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.
Where Did the Night Go
Gil Scott-Heron Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bringing the dawn
Oh God, I must be dreaming
Time to get up again
And time to start up again
Pulling on my socks again
Should have been asleep
And trying to start another letter to you
Don't know how many times I dreamed to write again last night
Should've been asleep when I turned the stack of records over and over
So I wouldn't be up by myself
Where did the night go?
Should go to sleep now
And say fuck a job and money
Because I spend it all on unlined paper and can't get past
"Dear baby, how are you?"
Brush my teeth and shave
Look outside, sky is dark
Think it may rain
Where did
Where did
Where did
the night go?
These lyrics from Gil Scott-Heron's song, Where Did the Night Go, depict the constant struggle that some people experience - the tension between their responsibilities and the desire to create, to write, to express themselves. The singer is torn between his need to start work again and his desire to keep writing letters to his loved one. He acknowledges that he wasted the night by staying up to drink beer and listen to music. He contemplates the passing of time, questioning where the night went, wondering if he should go to bed or stay awake and push through the fatigue.
The lyrics expose the singer's sense of helplessness and the feeling of being trapped in a system that values productivity and conformity over creativity and self-expression. The phrase "Should go to sleep now and say fuck a job and money" suggests that the singer is aware that his priorities are not aligned with those of society. Yet, he still feels the pull of conformity, as evidenced by his observation that "time to start up again" implies that he must return to his job, a job that he clearly despises.
Line by Line Meaning
Long ago the clock washed midnight away
The clock has erased the time of midnight long ago bringing the new morning
Bringing the dawn
The clock has brought the new morning time
Oh God, I must be dreaming
Feeling of being unsure whether it's reality or a dream
Time to get up again
Waking up and starting the day again
And time to start up again
Starting another day to live up again
Pulling on my socks again
Getting ready to start the day by putting on socks
Should have been asleep
Regretting not having slept enough
When I was sitting there drinking beer
Spending time drinking beer instead of sleeping
And trying to start another letter to you
Attempting to write another letter to someone
Don't know how many times I dreamed to write again last night
Not aware of the number of times they thought of writing last night
Should've been asleep when I turned the stack of records over and over
Regretting not sleeping and spending time with records
So I wouldn't be up by myself
Trying to avoid feeling alone by staying awake
Where did the night go?
Curiosity about where the night has gone
Should go to sleep now
Realizing the need to sleep now
And say fuck a job and money
Feeling frustrated with the idea of working for money
Because I spend it all on unlined paper and can't get past
Regretting wasting money on paper and not being able to make any progress
"Dear baby, how are you?"
Starting to write a letter to a loved one
Brush my teeth and shave
Performing morning routines of brushing and shaving
Look outside, sky is dark
Observing the dark sky outside
Think it may rain
Contemplating the possibility of rain
Where did
Repeating the question of where the night has gone
Where did
Repeating the question of where the night went
Where did
Repeating the question of where the night disappeared
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Long ago the clock washed midnight away
Bringing the dawn
Oh God, I must be dreaming
Time to get up again
And time to start up again
Pulling on my socks again
Should have been asleep
When I was sitting there drinking beer
And trying to start another letter to you
Don't know how many times I dreamed to write again last night
Should've been asleep when I turned the stack of records over and over
So I wouldn't be up by myself
Where did the night go?
Should go to sleep now
And say fuck a job and money
Because I spend it all on unlined paper and can't get past
"Dear baby, how are you?"
Brush my teeth and shave
Look outside, sky is dark
Think it may rain
Where did
Where did
Where did
Read more: Gil Scott-Heron - Where Did The Night Go Lyrics | MetroLyrics
stythis1788
I'll be honest...I've not heard of this guy until now...and wow I have no words. Ive been watching videos of him on YouTube. Very awesome message and very sad to hear he passed away. RIP.
yoyo
Pure poetry. I just discovered Gil Scott, rather he discovered me.. His words are majestic. Music to my ears.
Vanessa C
The man that spoke to my inner soul. That moved my emotions mountans with words. The man that taught me any cause if you believe in it is worth it. The Activist, Poet and Musician. I love you and I will miss you. You will live on Through your words your music and through the countless people you have inspired to THINK! Rest in Peace now. GodSpeed.
Haiku Automation
Words could not describe an amazing orator.
BlackSheepBoy
chills, i listen to this so many times and still i get goosebumps
John Nelson
I know. Since 2009 I've been haunted by this soul chilling video.
gasgas270
What a poem, what a voice....brilliant.
326Ka
ive been listening to him for years and this guy is the most under rated genius of our time rappers need to listen to him maybe they could make better music
Jack Gardner
Forever a genius. In life and in death. Rest in Peace brother.
funkmastermoon SOULLOTTO
I have been a fan since I was a boy. Gil has produced important meaning to my life. I look at him in his twilight years and I get a lump in my throat. Gil has given his life to others, and that is a beautiful a thing. Although you can feel the gusto in his work, you can also feel the love.