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.
Your Daddy Loves You
Gil Scott-Heron Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now that you're sleepin'
I've got a confession to make
Of secrets that I've been keepin'
Me and your mama had some problems,
A whole lotta things on our minds
But lately, girl, we've been thinkin' that we were wastin' time
Nearly all the time, and
Your daddy loves you
Your daddy loves his girl
Your daddy loves you
Your daddy loves his girl, hey now
Now sweet lil ol' chocolate girl
Now that you're sleepin' I feel braver
I've got a confession to make
I'll sneak it in while you're dreamin'
Me and your mama had some troubles
There's been a whole lotta things on our minds
But lately when we look at you, we know that we've been wastin' time
Damn near all the time, and
Your daddy loves you
Your daddy loves his girl, hey, now
Said your daddy loves you
Said your daddy loves his girl, hey, now
Your daddy loves you, and your mama, too
Your daddy loves his girl
Loves his girl
Loves his girl
The song "Your Daddy Loves You" is a touching and sincere message from a father to his daughter. As the daughter sleeps, the father takes the opportunity to confess to her the difficulties he and her mother had faced, yet how they have come to realize that they have been wasting their time with their issues. The father expresses his deep love for his daughter and how much she means to him. This simple yet powerful message is relatable to many parents who may have gone through hardships in their relationships but want to ensure their children feel loved and secure.
The song's lyrics revolve around the father's confession while his daughter is sleeping. The use of the present tense "Your daddy loves you" repeatedly affirms the daughter's importance to her father. The phrase "Me and your mama had some problems" reveals a past that has been overcome, and the "confession" is an act of admitting their flaws and letting go of what should remain in the past. The use of metaphors such as "sweet little brown-eyed girl" and "sweet little chocolate girl" further adds a layer of tenderness and affection to the message that he's trying to convey.
Line by Line Meaning
Now sweet lil ol' brown eyed girl, hey, now
Talking to a young girl, acknowledging her presence
Now that you're sleepin', I've got a confession to make
Confessing something that they wouldn't say when the girl is awake
Of secrets that I've been keepin'
Explaining that there's something they've been hiding
Me and your mama had some problems, a whole lotta things on our minds
Sharing a cause for concern in their relationship
But lately, girl, we've been thinkin' that we were wastin' time
Realizing that there's been time wasted between the two
Nearly all the time, and
Affirming the fact that they've wasted significant time
Your daddy loves you
Explicitly stating that the daddy loves his daughter
Your daddy loves his girl
Affirming that the love is between a father and his daughter
Now sweet lil ol' chocolate girl, now that you're sleepin' I feel braver
Continuing the conversation with a term of endearment, and asserting that being alone makes it easier to speak honestly
I've got a confession to make, I'll sneak it in while you're dreamin'
Stating a desire to reveal something when it's easier to have courage
Me and your mama had some troubles, there's been a whole lotta things on our minds
Reiterating concerns with the relationship and their personal lives
But lately when we look at you, we know that we've been wastin' time
Reasserting a common realization about the wasted time and emphasizing that the girl is the reason for the change
Said your daddy loves you
Repeating the declaration of love
Said your daddy loves his girl, hey, now
Repeating the previous phrase with an added invocation
Your daddy loves you, and your mama, too
Affirming a mutual love between the daughter and both parents
Your daddy loves his girl, loves his girl, loves his girl
An affirmation of paternal affection, repeated for emphasis
Contributed by Lucas D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Vinyl Uploads
Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson - “Your Daddy Loves You (Winter in America Version)”
[Vocals/Written By/Producer/Electric Piano: Gil Scott-Heron]
[Producer/Acoustic Piano/Electric Piano/Vocals: Brian Jackson]
[Fender Bass: Danny Bowens]
[Traps: Bob Adams]
[Verse 1: Gil Scott-Heron]
Now, sweet little old brown-eyed girl, hey now
Now that you're sleeping
I've got a confession to make
Of secrets that I've been keeping
Me and your mama had some problems
A whole lot of things on our minds
But lately, girl, we've been thinking that we were
Wasting time nearly all the time, and
Your daddy loves you
Your daddy loves his girl
Your daddy loves you
Said your daddy loves his girl, hey now
[Verse 2: Gil Scott-Heron]
Now sweet little old chocolate girl
Now that you're sleeping, I feel braver
I've got a confession to make
Let me sneak it in while you're dreaming
Me and your mama had some troubles. There's been a
Whole lot of things on our minds
But lately, when we look at you, we know that we've been
Wasting time damn near all the time, and
Your daddy loves you
Your daddy loves his girl, hey now
Said your daddy loves you
Said your daddy loves his girl, hey now
Your daddy loves you and your mama too
Your daddy loves his girl
Loves his girl, loves his girl
Loves his little chocolate girl
Love my little chocolate girl
Marlen Brown
I used to sing this to my eldest when she was a baby. Even though we weren't having problems, it was just such a beautiful song. She didn't quite remember it, but she asked me for a song for us to dance to at her upcoming wedding, and she loved it.
Benjamin A.
Hey Marlen. I also sang this to my daughter when she was young...
interesting that so many of us did this...G'd willing maybe some younger men sing to their daughters, sons and wife.
Makes a wonderful difference in the household.
joanie taylor
Marlen Brown Awesome
Mardi Nicholson
Marlen Brown My husband sang this to our eldest daughter as well! They were able to dance to it at her wedding, he has Parkinson’s. A more fitting song I certainly can’t think of one.
Marlen Brown
Thanks Roger. It was and they are
Roger James
Hello Mr. Brown. That is a real cool story. I hope your daughter a beautiful wedding and a blessed marriage
Christine Gallagher
I lost my dad in February the last few days I had this voice inside telling me to listed to Gil Scott Heron, (I didn’t know this song) I put the pandora channel on and this song came on and I cried my eyes out. I know my dad was sending me a message, I miss him so much.
Raymond Johnson
Sending love and prayers your way
Francesca Powell
My daddy used to play this for me when I was little. Always makes me cry tears of both joy and sadness... for a time that once was.
LuvsNeoSoul302
WOW this is my 1st time ever hearing this one. It's the ultimate shout out to a daughter from her daddy. So peaceful and very very touching to say the least.....every girl should be so lucky as to experience this from her dad. Rest easy now Mr. Heron, you can lay those troubles, and heavy heavy burdens down. Thanks so much for the great body of music and poetry you so graciously left for us all to enjoy!