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.
When You Are Who You Are
Gil Scott-Heron Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't you know by now, ain't no need to impress me
I'm impressed every time you smile
When I feel like you mean to smile
You can be so very beautiful
When you are who you are
How long did you long did you think it would take me to realize?
Girl, the things you wore ain't real
You never tell me just how you feel
Girl you can be so very beautiful
When you are who you are
People never seem to want to be themselves
So they end up running in circles confused
Yeah, confused
Just like everyone else
Every morning when you wake up you put on a new disguise
Just how long did you think it would take me to realize
That the things you wore ain't real
You never just how you feel
When you could be so very beautiful
When you are who you are
Yeah, when you are who you are, yeah
Oh, when you are who you are, yeah
When you are who you are, yeah
When you are who you are
Get it, get it, get it, get it, get it, get it, get it
When you are who you are, yeah
Oh when you are who you are, yeah
Oh when you are who you are, yeah
Oh when you are who you are
The lyrics of Gil Scott-Heron's song "When You Are Who You Are" speak to the idea of authenticity and the pressure to conform to societal norms in order to gain acceptance. The singer addresses their love interest who constantly feels the need to impress them by changing their appearance and behavior to fit into a certain standard. The singer tells them that they don't need to impress them because they are already impressed with their natural self.
The line "Girl, the things you wore ain't real" suggests that the love interest is wearing a disguise to mask their true self in order to gain acceptance or admiration. The singer urges them to be themselves because they are beautiful just the way they are.
The final verse reflects a broader societal issue of people feeling the need to conform to societal expectations rather than being true to themselves. The line "People never seem to want to be themselves, so they end up running in circles confused" suggests that the pressure to conform can lead to confusion and a lack of self-awareness.
Overall, the lyrics of "When You Are Who You Are" advocate for self-love and authenticity, and serves as a reminder that trying to constantly live up to external expectations can lead to a loss of self.
Line by Line Meaning
You always go out of your way to impress me
You try hard to impress me, but you don't need to because I am always impressed by the little things like your smile
Don't you know by now, ain't no need to impress me
Just relax and be yourself, I will always be impressed by the real you
I'm impressed every time you smile
Your genuine smile impresses me every time because it shows your true character
When I feel like you mean to smile
When you smile naturally and from the heart, it is evident that you are being true to yourself
You can be so very beautiful
Your true self is beautiful and unique
Every morning when you wake up you put on a new disguise
You pretend to be someone else each day by changing your behavior or appearance
How long did you long did you think it would take me to realize?
I am not oblivious to the fact that you put on a facade each day
Girl, the things you wore ain't real
Your fake persona is not genuine or authentic
You never tell me just how you feel
You don't express your true emotions or thoughts to me
Girl you can be so very beautiful
If you just be yourself, you will be beautiful in your own way
People never seem to want to be themselves
Many people struggle with being true to themselves and often put on masks to impress others
So they end up running in circles confused
Lack of self-awareness often leads to confusion and lack of direction in life
Just like everyone else
This is a common struggle that many people face
When you could be so very beautiful
Your true self is beautiful, and you are capable of being beautiful without pretending
Yeah, when you are who you are, yeah
When you are true to yourself, you are beautiful and unique
Get it, get it, get it, get it, get it, get it, get it
Embrace your true self and don't be afraid to be genuine
Lyrics © CARLIN AMERICA INC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRIAN JACKSON, GIL SCOTT-HERON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Vincent Ross
RIP to a true renaissance man!
carolina monzo valero carol
fabuloso tema.Hoy me ha iluminado el alma y después de escucharlo 7 veces creo que todo tiene un poco más de sentido,siendo precavida,aunque seria capaz de decir que todo vuelve a tener un fantástico sentido,.Gracias a los grandes como gil scott heron!!,en mi consiguen algo mágico que ni la química ni las palabras pueden conseguir,solo el amor y la música
Opio1324
Une des plus belle voix est décédé hier. RIP
MrMLD1972
💝