[Intro: Gil Scott-Heron]
Hi. We'd like to do, um, an idea for you that was related to the “H2O-G-A-T-E, Watergate Blues.” In March of 1973, we wrote the “Watergate Blues,” and some 17 months later, then-President Nixon resigned. But the story didn't end there, and so we didn't stop there. We have prepared a sequel, and it's called, and it's called “We Beg Your Pardon, America.” We beg your pardon because the pardon you gave this time was not yours to give
[Verse 1: Gil Scott-Heron]
They call it “due process” and some people are overdue
We beg your pardon, America
Somebody said, “Brotherman gonna break a window, gonna steal a hubcap, gonna smoke a joint, a brotherman gonna go to jail”
The man who tried to steal America is not in jail
“Get caught with a nickel bag, brotherman. Get caught with a nickel bag,” sisterlady on your way to get your hair fixed
“You'll do Big Ben, and Big Ben is time”
But a man who tried to fix America will not do time
[Verse 2: Gil Scott-Heron]
Said they're gonna slap his wrists, gonna retire him with 850 thousand dollars
And America was “shocked”
America leads the world in shocks
Unfortunately, America does not lead the world in deciphering the cause of shock
“850 thousand dollars,” they said, and the people protested, so they said, “Alright, we'll give him 200 thousand dollars”
Everybody said, “OK, that's better”
I'd like to retire with 200 thousand dollars someday
San Quentin, not San Clemente
Do not pass go, go directly to jail, do not collect 200 thousand dollars
[Verse 3: Gil Scott-Heron]
We beg your pardon, America
We beg your pardon because, somehow, the pardon did not sit correctly
What were the, what were the causes for this pardon?
Well now, they had “flea bite us”
Rats bite us—no pardon in the ghetto
They had national security, but do you feel secure with the man who tried to steal America back on the streets again?
What are the results of this pardon, though? Because, remember, when there's causes, there's results, and the results is always deeper still
We now have Oatmeal Man
Hi. We'd like to do, um, an idea for you that was related to the “H2O-G-A-T-E, Watergate Blues.” In March of 1973, we wrote the “Watergate Blues,” and some 17 months later, then-President Nixon resigned. But the story didn't end there, and so we didn't stop there. We have prepared a sequel, and it's called, and it's called “We Beg Your Pardon, America.” We beg your pardon because the pardon you gave this time was not yours to give
[Verse 1: Gil Scott-Heron]
They call it “due process” and some people are overdue
We beg your pardon, America
Somebody said, “Brotherman gonna break a window, gonna steal a hubcap, gonna smoke a joint, a brotherman gonna go to jail”
The man who tried to steal America is not in jail
“Get caught with a nickel bag, brotherman. Get caught with a nickel bag,” sisterlady on your way to get your hair fixed
“You'll do Big Ben, and Big Ben is time”
But a man who tried to fix America will not do time
[Verse 2: Gil Scott-Heron]
Said they're gonna slap his wrists, gonna retire him with 850 thousand dollars
And America was “shocked”
America leads the world in shocks
Unfortunately, America does not lead the world in deciphering the cause of shock
“850 thousand dollars,” they said, and the people protested, so they said, “Alright, we'll give him 200 thousand dollars”
Everybody said, “OK, that's better”
I'd like to retire with 200 thousand dollars someday
San Quentin, not San Clemente
Do not pass go, go directly to jail, do not collect 200 thousand dollars
[Verse 3: Gil Scott-Heron]
We beg your pardon, America
We beg your pardon because, somehow, the pardon did not sit correctly
What were the, what were the causes for this pardon?
Well now, they had “flea bite us”
Rats bite us—no pardon in the ghetto
They had national security, but do you feel secure with the man who tried to steal America back on the streets again?
What are the results of this pardon, though? Because, remember, when there's causes, there's results, and the results is always deeper still
We now have Oatmeal Man
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