The Last Poets is a group of poets and musicians who arose from the late 1960s African American civil rights movement's black nationalist thread. Their name is taken from a poem by the South African revolutionary poet Keorapetse Kgositsile, who believed he was in the last era of poetry before guns would take over.
The original Last Poets formed on May 19, 1968 (Malcolm X's birthday), at Marcus Garvey Park (formerly Mount Morris Park, at 124th Street and Fifth Avenue) in the East Harlem neighborhood of New York City. The original members were Felipe Luciano, Gylan Kain, and David Nelson.
The group continued to evolve via a 1969 Harlem writers' workshop known as "East Wind". Jalal Mansur Nuriddin, Umar Bin Hassan, and Abiodun Oyewole, along with percussionist Nilaja, are generally considered the primary and core members of the group, as they appeared on the group's 1970 self-titled debut (contracted by noted Jimi Hendrix producer Alan Douglas) and, in various combinations, on subsequent releases. Other early East Wind alumni, however -- Luciano, Kain, and Nelson -- recorded separately as "The Original Last Poets," gaining some renown as the soundtrack artists for the 1971 film "Right On!".
myspace.com/gilsheron
When the Revolution Comes
The Last Poets Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When the revolution comes
When the revolution comes
When the revolution comes some of us will probably catch it on TV, with chicken hanging from our mouths. You'll know its revolution cause there won't be no commercials
When the revolution comes
Preacher pimps are gonna split the scene with the communion wine stuck in their back pockets
Faggots won’t be so funny then and all the junkies will quit their noddin’ and wake up When the revolution comes
When the revolution comes
Transit cops will be crushed by the trains after losing their guns and blood will run through the streets of Harlem drowning anything without substance
When the revolution comes
When the revolution comes
When the revolution comes
Our pearly white teeth froth the mouths that speak of revolution without reverence
The cost of revolution is 360 degrees understand the cycle that never ends
Understand the beginning to be the end and nothing is in between but space and time that I make or you make to relate or not to relate to the world outside my mind your mind. Speak not of revolution until you are willing to eat rats to survive
When the revolution comes
When the revolution comes
When the revolution comes; guns and rifles will be taking the place of poems and essays. Black cultural centers will forts supplying the revolutionaries with food and arms when the revolution comes
When the revolution comes
White death will froth the walls of museums and churches breaking the lies that enslaved our mothers when the revolution comes
When the revolution comes
Jesus Christ is gonna be standing on the corner of Lennox Ave and 125th St trying to catch the first gypsy cab out of Harlem, when the revolution comes
When the revolution comes
Jew merchants will give away motza balls and gifilka fish to anyone they see with afros. Frank Shieffin will give away the Apollo to the first person he sees wearing a blue dashiki, when the revolution comes
When the revolution comes afros gone be trying to straighten their heads and straightened heads gone be tryin to wear afros
When the revolution comes
When the revolution comes
When the revolution comes
But until then you know and I know niggers will party and bullshit and party and bullshit and party and bullshit and party and bullshit and party...
Some might even die before the revolution comes
The Last Poets' song "When the Revolution Comes" is a powerful spoken-word poem that outlines the need for a revolution in America to overthrow the oppressive structures and systems that continue to oppress Black people. The lyrics are filled with striking imagery and metaphors that poetically describe the necessary changes. The song predicts various events that would occur during the revolution, such as the end of commercialism, the fall of corrupt religious leaders, and the rise of black cultural centers as fortresses. The song ultimately serves as a rallying cry for Black people to unite and take action against the oppressive forces that govern their lives.
Line by Line Meaning
When the revolution comes
The anticipation of when the revolution will begin.
When the revolution comes some of us will probably catch it on TV, with chicken hanging from our mouths. You'll know its revolution cause there won't be no commercials
Despite what is at stake, some may not take the revolution seriously and continue with everyday activities. Revolution will be unmistakable because there will be no commercials interrupting the coverage.
Preacher pimps are gonna split the scene with the communion wine stuck in their back pockets. Faggots won’t be so funny then and all the junkies will quit their noddin’ and wake up When the revolution comes
Those who take advantage of their authority will disappear. Those who have been marginalized will not continue to be degraded. Those who have been complacent will open their eyes to the revolution.
Transit cops will be crushed by the trains after losing their guns and blood will run through the streets of Harlem drowning anything without substance
Those who were once in power will fall to their demise, and their actions will have consequences. The repercussions will affect those who only appear to be empty inside.
Our pearly white teeth froth the mouths that speak of revolution without reverence. The cost of revolution is 360 degrees understand the cycle that never ends. Understand the beginning to be the end and nothing is in between but space and time that I make or you make to relate or not to relate to the world outside my mind your mind. Speak not of revolution until you are willing to eat rats to survive
Those who speak of revolution without fully understanding its cycle and consequences will show their privilege. Revolution is an ongoing process that involves those who take part in it on every level. Until someone is willing to endure unimaginable hardships, they should not speak of revolution.
When the revolution comes; guns and rifles will be taking the place of poems and essays. Black cultural centers will forts supplying the revolutionaries with food and arms when the revolution comes
The revolution will bring about violent actions and will be fought with weapons. Institutions that have been built to celebrate Black culture will be used as strongholds to provide resources for revolutionaries.
White death will froth the walls of museums and churches breaking the lies that enslaved our mothers when the revolution comes
The revolution will bring about the breakdown of White supremacy and the system that has enslaved Black mothers for generations. Institutions that have upheld White supremacy will be destroyed.
Jesus Christ is gonna be standing on the corner of Lennox Ave and 125th St trying to catch the first gypsy cab out of Harlem, when the revolution comes
Even those who have been revered and celebrated will try to escape the revolution. No one will be safe from its effects, regardless of their status.
Jew merchants will give away motza balls and gifilka fish to anyone they see with afros. Frank Shieffin will give away the Apollo to the first person he sees wearing a blue dashiki, when the revolution comes
People who have made a profit from Black culture will give away their goods in an attempt to align themselves with the revolution. Institutions that have taken from Black culture will seek to give it back.
When the revolution comes afros gone be trying to straighten their heads and straightened heads gone be tryin to wear afros
The revolution will bring about confusion and a loss of identity. Those who have tried to assimilate will wish to reclaim their culture and those who have maintained their culture will attempt to assimilate.
But until then you know and I know niggers will party and bullshit and party and bullshit and party and bullshit and party and bullshit and party...
Until the revolution happens, people will continue to engage in meaningless activities and indulge in distractions.
Some might even die before the revolution comes
The price of revolution is high, and some may not survive long enough to see its effects.
Contributed by Isabella H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@TheVicelounge
SELF-RELIANCE STRONG COMMUNITY i am the sun of two of them and that is not accurate. if there was joint that said this it is date. for decades the best MCs and poets and singers are spending their time with the Babas. The Babas are inspiring and teaching many of us.
This is not hearsay but honest and direct from their mouths/presence. Now do NOT take this as chastising but clarification. Sadly outlets are not updating the words of our elders via NBC and ET. Thus, info can be lost or inaccurate.
I hope this cleans up the issue.
-tai allen
(Note a member may have an issue but the group does not!)
@isaiahwinbrone
The last poets are like the grandfathers of hip-hop
@AYUCMax
Isaiah Winbrone Far from it, they don't even rhyme. Bad excuse of a poem if you ask me. Half of it doesn't make sense the other half is hot trash.
@deangeloellis729
@@AYUCMax new age rap isn't good rap. Guys like Kendrick Lamar, Guru from Gangstar, Papoose, Kool moe dee, Talib kweili, and many others who made art and message through lyrics and beats gets over shadows by court jester ass clowns like Takashi 69.....its sad.
@AYUCMax
DeAngelo Ellis kool moe dee is trash kid
@deangeloellis729
@@AYUCMax never that
@musiclover9361
@@AYUCMax, it is not necessary for poetry or spoken word pieces to rhyme. Gil Scott-Heron's reply to this piece, 'The Revolution Will Not Be Televised' is a poem and spoken word piece which also doesn't rhyme. He is widely regarded as the first rapper/MC ever and the progenitor of Hip-Hop. Many music writers refer to him as the Godfather of Rap.
@Bronxlady1
The roots of rap. Not pretty or smooth. Can make you uncomfortable, can hurt your feelings. Strong truth. RIP Gil Scott Heron.
@theTORTUGAZUL
The Last Poets actually spoke out against their music being rap. I sure wish that I could remember which song it was . I find it funny that every article that I find on the internet says that they were the original rappers, but anyone that really knows their stuff wouldn't say that .
@Bronxlady1
Saying that the Last Poets are the roots of rap is not saying that they are rappers or the original rappers. It is saying that they are the roots. Two different things.
@TheVicelounge
SELF-RELIANCE STRONG COMMUNITY i am the sun of two of them and that is not accurate. if there was joint that said this it is date. for decades the best MCs and poets and singers are spending their time with the Babas. The Babas are inspiring and teaching many of us.
This is not hearsay but honest and direct from their mouths/presence. Now do NOT take this as chastising but clarification. Sadly outlets are not updating the words of our elders via NBC and ET. Thus, info can be lost or inaccurate.
I hope this cleans up the issue.
-tai allen
(Note a member may have an issue but the group does not!)