on turning, yeah
And it keep on turning
You've got to
Go away
I can't stand to see your face
Cause you've seen the weakest me
And now you know I'm only human
Instead of all the things I'd like to be
The world is just a simple circle
You've got to keep on turning, yeah
You've got to keep on turning
Or down you fall
The song "Or Down You Fall" by Gil Scott-Heron talks about riding paper ships and horses of nuts and bolts to escape the world of fire, and how the world is just a simple circle that keeps turning until we fall. The lyrics are deeply metaphorical, as the paper ship represents fragility, the sea of fire represents danger, and the horse of nuts and bolts represents strength and resilience. The song is about navigating through life, even when we are faced with difficulties and obstacles. It reminds us to keep going, even when we don't feel like it, because if we don't, we will fall down.
The first verse sets the tone of the song as a voyage, both literal and metaphorical. The paper ship and horse of nuts and bolts represent our journey through life, and the sea of fire and the circle of the world represent the challenges and obstacles we face. The second verse talks about the need for courage to face the challenges, to become an iron man instead of flesh and bone. The chorus reminds us to keep on moving, no matter what, because if we stop, we will fall. The final verse talks about the fear of being vulnerable and exposed, but also the need to accept our humanity and imperfections. It ends with the reminder that the world keeps turning, and so must we.
Line by Line Meaning
I sail out on my paper ship
I venture out on a fragile and vulnerable adventure, akin to a paper ship in a fiery sea.
The sea is made of fire
The environment I exist in is daunting and overwhelming, much like a sea of flames.
I ride my horse of nuts and bolts
I rely on a machine-like apparatus, meant to function tirelessly.
We made to never tire
This mechanical contraption is designed to operate without rest.
The world is just a simple circle
The universe I perceive is a pattern of repetition and predictability.
I've got to keep on turning, yeah
I must continue to spin and operate in this predictable pattern.
I've got to keep on turning
I must maintain this consistent cycle of behavior.
'Til I fall
I must continue until my eventual failure, at which point the cycle will start anew.
Down to the top of a mountain
In the face of hardship I pretend to climb a summit or reach a lofty goal.
Inside a hollow stone
This goal is unattainable, and I am left alone and empty like an unfulfilled hollow promise.
I pretend that I'm an iron man, yeah
I avoid confronting my vulnerability by wearing a hardened and tough exterior persona.
Instead of flesh and bone
I am using my outward appearance to cover up my human and fragile nature.
And it keep on turning, yeah
The world continues to maintain its repetitive nature.
And it keep on turning
No matter how much progress is made, there will always be another cycle or repetition.
You've got to
You must continue to operate within this cycle.
Go away
I cannot bear to reveal my true nature or have anyone close to me and see it.
I can't stand to see your face
I am unable to confront vulnerability and seek to avoid it at all costs.
Cause you've seen the weakest me
By revealing my true and vulnerable self, I have made myself weak in someone else's eyes.
And now you know I'm only human
As a result of revealing my vulnerable nature, they have learned that I am only capable of human fallibility.
Instead of all the things I'd like to be
I have failed to live up to my own expectations of myself, and instead shown my human limitations.
Or down you fall
If you cannot continue to operate within this cycle, you will inevitably fail or fall.
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRIAN JACKSON, GIL SCOTT-HERON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind