On Coming from a Broken Home (Pt. 1)
by Gil Scott-Heron
From the album: I'm New Here
Duration: 02:20
Lyrics for On Coming from a Broken Home (Pt. 1)
I want to make this a special tribute To a family that contradicts the concepts Heard the rules, but wouldn't accept And womenfolk raised me and I was full-grown before I knew I came from a broken home Sent to live with my grandma down south When my uncles was leaving And my grandfather had just left for heaven, they said And as every-ologist would certainly note I had no strong male figure, right? But Lily Scott was absolutely not your mail-order, room-service Typecast, black grandmother I was moved in with her temporarily Just until things were patched 'Til this was patched and 'til that was patched Until I became at 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 The patch that held Lily Scott who held me and like them four I became one more and I loved her from the absolute marrow of my bones And we was holdin' on I come from a broken home She had more than the five senses She knew more than books could teach And raised everyone she touched just a little bit higher And all around her there was a natural sense As though she sensed what the stars say, what the birds say What the wind and and the clouds say A sensual soul and self, that African sense And she raised me like she raised four of her own And I was hurt and scared and shocked when Lily Scott left suddenly one night And they sent a limousine from heaven to take her to God if there is one So I knew she had gone And I came from a broken home