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Artist: Gil Scott-Heron
Suggested Track: The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

Lyrics
You will not be able to stay home, brother
You will not be able to plug in, turn on and cop out
You will not be able to lose yourself on skag
And skip out for beer during commercials, because
The revolution will not be televised

The revolution will not be televised
The revolution will not be brought to you
By Xerox in four parts without commercial interruptions
The revolution will not show you pictures of Nixon blowing a bugle
And leading a charge by John Mitchell, General Abrams, and Spiro Agnew
To eat hog maws confiscated from a Harlem sanctuary
The revolution will not be televised

The revolution will not be brought to you by the Schaefer Award Theatre
And will not star Natalie Woods and Steve McQueen or Bullwinkle and Julia
The revolution will not give your mouth sex appeal
The revolution will not get rid of the nubs
The revolution will not make you look five pounds thinner, because
The revolution will not be televised, brother

There will be no pictures of you and Willie Mae
Pushing that shopping cart down the block on the dead run
Or trying to slide that color TV into a stolen ambulance
NBC will not be able predict the winner
At 8:32 on report from twenty-nine districts
The revolution will not be televised

There will be no pictures of pigs shooting down brothers on the instant replay
There will be no pictures of pigs shooting down brothers on the instant replay
There will be no pictures of Whitney Young
Being run out of Harlem on a rail with a brand new process
There will be no slow motion or still lifes of Roy Wilkins
Strolling through Watts in a red, black, and green liberation jumpsuit
That he has been saving for just the proper occasion

Green Acres, Beverly Hillbillies, and Hooterville Junction
Will no longer be so damn relevant
And women will not care if Dick finally got down with Jane
On Search for Tomorrow
Because black people will be in the street looking for a brighter day
The revolution will not be televised

There will be no highlights on the eleven o'clock news
And no pictures of hairy armed women liberationists
And Jackie Onassis blowing her nose
The theme song will not be written by Jim Webb or Francis Scott Keys
Nor sung by Glen Campbell, Tom Jones, Johnny Cash
Engelbert Humperdinck, or The Rare Earth
The revolution will not be televised

The revolution will not be right back
After a message about a white tornado
White lightning, or white people
You will not have to worry about a dove in your bedroom
The tiger in your tank, or the giant in your toilet bowl
The revolution will not go better with Coke
The revolution will not fight germs that may cause bad breath
The revolution will put you in the driver's seat

The revolution will not be televised
Will not be televised
Will not be televised
Will not be televised
The revolution will be no re-run, brothers
The revolution will be live
Full Lyrics and Meaning
SongMeanings Interpretations
Gil Scott-Heron - I'm New Here Lyrics
The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just ...
Gil Scott-Heron - Home is Where the Hatred is Lyrics
Fantastic poem about a junkie who came from a bad place and is now in an infinitely worse one. The last line is ambiguous, hopeful and doomed, likely on purpose ...
Gil Scott-Heron - Running Lyrics
The entire song is a response to a question posed about running. Why you'd run- him or anyone. And I imagine he keeps saying why because the unspoken other ...
Gil Scott-Heron - B Movie Lyrics
God damn it, first one wants freedom, then the whole damn world wants freedom. Nostalgia, that's what we want… The good ol' days when we gave'em hell? When the ...
Gil Scott-Heron - The Bottle Lyrics
When time after time, people in the bottle. ... From the bottle. ... And he's doin' time, So now she's in the bottle. ... Sho' needs help from the bottle. Preacherman ...
Gil Scott-Heron - The Prisoner Lyrics
Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a ...
Gil Scott-Heron - I'll Take Care Of You Lyrics
What a sweet song. He's saying that he knows what she's been through because he has too, but he wants to be the one to change the outcome for once.
Gil Scott-Heron - Lady Day and John Coltrane Lyrics
When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, ...
Gil Scott-Heron - We Almost Lost Detroit Lyrics
This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians ...
Gil Scott-Heron - Work for Peace Lyrics
We've got to work for peace. Peace ain't coming this way. We've got to work for peace. ... And the preparation of war. ... We will have all touched the power of ...
Gil Scott-Heron - The Revolution Will Not Be Televised Lyrics
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control ...
Gil Scott-Heron - Save The Children Lyrics
This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians ...
Gil Scott-Heron - The Middle Of Your Day Lyrics
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This ...
Gil Scott-Heron - Angola, Louisiana Lyrics
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to ...
Gil Scott-Heron - Johannesburg Lyrics
More Featured Meanings ... This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping. ... This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others ...
Gil Scott-Heron - The Needle's Eye Lyrics
When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, ...
Gil Scott-Heron - Combinations Lyrics
drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain ...
Gil Scott-Heron - Free Will Lyrics
Now, my how you have grown! Ain't it nice to fly? You're waving as soft clouds go by, But Peace won't be still of its own free will. Say you want to go ...
Gil Scott-Heron - 17th Street Lyrics
Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it." " ...
Gil Scott-Heron - No Knock Lyrics
-- where the lead characters wore shades). So I think this song is about a guy who wears shades as a way of hiding his insecurity after learning that his ...
Gil Scott-Heron - Your Soul And Mine Lyrics
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control ...
Gil Scott-Heron - Me And The Devil Lyrics
The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just ...
Gil Scott-Heron - Get out of the Ghetto Blues Lyrics
The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just ...
Gil Scott-Heron - Or Down You Fall Lyrics
This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians ...
Gil Scott-Heron - The Crutch Lyrics
The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just ...
Gil Scott-Heron - Brother Lyrics
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away ...
Gil Scott-Heron - Whitey on the Moon Lyrics
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control ...
Gil Scott-Heron - Gun Lyrics
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This ...
Gil Scott-Heron - Message to the Messengers Lyrics
Gil Scott-Heron ... And if they really knew the truth, why would they tell you? ... But if they really knew the truth, why would they tell you? ... Or worse yet ...
Gil Scott-Heron - 1980 Lyrics
Thank you very much, thank you. Thank you, thanks, thanks everybody, yes thank you. Robot dignitaries better welcome you. Aliens part as you pass on through ...
Gil Scott-Heron - Sex Education, Ghetto Style Lyrics
More Featured Meanings · Most popular lyric tags · More Gil Scott-Heron Lyrics · SongMeanings is a place for discussion and discovery.
Gil Scott-Heron - Grandma's Hands Lyrics
The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath ...
Gil Scott-Heron - On Coming from a Broken Home (Pt. 1) Lyrics
This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians ...
Gil Scott-Heron - Angel Dust Lyrics
Gil Scott-Heron ... He might not make it. Angel DustPlease, children would you listen. Angel DustJust ain't where it's at. ... There ain't no turnin' back. ... They ...
Gil Scott-Heron - On Coming from a Broken Home, Pt. 2 Lyrics
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control ...
Gil Scott-Heron - Lady Day & John Coltrane Lyrics
Ever feel kind of down and out. You don't know just what to do? Living all of your days in darkness. Let the sun shine through. Ever feel that somehow, ...
Gil Scott-Heron - Sex Education: Ghetto Style Lyrics
I was doin' it when I was a colored boy of eight or nine or ten. I had never heard of Sigmund Freud but hell I was doin' it then
Gil Scott-Heron - Who'll Pay Reparations on My Soul? Lyrics
Tell me, Who'll pay reparations on my soul? ... Tell me, Who'll pay reparations on my soul? Call my brother a junkie 'cause he ain't got no job (no job, no job).
Gil Scott-Heron - When You Are Who You Are Lyrics
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control ...
Gil Scott-Heron - Ain't no such thing as superman Lyrics
The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath ...
Gil Scott-Heron - Better Days Ahead Lyrics
More Featured Meanings · Most popular lyric tags · More Gil Scott-Heron Lyrics · SongMeanings is a place for discussion and discovery.
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Gil Scott-Heron ... (This is a song about change, you see... many things about the changing aspects of our lives... ... rather than simply continue to go through ...
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Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It's super easy, we promise! Artists - G · Gil Scott-Heron · Minister of ...
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SongTell Meaning
Meaning of "Angel Dust" by Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson
"Angel Dust" by Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson is a cautionary tale against the dangers of drug addiction, specifically angel dust (PCP). The song describ...
Meaning of "We Almost Lost Detroit" by Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson
The song "We Almost Lost Detroit" by Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson is a reflection on the near disaster that was avoided in Detroit, Michigan in 1966. Th...
Meaning of "Winter in America" by Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson
"Winter in America" by Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson is a powerful critique of American society and its government. The song uses metaphorical language t...
Meaning of "Pieces of a Man" by Gil Scott-Heron
"Pieces of a Man" by Gil Scott-Heron is a poignant and powerful commentary on the experiences of African Americans in America during a time of great social...
Meaning of "Me and the Devil" by Gil Scott-Heron
The song "Me and the Devil" by Gil Scott-Heron is an exploration of the cyclical nature of life and how darkness and evil can persistently follow a person ...
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SongFacts
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised by Gil Scott-Heron - Songfacts
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised by Gil Scott-Heron song meaning, lyric interpretation, video and chart position
Genius Meanings
Gil Scott-Heron – Give Her a Call
[Verse 1] / My life is one of movement / I been traveling as fast as I can / And I've inherited trial and error directly from my old man / But I'm committed to the consequences