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.
Washington D.C.
Gil Scott-Heron Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pinned up against the coast
Outhouse of bureaucracy, surrounded by a moat
Citizens of poverty are barely out of sight
Overlords escape in the evening with
People of the night
Morning brings the tourists
Peering eyes and rubber necks
Making the world a nervous wreck
It's a mass of irony for all the world to see
It's the nation's capital, it's Washington DC
It's the nation's capital
It's the nation's capital
It's the nation's capital, it's Washington DC
(mmmm hmmm)
May not have the glitter or the glamour of LA
May not have the history or
The intrigue of Bombay
But when it comes to making music
And sure enough making news
People who just don't make sense
And people making do
Seems a ball of contradictions
Pulling different ways
Between the folks who come and go
And one's who've got to stay
It's a mass of irony for all the world to see
It's the nation's capital, it's Washington DC
It's the nation's capital
It's the nation's capital
It's the nation's capital, it's Washington DC
Seems to me, it's still in light time people
Knifed up on 14th street
Makes me feel it's always the right time for
Them people showing up and coming clean
Didn't make the one second to none
It's the nation's capital
It's the nation's capital
It's the nation's capital, it's Washington DC
(mmmm hmmm)
Symbols of democracy
Pinned up against the coast
Outhouse of bureaucracy, surrounded by a moat
Citizens of poverty are barely out of sight
Overlords escape in the evening with
People of the night
Morning come and bring the tourists
Craning rubber necks
Catch a glimpse of the cowboy making
The world a nervous wreck
It's a mass of irony for all the world to see
It's the nation's capital, it's Washington DC
It's the nation's capital
It's the nation's capital
It's the nation's capital, it's Washington DC
It's the nation's capital
Got you feeling capital
Punishment is capital in Washington DC
In Gil Scott-Heron's song "Washington D.C.," the lyrics depict a critical view of the nation's capital. The song highlights the contrasting realities of the city, using powerful imagery to convey its message.
The first verse describes Washington D.C. as an "outhouse of bureaucracy, surrounded by a moat," suggesting that the city is disconnected from the rest of the country. It mentions how poverty-stricken citizens are barely visible, while the overlords, likely referring to politicians and those in power, escape in the evenings alongside the marginalized people of the night. The arrival of tourists in the morning, drawn to the city's symbols of democracy, such as the Capitol building, is portrayed as a spectacle that exacerbates the underlying tensions and contradictions.
The second verse continues to explore the complexities of the city. It acknowledges that Washington D.C. may not have the glitz and glamour of LA or the history and intrigue of Bombay, but it claims that the city holds significance in terms of making music and news. The lyrics emphasize the presence of people who "just don't make sense" and those who are making do in challenging circumstances. The city is depicted as a ball of contradictions, with different forces pulling in different directions between those who come and go and those who are rooted in the city.
Line by Line Meaning
Symbols of democracy
Representations of the American democratic system
Pinned up against the coast
Located on the eastern coast of the United States
Outhouse of bureaucracy, surrounded by a moat
Metaphor for the excessive bureaucracy and separation from the rest of society
Citizens of poverty are barely out of sight
Poor individuals and communities are overlooked and marginalized
Overlords escape in the evening with People of the night
Those in power disregard the struggles of disadvantaged individuals
Morning brings the tourists Peering eyes and rubber necks
Visitors come to observe and marvel at the city's attractions
To catch a glimpse of the cowboy Making the world a nervous wreck
The influential figures of Washington DC create a chaotic and anxious global atmosphere
It's a mass of irony for all the world to see
The contradictions and disparity within the city are apparent to everyone
It's the nation's capital, it's Washington DC
Referring to Washington DC as the capital city and the seat of power
May not have the glitter or the glamour of LA
Washington DC lacks the same superficial appeal as Los Angeles
May not have the history or The intrigue of Bombay
The city may not possess the same historical significance or mystique as Bombay (now Mumbai)
But when it comes to making music And sure enough making news
However, the city thrives in terms of producing both influential music and significant news stories
People who just don't make sense And people making do
There are both confused individuals and resilient individuals in the city
Seems a ball of contradictions Pulling different ways
Washington DC appears to be a collection of conflicting forces and influences
Between the folks who come and go And one's who've got to stay
The transient population and those who reside there permanently
Seems to me, it's still in light time people Knifed up on 14th street
The city consistently faces issues and crimes, such as violence on 14th street
Makes me feel it's always the right time for Them people showing up and coming clean
There is a constant need for individuals to speak up and address the problems in the city
Didn't make the one second to none
Failed to be the best or achieve greatness
Got you feeling capital
Provides a sense of importance and authority
Punishment is capital in Washington DC
The consequences of actions are severe and significant in the capital city
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Vic
Symbols of democracy, pinned up against the coast
Outhouse of bureaucracy, surrounded by a moat
Citizens of poverty are barely out of sight
Overlords escape in the evening with people of the night
Morning brings the tourists, peering eyes and rubber necks
To catch a glimpse of the cowboy making the world a nervous wreck
It’s a mass of irony for all the world to see
It’s the nation’s capital, it’s Washington D.C
It’s the nation’s capital
It’s the nation’s capital
It’s the nation’s capital, it’s Washington D.C
(mmmm-hmmm)
May not have the glitter or the glamour of L.A
May not have the history or the intrigue of Pompeii
But when it comes to making music, and sure enough making news
People who just don’t make sense and people making do
Seems a ball of contradictions, pulling different ways
Between the folks who come and go, and one’s who’ve got to stay
It’s a mass of irony for all the world to see
It’s the nation’s capital, it’s Washington D.C
It’s the nation’s capital
It’s the nation’s capital
It’s the nation’s capital, it’s Washington D.C
StubenhockerElite
Grand father of hip hop. Gil truly made the world a better place.
What I learnt today
While now hip-hop is a captured market of aspiration circlejerk to keep people busy.
harry haller
I was 17 when I first heard Gil Scott Heron for the first time. I
immediately loved his voice, the music. and the things he had to tell
us. Now I am 57, a broke white guy from northern Germany, still a blues
addict. Listen... its sad that he passed way...but HE is important just
nowadays!!! .never forget him and his statement...alway love you Giil
vilamonte
I was 25, an american friend gave me the album "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" as gift. A true philosopher, poet and artist. His message remains very applicable. I'm a householder struggling to survive in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Mattes Drescher
Du bist einfach genau mein Vater.
david552
OMG - when I was a kid we used to have that exact stero! RIP Gil Scott Heron, brilliant piece of work.
Vic
Symbols of democracy, pinned up against the coast
Outhouse of bureaucracy, surrounded by a moat
Citizens of poverty are barely out of sight
Overlords escape in the evening with people of the night
Morning brings the tourists, peering eyes and rubber necks
To catch a glimpse of the cowboy making the world a nervous wreck
It’s a mass of irony for all the world to see
It’s the nation’s capital, it’s Washington D.C
It’s the nation’s capital
It’s the nation’s capital
It’s the nation’s capital, it’s Washington D.C
(mmmm-hmmm)
May not have the glitter or the glamour of L.A
May not have the history or the intrigue of Pompeii
But when it comes to making music, and sure enough making news
People who just don’t make sense and people making do
Seems a ball of contradictions, pulling different ways
Between the folks who come and go, and one’s who’ve got to stay
It’s a mass of irony for all the world to see
It’s the nation’s capital, it’s Washington D.C
It’s the nation’s capital
It’s the nation’s capital
It’s the nation’s capital, it’s Washington D.C
Charity Luv Colbert
We lost a good man too soon. He sang it like it is. I will miss him. :(
Derham43
RIP Gil Scott Heron, gone but never will be forgotten!
technologic21
utter brilliance, his music is so relevant to today.....the recession, need we say more than "We Almost Lost Detroit" ????? RIP brother, you will be truly missed.