The Revolution (Ode to Gil Scott-Heron)
from Redemption by Brent Godfrey
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about
Words and music by Brent Godfrey and Dimitris Palimeris
Dimitris came up with the idea of rewriting Gil Scott-Heron's poem "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" during the Greek financial crisis when the national TV station went black, off the air. I expanded the idea out to include the dumbing down of the populace through bad food, chemicals, and reality TV. There was some promise of positive change during the Arab Spring and the Occupy Wall Street Movement. However, It's a long way from Gil Scott-Heron's 1960's.
Dimitris came up with the idea of rewriting Gil Scott-Heron's poem "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" during the Greek financial crisis when the national TV station went black, off the air. I expanded the idea out to include the dumbing down of the populace through bad food, chemicals, and reality TV. There was some promise of positive change during the Arab Spring and the Occupy Wall Street Movement. However, It's a long way from Gil Scott-Heron's 1960's.
lyrics
Don’t expect to stay home, brother
Hypnotized by your wide screen HD TV
Guzzling Bud Lite Beer and munching Cheez-Its
Not if you want real change.
Because the revolution will not be televised.
The revolution will be tweeted and YouTubed
Weaponized information down to the individual level
Brought to you by every man who has not been brain washed
Brought to you by every man who has risen up off the couch.
Truth or propaganda who is to say
When we are all Khaled Said
We have found other ways to get our message out because
The revolution will not be televised.
Stations that have been broadcasting thru the German occupation
Will be shut down in the name of austerity measures
But we know the real reason, brother
It is fortunate for the leaders when men do not think.
Feed them high fructose corn syrup, supersize them,
and keep them on the couch watching reality tv
The revolution will not be televised
Give us your unhealthy and frightened.
Give us your confused and sedated
Dumbed down with medications, pesticides, fluoride and aspartame
Living their lives though celebrity gossip and reality shows
We do not have to worry about them taking to the streets.
The revolution will not be televised.
The revolution will be tweeted and YouTubed
Amateur clips via cell phone posted on Facebook.
I am Neda, shot through the heart by government sharp shooters
The Mouse versus Goliath.
Self immolation, sacrificial songs for freedom
Guns, truncheons, instruments of repression.
The revolution will not be televised.
Death will be live.
Who is to say what is the Real World in the quest for hearts and minds
Bachelorettes and Bachelors, may be the Biggest Losers
Music videos have been replaced on the Jersey Shore
We have become obsessed with the lives of others
And ignore the real issues that plague us
The revolution will not be televised
The brave new world is drawing closer and closer.
Enslaved by technology, consumer’s delight
Not able to spell, not able to write. Not able to add or even tell time.
So dependent on our little hand held device.
What happens when it goes away? Destroyed by an EMP strike
No more texting, no more tweeting. Hey What’s Up?
The revolution will not be televised
The revolution will be tweeted and YouTubed.
Or maybe not. The revolution will not be right back
After the commercial break if the powers to be have their say.
Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.
And the revolution soon turns into repressions.
In the end it’s always about power.
And your comrades are purged and sent to the gulag.
The revolution will not be televised, will not be televised,
will not be televised, will not be televised.
The revolution may be a re-run brothers;
Or it may be live.
Who is to know these days
Hypnotized by your wide screen HD TV
Guzzling Bud Lite Beer and munching Cheez-Its
Not if you want real change.
Because the revolution will not be televised.
The revolution will be tweeted and YouTubed
Weaponized information down to the individual level
Brought to you by every man who has not been brain washed
Brought to you by every man who has risen up off the couch.
Truth or propaganda who is to say
When we are all Khaled Said
We have found other ways to get our message out because
The revolution will not be televised.
Stations that have been broadcasting thru the German occupation
Will be shut down in the name of austerity measures
But we know the real reason, brother
It is fortunate for the leaders when men do not think.
Feed them high fructose corn syrup, supersize them,
and keep them on the couch watching reality tv
The revolution will not be televised
Give us your unhealthy and frightened.
Give us your confused and sedated
Dumbed down with medications, pesticides, fluoride and aspartame
Living their lives though celebrity gossip and reality shows
We do not have to worry about them taking to the streets.
The revolution will not be televised.
The revolution will be tweeted and YouTubed
Amateur clips via cell phone posted on Facebook.
I am Neda, shot through the heart by government sharp shooters
The Mouse versus Goliath.
Self immolation, sacrificial songs for freedom
Guns, truncheons, instruments of repression.
The revolution will not be televised.
Death will be live.
Who is to say what is the Real World in the quest for hearts and minds
Bachelorettes and Bachelors, may be the Biggest Losers
Music videos have been replaced on the Jersey Shore
We have become obsessed with the lives of others
And ignore the real issues that plague us
The revolution will not be televised
The brave new world is drawing closer and closer.
Enslaved by technology, consumer’s delight
Not able to spell, not able to write. Not able to add or even tell time.
So dependent on our little hand held device.
What happens when it goes away? Destroyed by an EMP strike
No more texting, no more tweeting. Hey What’s Up?
The revolution will not be televised
The revolution will be tweeted and YouTubed.
Or maybe not. The revolution will not be right back
After the commercial break if the powers to be have their say.
Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.
And the revolution soon turns into repressions.
In the end it’s always about power.
And your comrades are purged and sent to the gulag.
The revolution will not be televised, will not be televised,
will not be televised, will not be televised.
The revolution may be a re-run brothers;
Or it may be live.
Who is to know these days
credits
from Redemption,
released January 8, 2016
Brent Godfrey - Spoken Word Vocals, Lyrics
Dimitris Palimeris - Bass, Rhodes
J.C. Beziz - Guitars
Brad Dunbar - Saxophone
Stuart Cardell - Drums
Juan Jose Garcia - Percussion
Brent Godfrey - Spoken Word Vocals, Lyrics
Dimitris Palimeris - Bass, Rhodes
J.C. Beziz - Guitars
Brad Dunbar - Saxophone
Stuart Cardell - Drums
Juan Jose Garcia - Percussion
license
tags
about
Brent Godfrey Gowen, Michigan
Brent Godfrey is a singer songwriter based in West Michigan. He collaborates with musicians from all over the world on the
Kompoz music networking website to record his original material.
Brent may be seen at open mics and music festivals around the area.
Brent also makes his own cigar box & license plate guitars, cigar box ukuleles, and canjos for performance.
... more
discography
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May 2023 -
Feb 2022 -
Mar 2020 -
Apr 2018 -
Jan 2016 -
Dec 2014 -
Aug 2013
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