Gil Scott-Heron
Waiting for the Axe to Fall
[Intro]
Ha!
[Verse 1]
Brother living in a cell
Doing time at the county jail
Now you might think his life is hell (But he told me)
It's the first room he ever had to himself
[Chorus]
Waiting for the axe to fall
And sometimes Lord I think that's all
When your head is on the block
And ain't no way for you to stop
You're waiting for the axe to fall
[Verse 2]
Brother served in Viet Nam
Found out no one gives a damn
See Agent Orange fell on his camp (But there's [?] at stake)
Brother going looking for Uncle Sam
[Chorus]
Waiting for the axe to fall
And sometimes Lord I think that's all
When your head is in the noose
And won't nobody turn you loose
You're waiting for the axe to fall
[Verse 3]
Sister on the welfare line
Examining the threads of her life
She never thought she'd be cheating and lying
To make sure her and her kids survive
It's so much better than
[Chorus]
Waiting for the axe to fall
And sometimes Lord I think that's all
When your head is on the block
And ain't no way for you to stop
You're just waiting for the axe to fall
[Verse 4]
Last night Grandma sho' got shook
'Cause someone grabbed her pocketbook
She ain't safe in the neighborhood
There's too many young 'uns up to no good
They're sick and tired of
[Chorus]
Waiting for the axe to fall
And sometimes Lord I think that's all
When your head is in the noose
And won't nobody turn you loose
You're waiting for the axe to fall
[Post-Chorus]
Seem like waiting
Feels just like waiting
Seem like they're waiting
Everybody's waiting
Seem like they're waiting
Feels like they're waiting
Seem like they're
Seem like they're waiting and waiting and waiting, say
[Chorus]
Waiting for the axe to fall
And sometimes Lord I think that's all
'Cause when your head is on the block
And ain't no way for you to stop
You're waiting for the axe to fall
[Post-Chorus]
It seem like they're waiting
Everybody's waiting
Nervous sadly waiting
Standing around and waiting
Feel like they're waiting
Seem like they're waiting
Seem like they're, seem like they're
Seem like they're, seem like they're [?]
[Chorus]
Waiting for the axe to fall
And sometimes Lord I think that's all
'Cause when your head is in the noose
And won't nobody turn you loose
You're waiting for the axe to fall