Whitey on the Moon
Gil Scott-Heron Lyrics
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(with Whitey on the moon)
Her face and arms began to swell.
(and Whitey's on the moon)
I can't pay no doctor bill.
(but Whitey's on the moon)
Ten years from now I'll be payin' still.
The man jus' upped my rent las' night.
('cause Whitey's on the moon)
No hot water, no toilets, no lights.
(but Whitey's on the moon)
I wonder why he's uppi' me?
('cause Whitey's on the moon?)
I was already payin' 'im fifty a week.
(with Whitey on the moon)
Taxes takin' my whole damn check,
Junkies makin' me a nervous wreck,
The price of food is goin' up,
An' as if all that shit wasn't enough
A rat done bit my sister Nell.
(with Whitey on the moon)
Her face an' arm began to swell.
(but Whitey's on the moon)
Was all that money I made las' year
(for Whitey on the moon?)
How come there ain't no money here?
(Hm! Whitey's on the moon)
Y'know I jus' 'bout had my fill
(of Whitey on the moon)
I think I'll sen' these doctor bills,
Airmail special
(to Whitey on the moon)
The lyrics of Gil Scott-Heron's song Whitey on the Moon encapsulate a poignant statement about the racial inequality that exists in society. In the song, he highlights the social and economic hardships imposed by systemic racism upon black people while juxtaposing the immense technological advancement of the US space program. The lyrics talk about his sister Nell, who got bitten by a rat, and due to the medical bills, he can't pay the doctors. The singer of the song points out the irony of African American citizens struggling economically while the government spends billions of dollars on going to the moon.
Further, the song ties in the financial struggles of black people to the ongoing problem of racism- landlords raising rents arbitrarily, the rising cost of living, and the exploitation and marginalization of black people. The song also touches on the fact that taxpayers' money is being spent on other matters, while basic necessities such as hot water, toilets, and lights are hard to come by in black neighborhoods. As a result, the African American community must bear the brunt of systemic racism and financial hardship. In conclusion, Gil Scott-Heron's song Whitey on the Moon serves as a powerful critique of the state's misplaced priorities and the ways in which they affect the lives of African American people.
Line by Line Meaning
A rat done bit my sister Nell.
My sister Nell got bit by a rat.
(with Whitey on the moon)
This happened while Whitey was up on the moon, ignoring the problems on earth.
Her face and arms began to swell.
She had an allergic reaction that caused her face and arms to swell.
(and Whitey's on the moon)
Even though Nell was suffering on earth, Whitey was still up on the moon.
I can't pay no doctor bill.
I am unable to pay my sister's medical expenses.
(but Whitey's on the moon)
Meanwhile, Whitey is still up on the moon despite the issues on earth.
Ten years from now I'll be payin' still.
I will still be paying off these medical bills ten years from now.
(while Whitey's on the moon)
Whitey is still not here to help despite this lingering debt.
The man jus' upped my rent las' night.
My landlord raised my rent last night.
('cause Whitey's on the moon)
Whitey's absence allows for these kinds of injustices to be committed.
No hot water, no toilets, no lights.
I have no access to basic utilities like hot water, toilets, or lights.
(but Whitey's on the moon)
Whitey is still absent despite these intolerable living conditions.
I wonder why he's uppi' me?
I'm wondering why my landlord is increasing my rent.
('cause Whitey's on the moon?)
Is it because Whitey's absence allows for these kinds of injustices?
I was already payin' 'im fifty a week.
I was already paying my landlord $50 a week.
(with Whitey on the moon)
Whitey was not here to help despite this ongoing financial burden.
Taxes takin' my whole damn check,
Taxes are taking all of my hard-earned money.
Junkies makin' me a nervous wreck,
Drug addicts in my neighborhood make me anxious and afraid.
The price of food is goin' up,
The cost of food is constantly increasing.
An' as if all that shit wasn't enough
Despite all of these problems, there are still many more issues to deal with.
A rat done bit my sister Nell.
My sister Nell got bit by a rat.
(with Whitey on the moon)
Again, this happened while Whitey was ignoring the problems back on earth.
Her face an' arm began to swell.
She had an allergic reaction that caused her face and arms to swell.
(but Whitey's on the moon)
Whitey still hasn't returned to deal with these issues on earth.
Was all that money I made las' year
All the money I earned last year
(for Whitey on the moon?)
Did that money go to fund Whitey's space program instead of helping people here on earth?
How come there ain't no money here?
Why isn't there enough money to deal with the problems on earth?
(Hm! Whitey's on the moon)
Whitey's absence makes it impossible to address these issues effectively.
Y'know I jus' 'bout had my fill
I'm almost at my breaking point.
(of Whitey on the moon)
Whitey's continued absence and inaction is unacceptable.
I think I'll sen' these doctor bills,
I am going to send these medical bills
Airmail special
In a special airmail delivery
(to Whitey on the moon)
Directly to Whitey, since he seems to be ignoring the issues on earth.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: GIL SCOTT-HERON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind