[Chorus: Gil Scott-Heron]
On a racetrack in France, everybody got to clapping their hands
Seemed like a long way from Union Station
On a racetrack in France, everybody started to dance
I was a long way from home with those good vibrations
Hey!

[Interlude 1: Gil Scott-Heron]
Moving nice and easy

[Verse 1: Gil Scott-Heron]
Heard I needed to travel
"Go out and spread the word now," people say
Yeah, so I'm kicking up dust and gravel
On a racetrack near Marseilles
If it all sound like a mystery
Things that you just don't understand
Well, let me give you a little bit of history
About me and the Midnight Band

[Chorus: Gil Scott-Heron]
On a racetrack in France, everybody got to clapping their hands
It seemed like a long way from Union Station
On a racetrack in France, everybody started to dance
I was a long way from home with those good vibrations
I said, “Hey!”
[Interlude 2: Gil Scott-Heron]
Très Bien
My chérie d'amour, comment ça va?
No

[Verse 2: Gil Scott-Heron]
Me and them bothers no parlez-vous
French was way down on my list
The Africans said, "Merci beaucoup"
Because the rhythm's what they missed
People got the message
From the music that we play
It really shouldn't have been no surprise
That we all got down that day

[Chorus: Gil Scott-Heron]
On a racetrack in France, everybody got to clapping their hands
Seemed like a long way from Union Station
On a racetrack in France, everybody started to dance
I was a long way from home with those good vibrations
I said, “Hey!”

[Verse 3: Gil Scott-Heron]
Yeah, I heard I needed to travel
"Well, go out and spread the word now," people say
Got me kicking up dust and gravel
On a racetrack near Marseilles
If it all sound like a mystery
Things that you just don't understand
Let me give you a little bit of history
I’m talking ‘bout me and the Midnight Band
[Chorus: Gil Scott-Heron]
On a racetrack in France, everybody got to clapping their hands
It seemed like a long way from Union Station where I’m coming from
On a racetrack in France, everybody started to dance
I was a long way from home and good vibration love
On a racetrack in France, everybody started clapping their hands
Seemed like a long way, a long way, a long way
On a racetrack in France, everybody started to dance
I was a long way from home and good vibration
Made me say, “Hey!”