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.
Save the Children
Gil Scott-Heron Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Or you're watching your children playin' after school
They seem to be so unaware of I know I know
The things that they soon have to take care of
We got to do something yeah to save the children
Soon it will be their test to try and save the world
Right now they seem to play such a small part ofThe things that they soon be right at the heart of
My little Tommy he said he wants to be a fireman
And little Mary she said she got to teach at school
If we know or we say we know about the problems ohohoh
Why can't we do something to try and solve them
We got to do something yeah to save the children
Soon it will be their test to try and save the world
We got to do something yeah to save the children
To save the children
To save the children
In Gil Scott-Heron's song Save the Children, he highlights the naรฏvete of children as they go about their daily lives, playing and dreaming while failing to fully comprehend the problems they will soon face. The verses suggest that parents and adults in general need to take more initiative in addressing the issues that the next generation will inherit, rather than leaving them to deal with problems that have been allowed to fester and grow over time.
The chorus emphasizes the need to act to save the children, recognizing that they will soon be responsible for saving the world. The song implies that the adults in society have a duty to work toward addressing the problems of the world for the sake of future generations. In particular, Scott-Heron highlights the need for educational opportunities and for role models who can inspire positive change.
In sum, Save the Children calls on adults to take responsibility for making the world a better place for future generations and to ensure that children have the opportunity to become the leaders and innovators of tomorrow. The lyrics serve as a powerful reminder that, as the world grows ever more complex and interconnected, we all have a role to play in building a brighter future.
Line by Line Meaning
If you're driving through the country on a lazy afternoon
While driving through the countryside with no urgency.
Or you're watching your children playin' after school
Or watching your children playing after they come back from school.
They seem to be so unaware of I know I know
These children seem to be unaware of the problems that are going to come their way.
The things that they soon have to take care of
Issues they will be confronting in the future.
We got to do something yeah to save the children
We have to take action to protect the upcoming generations.
Soon it will be their test to try and save the world
They will soon have to find a way to save the world themselves.
Right now they seem to play such a small part of
Currently, they only have a small role to play in solving major problems.
The things that they soon be right at the heart of
The issues they will soon have to confront head-on.
My little Tommy he said he wants to be a fireman
Tommy, my son, wants to become a fireman.
And little Mary she said she got to teach at school
And my daughter Mary wants to be a teacher.
If we know or we say we know about the problems ohohoh
If we claim to know about the issues.
Why can't we do something to try and solve them
Why aren't we taking action to solve them?
To save the children
To protect and save the future generations.
To save the children
To ensure the safety and wellbeing of the upcoming generations.
We got to do something yeah to save the children
We must take immediate action to save the future generations from the impending problems.
Lyrics ยฉ BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Gil Scott-Heron
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ppehsy1
Lyrics: If you're driving through the country on a lazy afternoon
Or you're watching your children playing after school
They seem to be so unaware of
The things that they soon have to take care of
We've got to do something to save the children
Soon it will be their turn to try and save the world
Right now they seem to play such a small part of
The things that they soon be right at the heart of
My little Tommy he said he wants to be a fireman
And little Mary she said she got to teach school
If we know all we say we know about the problems
Why can't we do something to try and solve them
We've got to do something to save the children
Soon it will be their turn to try and save the world
We got to do something to save the children
To save the children
To save the children
@sherrymcclure1675
Yes! Yes, again Gil was one of the greatest composers, ever!
Peace & love to
ALL (still) listening in 2024!
@ramonrios3811
Indubitably!
@onawakachina5415
Truly!
@joevtam
I will always believe Gil Scott Heron was one of the most brilliant songwriters of all time.
@125birdie
you are not alone still listen to his music today and learning from wisdom he left us
@texshd5406
Joseph Tammaro same
@joanncox496
I agree he was ahead of his time Rest In Peace...
@TheAudivisioner
Many more people should listen to this song.
@carolmatthews6509
Couldnโt agree more.
@frizza241
Swear to god. My mom used to play this album and I thought it was some SESEME STREET shit. Love this album. She later told me and my three siblings that this was late father's favorite album. I felt like it was his message to us