My dad is Vernon James and he is playing flute with Gil. I watch this from time to time to remember that beautiful sound that he plays so softly. I miss my dad and remember growing up being back stage at their concerts. Carrying my dads horns for him. From Blues Alley in DC to Madison Square, during the Hotter than July tour with Stevie Wonder, playing at S.O.B.s I could sit in the house and listen to my dad in the basement practicing all day long. He was a master at his craft and one of the best to ever do it. Miss you pops. Miss you too Mr. Gil you were such a big part of our family for over 25 years.

This is a masterpiece from the great Gil Scott Heron..

this is by far the most profound version of this song.......love this song speaks so much of today

This song is timeless, and so timely as well...we miss you Gil.

R.I.P. Mr. Heron you truly left your mark here. An artis ahead of his time, you always spoke truth to power.

An important voice that was silenced at a time when we needed it the most. Miss you Scotty.

This is Relavent today as it ever was. Rip Gil Scott-Heron💙💔💜

Love his voice, love his message, love his revolution, is still alive !

one of the most beautiful voices i've ever heard.

He was brilliant!

Winter in America From the Indians who welcomed the pilgrims And to the buffalo who once ruled the plains Like the vultures circling beneath the dark clouds Looking for the rain Looking for the rain Just like the cities staggered on the coastline Living in a nation that just can't stand much more Like the forest buried beneath the highway Never had a chance to grow Never had a chance to grow And now it's winter Winter in America Yes and all of the healers have been killed Or sent away, yeah But the people know, the people know It's winter Winter in America And ain't nobody fighting 'Cause nobody knows what to save Save your soul, Lord knows From Winter in America The Constitution A noble piece of paper With free society Struggled but it died in vain And now Democracy is ragtime on the corner Hoping for some rain Looks like it's hoping Hoping for some rain And I see the robins Perched in barren treetops Watching last-ditch racists marching across the floor But just like the peace sign that vanished in our dreams Never had a chance to grow Never had a chance to grow And now it's winter It's winter in America And all of the healers have been killed Or been betrayed Yeah, but the people know, people know It's winter, Lord knows It's winter in America And ain't nobody fighting Cause nobody knows what to save Save your souls From Winter in America And now it's winter Winter in America And all of the healers done been killed or sent away Yeah, and the people know, people know It's winter Winter in America And ain't nobody fighting Cause nobody knows what to save And ain't nobody fighting Cause nobody knows, nobody knows And ain't nobody fighting Cause nobody knows what to save

This song is timeless, speak truth to power...

this man has always been my most loved musician, seems as if all his songs can apply to today, my most favorite is 'A poem for Jose Campos Torres" ,truly incredible!

Such a great meaningful song played by a superb band.

RIP brother U endured the winter, now U can enjoy paradise!

Thanks for this posting. My favourite GSH song. Lucky enough to hear him perform it at Jazz Cafe in London about 6 years ago before his encarceration. I've heard he's back performing and is working on a new book which may be published in 2009. I hope that's the case. Keep Your Heart Right!

one of the most beautiful voies i've ever heard.

Amazing artist, writer and human being. Will always live in our hearts.

R.I.P. and Peaceful Journey to you... you lived in Honesty and Struggle!

It is.timely and beautiful, I usually play it several times.

Right here, right now, you cannot tell me this song is still not relevant to today. A visionary man and a voice sorely missed in these troubled times.

tthis real nice and 70's like i remember ...

I'm going to keep sayin Unsung until TVOne finally recognizes this brother for his amazing contribution to music.

Love this song...the message is right on time....RIP Gil,,,

From one poet to another... simply said!!!! ^--^

Lyrics. Truth spoken here. To the bone.

OOOH, Perfection, Our American Voice !!! Mr Scott Heron,,

Absolutely superb!!

This song is what we all need to listen to today, Jan 6, 2021 after what the world has witnessed.

Today is his Birthday listening to him all day❤

R.I.P Gil, tha heavens need your spirit,n soul this performance has one of the illest breakdowns ever

This has found a new home in my favourites! Thank You... Time remembers great artists! I love to be inspired! Thank You Gil Scott Heron - The music rocks my soul .

Einer meiner Lieblingsongs seit 40 Jahren. Gil's Stimme klingt in mir. Danke

♥ Absolutely Love ♥ GIL SCOTT-HERON ♥ Teacher, Poet, Singer, Songwriter, Rapper, Musician & a GENIUS ♥ BLESS ♥ Rajesh Semrete Selassie Aggarwal FRSA

RIP my brother! Love you. Much respect and gratitude for the gifts you gave us.

This man brought so much to hip hop and music in general One of the greatest lyricist of his time, too sad he never received the flowers he deserved, he was a poet and a great soul Never forgotten !

Wow!! I love him.

Right on babyou for keeping us and the Revolution current!

I love this rendition. Listen to this all the time. He was so memorizing. Like my imaginary grandfather. Love him so much.

love this man to pieces!!

R.I.P to the legend!! GIL SCOTT "It's going t be a LONG WINTER!" #GameofThrones

He should have received the Nobel Prize for Poetry for the lyrics. Beautiful blues, perfect voice for the words and the music.

You were a poet, with a message to America about the injustice that exists all over, for many people.

Who is here at the dawning of 2024 because it really is Winter in America, AGAIN, amazed that people ARE fighting, people do know what to say…and it may not make a difference?

True Prince of Peace, thank you Gil for "adopting" me & saving my little life...i will never forget you & the pain of your loss is equal when i lost my grandma you said iwas too young to give up, Little Rose grew up & turned a million X million people to your awesome Power, Vision, Light and it hurts bad right now.5-28-11

Beautiful in every way. Welcome back into the "free" world Gil. I hope you tour again. Bright moments indeed.

Auch wenn Gil leider nicht mehr lebt, durch seine Musik und Poesie mit Klartext ist er nicht nur für mich unsterblich. 😇😊Even though Gil is unfortunately no longer alive, his music and poetry with plain language make him immortal, and not just for me. 😇😊

I was privileged to call on radio programmers with "The First Minute of a New Day" which included this amazing and haunting song in 1975. His performance that year in Houston was unforgettable. After the show I drove him in my '53 Chevy to our Pacifica radio station to do an interview. They were just about the only media outlet that would pay us any attention. He was very kind to me and I'll never forget him~

here will ever be anyone like gil!!! R.I.P the cool kids wil miss you my hero!!

R.I.P to the legend!! GIL SCOTT

He was a great artist and innovator. He will live on forever thru his music.

Irreplaceable talent. Saw him in the 70s at My Fathers Place. Unforgettable night.

Just bought 5 of GSH cds from amazon. It's a shame that they were all imports,that someone of his significance is appreciated more in Europe than here in the states. Bridges and Real Eyes are my favorites. R.I.P. and thanks for your honesty and excellent music. I am a 63 year old Sicilian/German guy from N.O.La.

@myklmusic I like your message mykimusic. Very much! Thanks for reminding us of the wonderfulness of life

I just discovered this! AWESOME!

You should be very proud of your dad for contributing to this magic.

I wish I had met you, Mr. Gil Scott Heron.

It's cold out side Feed the hungry!

I first heard this track way back in 1974. I was studying politics at Sydney Uni, and had barely scraped past a possible draft into the Australian Army (several years before) for the Vietnam War. I was blown away then . . . and have been down through the years, whenever I play this track. However, this live version, so many years later, is wonderful!

Thought I was careful to hear every version in thes last 11 years. I must Say fallen in love again 70th Birthday Season 2021

at about 15 yrs old, i bought a case of tapes from a dope fiend and several were of Gil's work...what a lesson...true genius, insight and intellect i wish his insights were widely regarded

MAGNIFICO !

@myklmusic Hi myklmusic I like your message very much. Thank you for reminding me at this moment of the ever present wonderfulness of life :) and ofcourse Thanks Gil Scott-Heron

Gil is a true Prophet like The Last Poets and let him/her that have ears hear.Thanks for posting. Musikologist

I'll never forget him being on a show back in the 70s. He was talking and messed up a word. After correcting himself he apologized, saying that, "English isn't my first language". The depth of that statement told of his underlying understanding of things people still can't grasp today. Heck, he was talking about stuff in the 70s that you are just starting to see on websites NOW. God bless you, Brother GIl........

once again this brother is speaking truth to power,may God have mercy on us.

One of the GREATEST to ever do it.

Lucky to have been present at this show T&C 14th March 1990.

Gil yoou are a prophet. You fortold so much of or future and educated us on so much about our Imperial Presidents(1.Nixon,2.Reagan & last & truely the least Bush,Jr.) You have been an inspiration to so many, preach on mi hermano! Viva llos corazon!

Gil Scott-Heron, will be an in-put that will always driver this nation as long as we REMEMBER his words and his strength he stands for. Take Care and GOD bless you my brother

Just bought 5 of GSH cds from amazon. It's a shame that they were all imports,that someone of his significance is appreciated more in Europe than here in the states. Bridges and Real Eyes are my favorites. R.I.P. and thanks for your honesty and excellent music.

"The REVOLUTION will be LIVE."

soulful music!!!

Thanks for kicking my young white butt with words of wisdom and action...Your portrayal of struggles, of substance abuse, of life, of culture, of reality has moved so many for so long...Rest now, and may your words ring throughout the world forever...Peace

thanks for posting such a great piece.

I got turned on to Gil back in '86 when one of my friends went to college in Vermont and came back with "Reflections". I'm from NC and we just didn't get this kind of music at that time. Later I moved to DC where nearly everyone knows his name. He has had a profound influence on me. I was only 17 when I heard him. So glad for the years of music and poetry.

made my day.....thank you Gil, thank you

My favorite song by Gil…he came to Kent State University in 1978. The concert was sponsored by the Center of Pan African Affairs, and the Brothers of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity

Thanks for that memory, Steven. And, he'll never be dead for me, and I keep playing his stuff on piano, and post his stuff for all my Facebook buds from class of 1975, lest they've forgotten.

THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL MAN...... HE WILL LIVE FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS..... KNOWLEDGE... PEACE.... LOVE....

I recently finished re-reading Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged and thought that it spoke clearly to the circumstances of the world today. I just listened to GSH's body of work, The Bottle, We Almost Lost Detroit, Winter in America, et al. and can't imagine anything more poignant or relevant to today. His lyrics resonate to everyone, regardless of station. Why he isn't spoken about more promiently today is bewildering. Genius.

Gil Scott Heron + Brian Jackson = double genius

This as so many others he penned, is prophetic to the present day look@ the state of America today!

What a genius rest in peace!!!!

amazing guy...transcends it all...

YES SIR! I would have Love that!

It’s (still) Winter! GSH (RIP) Live! 🗣🎶

thnks for posting, unbelievble ... genius

WORD!!! That was dope!

Love you gil were not getting old we are still trying to get it out

God damn it's always winter these days man. Never mind the weather.

Rest in peace, GSH. Beautiful.

Just Beautiful

An enlightenment. Music that´s warm, deep and embraceing. This song has been a true companion for me for many years. This version is a fascinating performance by all on stage. I am deeply moved by it every time I hear it. Thank you, Gil. And thanks for sharing.

r.i.p. gil....you were an inspiration ,creating an art form we tried to follow....swami's motel

that flute!! :)

OMG-This is the GREATEST ! ! !

Listening to this in 2022

This is authentic and this is not created anymore. Wow.

this number rooted me to the spot when he came to Sheffield, UK - it was a sunday gig and the management pulled the power at 10.30 sharp (licensing laws) whilst he was still performing...someone in the audience shouted out "give us a poem,Gil!" and so he belted out a few poems acoustically - there was no stopping the man! He'll never be dead for me x