[Intro: Gil Scott-Heron]
This is a song about change. You see, we say many things about the changing aspects of our lives. We say that since change is inevitable, we should direct the change rather than simply continue to go through the change. We sing a song of revolution as change to the brothers in the Caribbean and Africa, where I'm coming from
[Verse 1: Gil Scott-Heron]
Early in the morning, I, I heard the call of the crow
He said, "Come on now, brother. Want you to fly with me and, and can't you see it's time to go?"
Well, I've been-a working on this delta underneath burning sun
Seemed like a Mississippi revolution. I feel like-a where I'm coming from
Feel like-a where I'm coming from
Feel like-a where I'm coming from
[Verse 2: Gil Scott-Heron]
A brother man run to Nebraska after the Civil War was through
He worked with his hands, he worked on the land all of his life—and nothing else he know to do
A rooting-tooting, Wild-West-shooting-up brother, though his story don't teach us none
Seemed like a Wild West revolution ought to be where I'm coming from
Ought to be where I'm coming from
Ought to be where I'm coming from
[Verse 3: Gil Scott-Heron]
Brother man raised on welfare. He live his life a-in the heart of the city
Among the junkies and the desperate people, a brother man learned about a life without pity
But he just been a-thinking and waiting and thinking and waiting—he knew his chance was bound to come
It seemed like big city revolution ought to be where I'm coming from ‘cause
Yes, the way I'm coming from
And it ought to be where I'm coming from
[Verse 4: Gil Scott-Heron]
Yeah, the point I was trying to make: I'm moving from place to place and time to time
Yes, and the vibration that bring me new vibrations is on the peoples' mind
They tell me, “Gil, don't be 'fraid of revolution! Ain't nothing but change and change is sure ‘nough bound to come”
Yeah, now put a little revolution in your life and you'll understand where I'm coming from-a
Can you understand-a where I'm coming from?
Understand where I'm coming from
[Verse 5: Gil Scott-Heron]
Yeah, tell me, can you just understand?
I'm trying my best to explain, but, tell me, can you understand?
We're living in a world of change. Now, tell me, do you just understand?
Now I'm trying my best to explain, but, tell me, do you just understand?
‘Cause if we even get together, it'd be so much better. Brother, understand
We ever get together, it'd be so much better. Brother, understand
And I'd really believe, and I'd really believe
And I'd really believe we could talk to another
All over and showing the world we understand
We're living in a world of change, uh, living in a world of change, my brother
Tell me, t-tell me, brother, do you understand?
‘Cause if we ever get together, it'll be more magic. Do you understand?