Johannesburg!
Oh the Gil Scot Heron joint. "Tell me what's the word" love the song- Giles Peterson opened with it when he was playing at Carfax years ago.
On a side note I love that cat. Favourite writer of mine.
I remember listening to the the Watergate Blues after Bush got re-elected and the same being 100% percent on point with the present situation replace Vietnam with Iraq.
Once my crew stops drinking draughts at the Loft and get our website together (or maybe do both) my first piece is going to a primer for Gil Scot Heron going through his whole catalogue and introducing him to those who don't know him.
I've already done notes probably somewhere in my house but this is how I'm going to open the piece from memory...
"Somewhere out there he walks.
Syringe tainted with AIDS blood sticking out his skeletal arm. Or maybe they've captured him again and he is standing at dispensary slamming the gla** window crying for heroin and having to settle for methadone: The greatest poet ever..."
Something like that...
What's the word?
Tell me brother, have you heard
from Johannesburg?
What's the word?
Sister/woman have you heard
from Johannesburg?
They tell me that our brothers over there
are defyin' the Man
We don't know for sure because the news we
get is unreliable, man
Well I hate it when the blood starts flowin'
but I'm glad to see resistance growin'
Somebody tell me what's the word?
Tell me brother, have you heard
from Johannesburg?
They tell me that our brothers over there
refuse to work in the mines,
They may not get the news but they need to know
we're on their side.
Now sometimes distance brings
misunderstanding,
but deep in my heart I'm demanding;
Somebody tell me what's the word?
Sister/woman have you heard
'bout Johannesburg?
I know that their strugglin' over there
ain't gonna free me,
but we all need to be strugglin'
if we're gonna be free
Don't you wanna be free?
- The Man In Question
Give it up for Chubb Rock too.