Gil Scott-Heron "Pieces Of A Man" (1971)

From his 1971 ablum "Pieces Of A Man"

Gil Scott-Heron (born April 1, 1949 - May 27, 2011) in Chicago, Illinois, was an American poet, musician, and author known primarily for his late 1960s and early 1970s work as a spoken word soul performer and his collaborative work with musician Brian Jackson. His collaborative efforts with Jackson featured a musical fusion of jazz, blues and soul music, as well as lyrical content concerning social and political issues of the time, delivered in both rapping and melismatic vocal styles by Scott-Heron. The music of these albums, most notably Pieces of a Man and Winter in America in the early 1970s, influenced and helped engender later African-American music genres such as hip hop and neo soul. Scott-Heron's recording work is often associated with black militant activism and has received much critical acclaim for one of his most well-known compositions "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised". On his influence, Allmusic wrote "Scott-Heron's unique proto-rap style influenced a generation of hip-hop artists".

Heron's father Gil Heron (1922 - 27 November, 2008) was a Jamaican footballer/soccer player. He was the first black player to play for Scottish club Celtic FC after being invited on a trial in 1951. Heron went on to score on his debut, on August 18, 1951 in a League Cup tie against Morton that Celtic won 2-0.

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[auntkat1]

Poet, musician, visionary.........take your rest Gil Scott-Heron.

[SMITH389]

Feeling sort of like pieces of man. Thank God I have a job but I'm finding it hella hard to find a better one. Student loans have started kicking in from this shiny new graduate diploma that seems to be nothing but an empty promise. Gotta pick up the pieces and continue to fight. My fam gotta eat and the babies need new shoes. 

[lionscourt]

A boy is thinking about his father, who just received his termination letter from his job and rips it up. His grandmother is sweeping up the pieces of the letter but it's really a metaphor for the broken spirit of his father who can't take care of his family now. It's a reflection on the condition of the black man in american society--last to be hired, first to be fired....having to be 10 times better than others just to work menial job. His father is arrested for a crime and goes to jail...

[lionscourt]

A boy is thinking about his father, man who's lost his job and can't feed his family. His grandmother is sweeping up the pieces of his father's termination letter from a job and it's a metaphor for his father's spirit, who is now a broken man who ends up getting arrested for a crime and goes to jail...

It's a reflection on the condition of many Black men in the american workforce--last to get hired and first to get fired--unable to take care of your kids. He also

[Vespachap]

I'm with you on that.

[Michael Bonner]

A masterpiece...



[Blackharvester]

How could one sing this song without criing.

[Janet Roddy]

Pieces of a man; saw him perform in LA, still true today (2013).

[SoMusicNy]

Gorgeous piece!

[Gerilyn Holiday]

this is great song

[eguilbe82]

What's the meaning of the song???? TELL ME xD

[Anthony Bryant]

Wow ....