lord have mercy on me
Gil Scott-Heron hasn’t released a thing in 13 years. He just released an album called ‘Im New Here’. He’s spent the passed decade in and out of prison for drug charges. He’s an activist, a poet, a musician, and a spoken-word artist. And now his voice carries the grittiness of age, weathered and strained- but he’s still got a few words to say. The first song off the album that I heard was ‘New York Was Killing Me’ which evokes that Tom Waits/ William Elliot Whitmore aesthetic, a plea to return to the South- much like his musical resurgence, he’s searching for something to keep him alive, to keep himself away from his own demons. He brings us back to America in his era, the days when he reigned- making us wonder how much of it has really changed, or if we’re still in a desperate societal unrest. The solidarity we feel in collective strife, or hopelessness is powerful in song, especially from the songwriters who’ve lived to tell about it.
I thought his spoken word track ‘running’ was pretty poignant, maybe it was the distinctive narrative, the tone of his voice, but I really love it.
Because I always feel like running
Not away, because there is no such place
Because, if there was I would have found it by now
Because it’s easier to run,
Easier than staying and finding out you’re the only one…who didn’t run
Gil Scott-Heron- Running
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version . You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Gil Scott-Heron- New York is Killing Me
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version . You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
lord have mercy on me: Gil Scott-Heron hasn’t released a thing in 13 years. He just released an album called ‘Im N…