This version of Washington, D.c. was released by Gil Scott-Heron in 1982.
Our About Gil Scott-Heron page at Decade Lyrics includes the
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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 in the evening with people of the night
Morning brings the tourists, peering eyes and rubber necks
To 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.
(mmmm-hmmm)
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
Seems 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
It’s the nation’s 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
It’s the nation’s capital
It’s the nation’s capital
It’s the nation’s capital, it’s Washington D.C.
(mmmm-hmmm)
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 in the evening with people 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.
It’s the nation’s capital
Got you feeling capital
Punishment is capital in Washington D.C.
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Gil Scott-Heron has released many songs over the years besides
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More Songs & Lyrics by Gil Scott-Heron
- Brother (1970)
- Enough (1970)
- Everyday (1970)
- Evolution (And Flashback) (1970)
- Introduction – The Revolution Will Not Be Televised (1970)
- Omen (1970)
- Paint It Black (1970)
- Plastic Pattern People (1970)
- Small Talk At 125th And Lenox (1970)
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- The Subject Was Faggots (1970)
- The Vulture (1970)
- Whitey On The Moon (1970)
- Who’ll Pay Reparations On My Soul? (1970)
- A Sign Of The Ages (1971)
- Home Is Where The Hatred Is (1971)
- I Think I’ll Call It Morning (1971)
- Lady Day And John Coltrane (1971)
- Or Down You Fall (1971)
- Pieces Of A Man (1971)
- Save The Children (1971)
- The Needle’s Eye (1971)
- The Prisoner (1971)
- The Revolution Will Not Be Televised (1971)
- When You Are Who You Are (1971)
- Billy Green Is Dead (1972)
- Did You Hear What They Said? (1972)
- Free Will (1972)
- Get Out Of The Ghetto Blues (1972)
- King Alfred Plan (1972)
- No Knock (1972)
- Sex Education: Ghetto Style (1972)
- Speed Kills (1972)
- Back Home (1974)
- Bottle (1974)
- H2O Gate Blues (1974)
- Peace Go With You, Brother (As-Salaam-Alaikum) (1974)
- Peace Go With You, Brother (Wa-Alaikum-Salaam) (1974)
- Rivers Of My Fathers (1974)
- Song For Bobby Smith (1974)
- Your Daddy Loves You (1974)
- Ain’t No Such Thing As Superman (1975)
- Alluswe (1975)
- Liberation Song (Red, Black And Green) (1975)
- Must Be Something (1975)
- Offering (1975)
- We Beg Your Pardon (Pardon Our Analysis) (1975)
- Winter In America (1975)
- 17th Street (1976)
- Beginnings (First Minute Of A New Day) (1976)
- Bicentennial Blues (1976)
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