Pieces of a Man
by Gil Scott-Heron
From the album: The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
Track 6 of 11 on The Revolution Will Not Be Televised (1974).
Duration: 4:52
Lyrics for Pieces of a Man
Jagged jigsaw pieces Tossed about the room I saw my grandma sweeping With her old straw broom But she didn't know what she was doing She could hardly understand That she was really sweeping up Pieces of a man I saw my daddy meet the mailman And I heard the mailman say "Now don't you take this letter to heart now Jimmy 'Cause they've laid off nine others today" But he didn't know what he was saying He could hardly understand That he was only talking to Pieces of a man I saw the thunder and heard the lightning! And felt the burden of his shame And for some unknown reason He never turned my way Pieces of that letter Were tossed about that room And now I hear the sound of sirens Come knifing through the gloom But they don't know what they are doing They could hardly understand That they're only arresting Pieces of a man I saw him go to pieces I saw him go to pieces He was always such a good man He was always such a strong, strong man Yeah, I saw him go to pieces I saw him go to pieces