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 Summer of '42
Gil Scott-Heron Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"The Summer of ‘42"
Gotta move on, I gotta see tomorrow
Gotta move on, gotta get ahead
I can't look back
There's nothing there but sorrows
Gotta move on and get ahead
Gotta move on, I gotta see tomorrow
I can't look back
There's nothing there but sorrows
Gotta move on and get ahead
Now it's the end of air that you breathe
It should become very clean, clean
Well, I guess I'll scream likewise
The rivers, you'll never be far from rivers
Great lakes and streams is
Walking on the water
It seems like you wish it
That could you undo
But there ain't no way to undo it
Everything that's happened to you
Since the Summer of '42
But there ain't no way, ain't
No way, ain't no way, man
What you gonna
You can leave if you want to, but I, I'm
After, yes, I keep on thinking
I keep on thinking like
Gotta move on, I gotta see tomorrow
Gotta move on, gotta get ahead
I can't look back
There's nothing there but sorrows
Gotta move on and get ahead what it mean?
Gotta move on, I gotta see tomorrow
Gotta move on, gotta get ahead
I can't look back
There's nothing there but sorrows
Gotta move on and get ahead
Now call the rednecks that you
Know like George Wallace
Suddenly change their minds or claim they did
Tell me
Could you relate to them and work for them?
I mean, like, after all this time?
Now all we're trying to tell somebody, tell
Somebody, tell somebody, please
There ain't no way to undo
There just ain't no way to undo
Yeah, but this thing that's done happened
To you, happened to ya, happened to ya
Now, since the Summer of '42, I done said
Honest to God, Honest to God, Honest to God
Man (Say what, brother man)
What you've gone reminiscing
Ain't what my life, my life's been missing
So I keep on thinking and
I keep on feeling like
I gotta move on, I gotta see tomorrow
Gotta move on, gotta get ahead
I can't look back
There's nothing there but sorrows
Gotta move on and get ahead bass man solo
Gil Scott-Heron: Got thirty years to
Make up for directions here
Which one of these should I
Be more worried about?
Victor Brown: Get out the way, brother man
Get out the way
Gil Scott-Heron: Stay ahead, stay ahead
I have
Gotta move on, I gotta see tomorrow
Gotta move on, gotta get ahead
I can't look back
There's nothing there but sorrows
Gotta move on and get ahead can't stop me
Gotta move on, I gotta see tomorrow
(and it got me)
Gotta move on, gotta get ahead
Gotta move on, gotta see tomorrow
(Just that they're talking, it got me)
Gotta move on, I gotta get ahead (Back)
I gotta move on, gotta see tomorrow
(and it got me)
Gotta move on, I gotta get ahead)
Gotta move on, you gotta see tomorrow
(and it got me) come on, you gotta get ahead
Gotta move on, I gotta see tomorrow
Gotta move on, gotta get ahead
I can't look back
There's nothing there but sorrows
Gotta move on and get ahead, brother man
Gotta move on, I gotta see tomorrow
Gotta move on, gotta get ahead
I can't look back
"The Summer of '42" by Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson is a poignant reflection on moving forward and leaving the past behind. The repeated refrain of "Gotta move on, I gotta see tomorrow, gotta get ahead" emphasizes the necessity of looking towards the future and not dwelling on past sorrows. The lyrics convey a sense of urgency and determination to keep pushing forward despite hardships and setbacks.
The imagery of clean air and waterways in the lyrics serves as a metaphor for renewal and purification. The mention of rivers, lakes, and streams suggests a sense of natural clarity and cleansing, symbolizing the need to cleanse oneself of past regrets and mistakes. The reference to the Summer of '42 alludes to a specific moment in time where significant events occurred, possibly hinting at a pivotal experience that has shaped the singer's outlook on life.
The mention of rednecks and George Wallace in the lyrics brings in themes of societal change and political reflection. The questioning of whether one can relate to those with differing views and work with them highlights the complexities of navigating through a changing world. The repetition of there being "no way to undo" what has happened implies a sense of acceptance and moving forward despite the impossibility of changing the past.
The dialogue between Gil Scott-Heron and Victor Brown adds a conversational element to the song, with Brown encouraging Heron to stay ahead and keep moving forward. The bass solo towards the end serves as a musical interlude that further emphasizes the driving force of the song's message. Overall, "The Summer of '42" conveys a message of resilience, determination, and the importance of looking towards the future with hope and perseverance, resonating with themes of personal growth and overcoming obstacles.
Line by Line Meaning
Gotta move on, I gotta see tomorrow
I must keep moving forward and looking towards the future
Gotta move on, gotta get ahead
I need to keep pushing myself to progress
I can't look back
Reflecting on the past only brings sorrow
There's nothing there but sorrows
The past is filled with pain and regrets
Now it's the end of air that you breathe
The clean air is disappearing
It should become very clean, clean
We should work towards cleaner environments
Walking on the water
Facing challenges and obstacles head-on
There ain't no way to undo it
It's impossible to change what has already happened
Call the rednecks that you know like George Wallace
Consider reaching out to those with differing views
There ain't no way to undo
Actions cannot be undone
I done said Honest to God
I truly mean what I say
Got thirty years to Make up for directions here
There's time to make up for lost opportunities
Get out the way, brother man
Move past obstacles and keep going
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sean Grimes
always loved that growlin' bass line.
ROWAN VAN AS
That live version is great ! Its on yt
Vinyl Uploads
Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson - “The Summer of ‘42”
[Vocals/Written By/Producer: Gil Scott-Heron]
[Producer/Keyboards/Vocals/Written By: Brian Jackson]
[Producer: The Midnight Band]
[Vocals/Bells/Tambourine: Victor Brown]
[Bass Guitar: Danny Bowens]
[Congas: Eddie Knowles]
[Congas/Chinese Drum: Charlie Saunders]
[Congas/Shaker/Djembe: Barnett Williams]
[Drums: Bob Adams]
[Harmonica/Flute/Saxophone: Bilal Sunni-Ali]
[Chorus: Gil Scott-Heron and Victor Brown]
Gotta move on, I gotta see tomorrow
Gotta move on, gotta get ahead
I can’t look back, there’s nothing there but sorrows
Gotta move on and get ahead
Gotta move on, I gotta see tomorrow
Gotta move on, gotta get ahead
I can’t look back, there’s nothing there but sorrows
Gotta move on and get ahead
[Verse 1: Gil Scott-Heron and Victor Brown]
Now it’s the end of air that you breathe
It should become very clean, clean
Well, I guess I’ll scream. Likewise
The rivers, you’ll never be far from rivers
Great lakes and streams. [?] is walking on the water
It seems like you wish it
That could you undo, but there ain’t no way to undo it
Everything that’s happened to you
Since the Summer of ’42
But there ain’t no way, ain’t no way, ain’t no way, man
What you gonna [?]
You can leave if you want to, but I, I’m
After, yes, I keep on thinking, I keep on thinking like
[Chorus: Gil Scott-Heron and Victor Brown]
Gotta move on, I gotta see tomorrow
Gotta move on, gotta get ahead
I can’t look back, there’s nothing there but sorrows
Gotta move on and get ahead. What it mean?
Gotta move on, I gotta see tomorrow
Gotta move on, gotta get ahead
I can’t look back, there’s nothing there but sorrows
Gotta move on and get ahead
[Verse 2: Gil Scott-Heron and Victor Brown]
Now call the rednecks that you know like George Wallace
Suddenly change their minds or claim they did
Tell me, could you relate to them and work for them?
I mean, like, after all this time?
Now all we’re trying
To tell somebody, tell somebody, tell somebody, please
There ain’t no way to undo, there just ain’t no way to undo
Yeah, but this thing that’s done happened to you, happened to ya, happened to ya
Now, since the Summer of ’42, I done said
Honest to God, Honest to God, Honest to God, man (Say what, brother man)
What you’ve gone reminiscing
Ain’t what my life, my life’s been missing
So I keep on thinking and I keep on feeling like
[Chorus: Gil Scott-Heron and Victor Brown]
I gotta move on, I gotta see tomorrow
Gotta move on, gotta get ahead
I can’t look back, there’s nothing there but sorrows
Gotta move on and get ahead. Bass man solo
[Bridge: Bass Guitar Solo by Danny Bowens]
[Interlude: Gil Scott-Heron and Victor Brown]
Gil Scott-Heron: Got thirty years to make up for directions here—which one of these should I be more worried about?
Victor Brown: Get out the way, brother man, get out the way
Gil Scott-Heron: Stay ahead, stay ahead, I have
[Chorus: Gil Scott-Heron and Victor Brown]
Gotta move on, I gotta see tomorrow
Gotta move on, gotta get ahead
I can’t look back, there’s nothing there but sorrows
Gotta move on and get ahead. Can’t stop me
Gotta move on, I gotta see tomorrow ([?] and it got me)
Gotta move on, gotta get ahead ([?])
Gotta move on, gotta see tomorrow (Just that they’re talking, it got me)
Gotta move on, I gotta get ahead (Back [?])
I gotta move on, gotta see tomorrow ([?] and it got me)
Gotta move on, I gotta get ahead ([?])
Gotta move on, you gotta see tomorrow ([?] and it got me)
Come on, you gotta get ahead ([?])
Gotta move on, I gotta see tomorrow
Gotta move on, gotta get ahead
I can’t look back, there’s nothing there but sorrows
Gotta move on and get ahead, brother man
Gotta move on, I gotta see tomorrow
Gotta move on, gotta get ahead
I can’t look back
Uh_nom_uh_lee
Hellz Yeah !
Reuben Jackson
Oh yes