[Verse 1: Gil Scott-Heron]
From the Indians who welcomed the pilgrims
Yes, and to the buffalos that once ruled the plain
Like the vultures circling beneath the dark clouds
Looking for the rain
Well, they’d been looking for the rain

[Verse 2: Gil Scott-Heron]
Just like cities staggered on the coastline
Living in a nation that just can't stand much more
Like the forest they buried beneath the highway
That never had a chance to grow
Well, it never had a chance to grow

[Verse 3: Gil Scott-Heron]
And now it's winter
It’s winter in America
It’s a time when all of the healers done been killed
Or been betrayed, yes
People know, the people know
It's winter
It’s winter in America
The truth is there ain't nobody fighting
Because, well, nobody knows what to save
Brother, save your soul
Winter in America
[Verse 4: Gil Scott-Heron]
And the Constitution was a noble piece of paper
And would free society—well, it struggled but then died in vain
And now Democracy is ragtime on the corner, unemployed
Hoping that it rains
Well, it’d been hoping hoping for some rain

[Verse 5: Gil Scott-Heron]
And I see the robins perched in barren treetops
They’re watching last-ditch racists marching across the floor
And like the peace signs that vanished in our dreams, and it
Never had a chance to grow
Well, it never had a chance to grow

[Verse 6: Gil Scott-Heron]
If somebody want to know, tell them it’s winter
It feel like winter in America
It’s a time when all of the healers, people who could help us, done been
Killed. They’d been betrayed, yes
People know there’s something wrong
Feels just like winter
It’s winter in America
The truth is there ain't nobody fighting
Because, well, nobody knows what to save
Sisters, save our babies
From winter in America
Say it
[Verse 7: Gil Scott-Heron]
And now it's winter
It feel like winter in America
Yes, a time when all of the healers, brothers who could help us, done been
Killed. They put ‘em in jails, yeah
People know there’s something wrong, and everybody ought to know
Winter. It seemed like
Winter in America
The truth is there ain't nobody fighting
Because, well, nobody knows what to save
The truth is there ain't nobody fighting
Because, well, nobody knows, nobody knows
What to do, what to do
Truth is there ain't nobody fighting
Because nobody knows what to save