The Prisoner

by Gil Scott-Heron

From the album: Pieces of a Man

Track 11 of 14 on Pieces of a Man (1971).

Duration: 09:26

Pieces of a Man cover art

Lyrics for The Prisoner

Here I am After so many years Hounded by hatred And trapped by fear I'm in a box I've got no place to go If I follow my mind I know I'll slaughter my own Help me I'm the prisoner Won't you hear my plea I need somebody Yeah, to listen to me I beg you Brothers and sisters I'm counting on you (yeah) Black babies in the womb Are shackled and bound Chained by the caveman Who keeps beauty down Smacked on the ass When they're squalling and wet Heir to a spineless man who Never forgets Never forgets that he's a prisoner Can't you hear my plea 'Cause I need somebody Lord knows, to listen to me I'm a stranger to my son who wonders Why his daddy runs, yeah... On my way to work in the morning When I don't give a damn Can't nobody, can't nobody, can't nobody Can't nobody see just who in hell I am? Hemmed in by a suit Yes, all choked up in a tie Ain't no wonder sometimes near morning I hear my woman cry She knows her man is a prisoner Won't you hear my plea Yeah, 'cause I need somebody Woah, to listen to me My woman she don't say But she hates to see her man Chained this way, yeah Help me, I'm the prisoner Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah... I'm the prisoner

Listen On

More from Pieces of a Man

  1. The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
  2. Save the Children
  3. Lady Day and John Coltrane
  4. Home Is Where the Hatred Is
  5. When You Are Who You Are
  6. I Think I'll Call It Morning
  7. Pieces of a Man
  8. A Sign of the Ages
  9. Or Down You Fall
  10. The Needle's Eye
  11. The Prisoner
  12. Chains
  13. Peace
  14. A Toast to the People