Gil Scott Heron Quotes

“If you've lost your sense of humor, I think you've lost your sense of humanity... You can't just start screaming at everybody. Everybody knows there are things wrong with this planet. But in order to make it through all the things that are going to happen to you in your life, you need to maintain humor. It's the most important aspect of yourself.
- Gil Scott-Heron”
― Marcus Baram, Gil Scott-Heron: Pieces of a Man

“Like Gil, Brian had been raised as an only child by strong women. "It shaped our views of ourselves. We considered ourselves loners, on the outside of society," said Jackson. And the two of them often preferred being alone to being around other people.”
― Marcus Baram, Gil Scott-Heron: Pieces of a Man

“In a city that attracted protesters, organizers, and activists of every variety, debating issues across the political spectrum and with a huge population of black people, the messages in his lyrics were received with enthusiasm. “This was Chocolate City. People in DC were pretty sophisticated and they liked his political wit, and I think he liked speaking truth to power in the heart of the government.”
― Marcus Baram, Gil Scott-Heron: Pieces of a Man

“A rat done bit my sister Nell

With whitey on the moon

Her face and arms began to swell

And whitey's on the moon

I can't pay no doctor bills

But whitey's on the moon

Ten years from now I'll be payin' still

While whitey's on the moon

The man just upped my rent last 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 upping me?

Cause whitey's on the moon?

Well I was already giving him fifty a week

With whitey on the moon

Taxes taking my whole damn check

Junkies making me a nervous wreck

The price of food is going up

And as if all that shit wasn't enough:

A rat done bit my sister Nell

With whitey on the moon

Her face and arm began to swell

And whitey's on the moon

Was all that money I made last year

For whitey on the moon?

How come I ain't got no money here?

Hmm! Whitey's on the moon

Y'know I just 'bout had my fill

Of whitey on the moon

I think I'll send these doctor bills

Airmail special

To whitey on the moon.”
― Gil Scott-Heron