When You Are Who You Are - Gil Scott-Heron

My, oh, my, you're so good looking Hold yourself together like a pair of bookends But I've not tasted all you're cooking Who are you when I'm not looking Do you pour a little something on the rocks Slide down the hallway in your socks When you undress, do you leave a path Then sing through your nose in a bubble bath My, oh, my, you're so good looking Hold yourself together like a pair of bookends But I've not tasted all you're cooking Who are you when I'm not looking I want to know, I want to know, I want to know Do you break things when you get mad Eat a box of chocolate cause you're feeling bad Do you paint your toes cause you bite your nails And call up mama when all else fails Who are you when I'm not around When the door is locked and the shades are down Do you listen to your music quietly And when it feels just right or you're thinking of me I want to know, I want to know, I want to know My, oh, my, you're so good looking But who are you when I'm not looking

You see, your principal responsibility since we are on the subject Is to enjoy yourself People always say, "Enjoy yourself" Enjoy yourself, hope you enjoy yourself Did you enjoy yourself? I hope you... I want you to enjoy yourself Well, that's what I want you to do Remember, I want you to understand, that it is your only responsibility You may not enjoy nobody else in this motherfucker, but enjoy yourselves You need to enjoy yourself, I mean how else could you? How else could you enjoy someone else, who is not enjoying themselves? They have to first enjoy themselves People don't say, "Go out this evening and enjoy everybody" They say, "Enjoy yourself" Because they know that's all you can really do You cannot enjoy anyone else You can hope that they enjoy themselves But you cannot really enjoy them You can enjoy yourself Do what you can Set goals that you can reach Make sure that you can reach what you are goaling for Or make sure that you can goal what you are reaching for "Enjoy yourself", is what I'm trying to say It is your only responsibility For The Rob is in charge of the Vibe-mo-sphere And the Vibe-mo-sphere is here to help you enjoy yourself Y'understand, when the brothers 'n' I, we used to give parties then From Maines on to Miami I mean, all over and down the East Coast We went on when these parties end It became so well known That every time I'd see somebody on the street, they'd say Hey Gil, there it is, I know... I got to be there Well, I know, 'cause I heard, what you did I got to be there Havin' fun, number one, we've just begun to talk about how-ow-ow I got to be there Yes, I know on time, one time, my time, your time, feels like I got to be there And sure enough, when things get good, everybody starts to attend So, we had to help brother Rob make up these special invitations And the invitations were sent out I'm glad that each and every one of you got yours In case there are some of you Who just knew you were invited and did not receive your invitation, because of the mail We'd like to tell you what it said Say... Brother Rob G is the man to see about the RSVP We wanna party Say it, well, come on Say... Brother Rob G is the man to see about the RSVP We wanna party We'll say it, say it, say it and see... Now, I always thought personally This is just a personal opinion That the reason everybody had so much fun, was because it was a BYOT-affair This meant, Bring Your Own Thing This meant to bring, whatever you like to bring You like to drink? Bring a drink You like to smoke? Bring a smoke You like ladies? Bring two or three Whatever your thing is We want you to enjoy yourself There was only one thing that was not allowed at the party It was known as AD AD was 'verboten' And there was a special note on the bottom hands on the right-hand side of the invitation Which read a little something like Say... Brother Rob G is the man to see about the RSVP We wanna party With no AD No AD, no AD, no AD Brother Rob G is the man to see about the RSVP We wanna party With no AD 'Cause AD was like eh, eh AD was like eh, eh, ehm- haha, ehm A-, AD, AD was like, eh- ahah, aha-ha Eh, A-, AD, AD was like, eh, ehm AD, AD, AD was like, eh, eh, eh, ehm, aha-ha, ahah You know, how y-, y- you- AD was like, eh- AD was like eh- AD w- A- A- A- Aha-ha-ha Aha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha Ah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha Ha-ha-ha-ha Ha-ha-ha, ha-ha-ha, aha, oh Aha-ha-ha Aha-ha AD was like that You could not remember what wanted to forget that you should have to remember AD was like, eh, tryin' to remember what you're supposed to not forget But you couldn't remember what that was So, you could- remember what it was you shouldn't forget You could not remember what you should never forget If you could just remember that Then you would know what it was you were trying not to forget I used to know Ten of you, I used to know I used to know I used to know, no, no No-no-no, no-no-no No, no-no, no, no, no, no, no-no No-no, no-no, no-no, no-no No, no I couldn't have known That it'd be so crazy That on a some time, every time I could tell you I could tell you how to tie the thing I used to know I used to know Yeah I used to know I used to I used to I used to I used to I used to I used to I used to I used to I used to I used to I used to I used to I used to I used to know Cracks in the sidewalk seem to expand I can't get over It must be Dust Hey, yeah I was on the one beat but changed in size and color Oh brother It must be Dust My back against the wall I know there's no one there at-a all But I'm a-lookin' Lookin' Lookin' Lookin' Conversations between me And me And me And me And me And me Whazzup, just what's that thing there? Hey Yes? Hey Hey Hey Hey Hey Brother Robert Gordon is going to introduce you to the melody of this song That we'd like to have you help us with. It's is called 'Angel Dust' Fooled ya, didn't I? Robert Gordon Just let me tell you, I'm gonna tame this with the Vibe-mo-sphere, you see Song goes... Angel Dust I'd like everybody to join in and help us sing this song there and there Take your time with it too, brother One... Two... One, two Angel Dust Come on, we know got some singin' inhere, now come on, take it ahead Angel Dust It's not hard. Here's it goin' for ya Do the harmonies then Angel Dust One more time, come on here (Angel Dust) There you go, we're gonna be alright 'Cause he was groovin' And that was when he could've sworn The world was movin' Hey, but that was only in his mind And he was sailin' He'd never really seem to notice Vision's failin', man Hey, but that was all part of the high Sweat was pourin' And he couldn't take it The room was exploding He might not make it, sing... Angel Dust Yes... Somebody say, that's just Angel Dust It don't mean nobody no good, yeah They call it Dust It might seem like I just need one more good time But down some dead-end street There ain't no turnin' back Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh Yes But sometimes it comes sneakin' up on us To seek, Dust They were standin' Well, everybody in a circle The whole family Yes And listenin' to the preacher's words Sis was cryin' And she alone knew the secret about his dyin' You see her tears falling to earth It may be her fault As he was so trusting God only knew why They were dustin' it Hey, it's Dust Yes Somebody's smokin' Angel Dust It don't mean nobody no good, nowhere They call it Dust It might seem like I just need one more good time But now, on some dead-end street There ain't no turnin' back To back, to back, away... Hey Away-hey Away-hey, away-hey, away-hey Band, take it away-hey Put 'em down now Put 'em down now Pa-da-dub-a-dum down Pa-da-dub-a-dum down Pa-da-dum da-dum Pa-da-dum da-dum Pa-da-dum da-da-dum Pa-da-dum da-da-dum Pa-da-dum, da-da-dum Pa-da-dum-ba-dum-dum Pa-da-dum-ba-dum-dum Pa-da-dum-ba-dum-dum Pa-da-dum-ba-dum-dum Pa-da-dum-ba-dum-dum Pa-da-dum-ba-dum-dum Pa-da-dum-ba-dum-dum Say... Pa-da-dum da-dum-dum Pa-da-du-dum-dum And pa-da-du-dum-dum Pa-da-du-dum-dum Pa-da-dum down Pa-da-du-dum-dum Pa-da-du-dum-dum Pa-da-du-dum-dum Pa-da-du-dum-dum Pa-da-du-dum-dum Pa-da-dum down Puttin' that stuff down Puttin' it down, puttin' it down, puttin' it down Puttin' it down, puttin' it down, puttin' it down Puttin' it down, puttin' it down Puttin' it down, but it feels good Puttin' it down, pa-da-du-dum-dum Puttin' it down, puttin' it down Puttin' it down Hey-ey, yeah, yeah yeah Pa-da-du dum-dum Pa-da-dum down Down, down, down Pa-da-du-dum-dum Pa-da-du down Doo-doo-dup down, doo-doo-dup down, doo-doo-dup down Pa-da-doop dum-dum Ta-da-doop down, to-doop down, to-doop down, to-doop down, to-doop down, now Ta-da-do dum-dum Ta-da-doop down, to-doop down, to-doop down, to-doop down, to-doop down, now Ta-da-do dum-dum, da-da-do down Doop down Ta-do-doop down, ta-da-doop down Ta-do-doop down, ta-da-doop down Ta-da-doop down Yeay, yeay, yaah So crowd in Yeay- So crowd in Yeay- So crowd in Yeay- So crowd in Yeah, I can be there I used to know, I can be there I used to know, I can be there Pa-da-dum da-dum I used to know I used to know I used to know I used to know I used to I used to know Yeay, yeay, yeay, yeay, yeay Say it, say it, say it, say... I used to know and I've got to say... I, I, I, I... I used to I used to I used to know I used to know I used to, I used to I used to know, know, know, know, know, know No-no-no, no-no-no No-no-no, no-no-no No-no-no, no-no-no, no-no-no No-no no-no no-no, no-no no-no no-no Yeay I used to know I used to know I, I, I, I, I... Everything's gonna be alright Everything's gonna be alright Everything's gonna be alright Everybody's gonna go try that feelin' Everything's gonna be alright Everything's gonna be alright Come on down Come on down Everything's gonna be alright Everything's gonna be alright Everything's gonna fucking be alright Everything's gonna be alright Everything's gonna be alright Everything Everything Everything Everything Everything Everything Everything's gonna be alright, everything's gonna be alright All right, all right, all right, all right, all right Everything's gonna be alright, everything's gonna be alright, all right, all right Everything's gonna be alright Everything's gonna be alright Be alright, be alright, be alright Yeah, somebody say Everything, everything's gonna be alright Everything, everything- be alright John Holloway, on the tenor saxophone Everything's gonna be alright Everything's gonna be alright Everything's gonna be alright, I wanna hear somebody say Everything's gonna be alright It's alright It's alright It's alright It's alright It's alright It's alright Everything's gonna be alright Say... He was groovin' And that was when he could have sworn The room was a-moo-du-du-du was a-movin' Ooh, he was sailin' Yeah, 'cause that was all part of the high And sweat was pouring And he couldn't take it The room was exploding Might not make it, sing... Yeah, that's Dust Yes, somebody's been smokin', smokin' Dust It don't mean nobody no good, nowhere They call it Dust It might seem like I just need one more good time But down some dead-end street There ain't no turnin' back, to back, to back away... Dust It might seem like I just need one more good time But down some dead-end street There ain't no turnin' back Thank you Since we have been here And on several occasions that we have been here We have been approached by younger groups By groups of commune- community people and com- concerned citizens About nuclear power and nuclear weapons For a long time now, we have done songs like South Carolina, like We Almost Lost Detroit Indicating our fear and our concern for everyone's safety as related to nuclear power We would like to do a song for you from the album 1980 About nuclear power plants and nuclear weapons The song is called Shut 'm Down

Because I always feel like running Not away, because there is no such place Because, if there was I would have found it by now Because it's easier to run Easier than staying and finding out you're the only one Who didn't run Because running will be the way your life and mine Will be described As in "the long run" Or as in having given someone "A run for his money" Or as in "running out of time" (Time, time, time, time, time) Because running makes me look like everyone else Though I hope there will ever because for that Because I will be running in the other direction Not running for cover Because if I knew where cover was I would stay there and never have to run for it Because the thing I fear cannot be escaped Eluded, avoided, hidden from, protected from, gotten away from Not without showing the fear as I see it now Because closer, clearer, no sir, nearer Because of you and because of that nice That you quietly, quickly be causing (Because I always feel like running) And because you're going to see me run soon And because you're going to know why I'm running then You'll know then Because I'm not going to tell you now (Because I always feel like running)

This is called The Vulture And a lot of people think it's a poem And after they hear me sing it they're sure it's a poem But, uh We're gonna take a shot at it anyway Remember this is a feel like thing Do whatever you feel like If you feel like clapping your hands You can do that Standing in the ruins Oh, of another black man's life Or flying through the valley There, separating day and night "I am death", cried the vulture "Yes, for the people of the light" Charon brought his raft Then came from a sea that sails on souls I saw the scavenger departing Oh, taking warm hearts to the cold He knew the ghetto was a haven For the meanest creature ever known In a wilderness of heartbreak Yes and a desert of despair Evil's clarion of justice Oh, shrieks a cry of naked terror He's taking babies from their mamas And leaving grief beyond compare You see the vulture coming And he's flying circles in your mind There'll be no escaping For he will follow close behind Only promised me a battle Yeah, a battle for your soul and mine Your soul and mine He's taking babies from their mamas And he's leaving Leaving Leaving Leaving Leaving Thank you, that's called The Vulture

And from the Indians who welcomed the pilgrims And to the buffalos who one ruled the plain Like the vultures circling beneath the dark clouds Looking for the rain Looking for the rain Just like the cities staggered on the coastline Livin' in a nation that just can't take 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 Seem like winter in America The time when all of the healers done been killed Or they been betrayed But the people know All of the them know it's winter Seem like winter in America And ain't nobody fighting, Because nobody knows what to save Save your soul Lord know it's winter in America The Constitution, a noble piece of paper would free society, It struggled but then died in vain And now Democracy is ragtime on the corner Hoping for rain It's been hoping for some rain And I see the robins perched in barren treetops They're watching last-ditch racists marching across the floor And may peace sign that vanished in our dreams Never had a chance to grow Never had a chance to grow And somebody won't know till it's winter It's cold as like winter in America This the time when all of the healers done been killed Or they been betrayed People know, all the people know it's winter Yeah, it feel like winter in America The truth is there ain't nobody fighting Because nobody know what to save Winter in America It's winter, It's cold as like winter in America This the time when all of the healers done been killed Or they been betrayed People know, some know It's winter Yeah, it seem like winter in America The truth is there ain't nobody fighting, Because nobody know what to save Nobody fighting, nobody fighting Nobody knows, nobody knows What to do, what to do The truth is there ain't nobody fighting, Because nobody knows what to save

Thank you for the song, for your accomodation capital The accomodation that we come throughout a song it's called, Washington D.C. And just as you think, you heard it all that come with a little bit force When you hear this, soon i'll keep improve, say Symbols of democracy, pinned up against the coast Outhouse of bureaucracy, surrounded by a moat Citizens of poverty are barely out of sight Overlords escape their evening with brothers of the night Morning come and bring the tourists, craning rubber necks Catch a glimpse of the cowboy making the world a nervous wreck It's a mass of irony for all the world to see It's the nation's capital, it's Washington D.C. It's the nation's capital It's the nation's capital It's the nation's capital, it's Washington D.C. (Mmmh) May not have the glitter or the glamour of L.A. May not have the history or the intrigue of Pompeii But when it comes to making music, and sure enough making news People who just don't make sense and people making do It's a ball of contradictions, pulling different ways Between the folks who come and go, and one's who've got to stay It's a mass of irony for all the world to see It's the nation's capital, it's Washington D.C. It's the nation's capital It's the nation's capital I'm talking about the capital, it's Washington D.C. Seems to me, it's still in light time people knifed up on 14th street Makes me feel it's always the right time for them people Showing up and coming clean Did make the one seem kind of numb Again, it's the nation's capital It's the nation's capital I'm talking about the capital, it's Washington D.C. (Mmh) Symbols of democracy, pinned up against the coast Outhouse of bureaucracy, surrounded by a moat Citizens of poverty are barely out of sight Overlords escape here in the brothers of the night Morning come and bring the tourists, craning rubber necks Catch a glimpse of the cowboy making the world a nervous wreck It's a mass of irony for all the world to see It's the nation's capital, it's Washington D.C. It's the nation's capital It's the nation's capital I'm talking about the capital, it's Washington D.C. It's the nation's capital I'm talking about the capital, feel anything the capital It's Washington D.C. It's the biggest capital, sure and I'm sing it's the capital The punishment is capital in Washington D.C. Say, somebody say, somebody say Where you going?, what you do? It's the nation's capital, sure you don't feel the capital? I'm talking about the capital, a-aha-aha Say, yeah, go about but, I don't care but Washington D.C. Thank very much, thank you, thank you very much appreciated