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.
The Crutch
Gil Scott-Heron Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Revealed his world of Nod
A world of lonely men
And no love no God
His life of seeming nonchalance can't hide
The pain and fear in his mind desired
From dawn 'til dawn his body houses hurt
And none of us can truly aid his search
Its always easy to forecast others doom
The savage beast that once so soothed his brain
Has reared its ugly head and staked its claim
? here sits one more soul
You'll have to add to sorrow's total
These men, still men would be like you and me
But when the world reached out they chose to flee
The crutch
In this song, Gil Scott-Heron talks about a man who seems nonchalant but whose eyes reveal a world of loneliness and pain. The man suffers from a deep sense of fear and hurt, which he carries around with him all day, every day. Despite the pain he feels, he is unable to find anyone who can help him with his struggle. The people around him are too busy criticizing him and predicting his doom to offer any support. The man is addicted to drugs, which he uses as a crutch to ease his suffering. Scott-Heron points out that these men are no different from us; they are just individuals who have been unable to cope with the world around them.
The song is a commentary on the plight of individuals suffering from addiction. The lyrics suggest that those who are addicted are victims of their circumstances, and the people around them are not doing enough to help them. It is a call to society to be more compassionate and understanding of those who are struggling with addiction, rather than criticizing them.
Line by Line Meaning
His eyes half closed
This line indicates that the singer is in a state of deep contemplation or meditation.
Revealed his world of Nod
The phrase 'world of Nod' is a biblical reference to a land of wandering and exile. It suggests that the singer feels lost and disconnected from the world around him.
A world of lonely men
The singer sees himself as part of a larger group of people who are isolated and disconnected from others.
And no love no God
The artist feels that he is completely alone in the world, without any spiritual or emotional connections to others.
His life of seeming nonchalance can't hide
Despite appearances, the artist is deeply troubled and suffering from emotional pain.
The pain and fear in his mind desired
The singer is struggling with emotional pain and fear, and may feel like they are unable to overcome it.
From dawn 'til dawn his body houses hurt
The singer is experiencing prolonged physical and emotional pain, which persists throughout the day and night.
And none of us can truly aid his search
Despite the artist's struggles, others are unable to fully understand or help him.
We sit outside and scene's ?, the fool
The artist is expressing frustration with society's tendency to avoid or ignore those who are struggling, implying that we are foolish for doing so.
Its always easy to forecast others doom
The artist is suggesting that people are often quick to judge or predict negative outcomes for others, instead of taking action to help them.
The savage beast that once so soothed his brain
The singer may have previously used drugs or other self-destructive behaviors as a way to cope with emotional pain and distress.
Has reared its ugly head and staked its claim
However, these behaviors have become problematic and are now causing harm to the artist.
? here sits one more soul
The singer is acknowledging the tragic loss of another individual who has been consumed by their struggles.
You'll have to add to sorrow's total
The singer's death or downfall will contribute to the overall sense of sadness and loss that exists in the world.
These men, still men would be like you and me
The singer is suggesting that those who are struggling with emotional pain and addiction are not inherently different from others, and should be treated with empathy and compassion.
But when the world reached out they chose to flee
The artist and others like him may have felt that they were unable to find support or connection from others, leading them to turn to drugs or other self-destructive behaviors instead.
The crutch
The 'crutch' represents the drugs or other behaviors that the artist has relied on to cope with emotional pain and distress. However, it has become a harmful addiction that is causing more harm than good.
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
stefan dowsing
Musicians can learn a lot from this amazing man!
Charlotte van der Linden
Oh Gil , where would I be in life and how would I have been able to handle so many shitty jobs without listening to your beautiful music and words of wisdom blasting out the stereo on a lovely day . I will see you at North Sea Jazz . God bless the man
Frank C
R.I.P. Gil...........your legend lives on!
JASON
Few artists today deserve the title genius or visionary. Gil Scott Heron is both.
gasgas270
Real poet....done his time.
Detoria Smith
I love Gil . R.I.P. Master Poet
Darkplumz
I miss you GIL R.I.P!!!!!
roctone
I thinks it's informative and important for creative souls of today's generation, reach back for understanding in Music,Arts and Entertaiment.
curtis mayfield
GIL SCOTT HERON DIED IN MAY 2011 R.I.P.
Darkplumz
his is one more soul, That he will have to add to sorrows toll, These men, still men, would be like you and me, But when the world reached out they chose to flee