Johannesburg Songtext
von Gil Scott‐Heron

What′re you doin' here?
And that′s how it went on
Everybody know their part in Johannesburg?
Does everybody know their part? I want
We gotta get one up right tonight, now
When we say, "What's the word?"
We want to hear everybody
We want to hear everybody

Today, today for those of you who don't know
Nelson Mandela was moved into a hospital
He′s not been feeling well lately
Well, we′re hoping that the international community
Will make its feelings known


I mean, in some fashion, write to your senator
Write to your night, your day, whoever the fuck it is
I mean write to somebody, say something to someone
It's very important that we stand somewhere on this
We say, let the brother go
Let the brother go
Let the brother go

I′m saying the brother
I'm saying
Come out here, let′s go over here
One, two, and you know what to do

Go in all the way, hey

I said what's the word?
Tell me woman, have you heard
From Johannesburg? Come on now, listen
Somebody said, what′s the word?
Tell me woman, have you heard
From Johannesburg?

They tell me that our brothers over there
Are defyin' the man
And we don't know for sure
Because the news we get is unreliable, man

Yes I, I hate it when the blood starts flowin′
But I′m glad to see resistance growin', say


What′s the word?
Tell me woman, have you heard
From Johannesburg?
Somebody said what's the word?
Tell me brother, have you heard
From Johannesburg?

They tell me that our brothers over there
Refuse to work in the mines sometimes
And we don′t know for sure
Because the news week on their side, sometimes

Yes I, I hate it when the blood starts flowin'
But I′m glad to see resistance growin'

Somebody say what's the word?
Tell me woman, have you heard
From Johannesburg?
Somebody say what′s the word?
Tell me brother, have you heard
′Bout Johannesburg?

I know that they're strugglin′ over there
It ain't gonna free me
Yeah but we′ve all got to be strugglin'
If we wanna be free
We all want it, son

We′ve got to come together

Coming round the corner

They tell me that our brothers over there
Refuse to work in the mines, sometimes
They may not get the news but they need to know
We're on their side

Yes I, I hate it when the blood starts flowin'
But I′m glad to see resistance growin′

Somebody said what's the word?
What′s the word?
Say what's the word?
Say what′s the word? (Johannesburg)

Say what's the word? (Johannesburg)
Say what′s the word? (Johannesburg)
Say what's the word? (Johannesburg)
Will somebody tell me what's happening in Johannesburg?

London like Johannesburg
L.A. like Johannesburg
Feel there ain′t nothing, ain′t nothing else to say
What's the word?
What′s the word?
What's the word?

Somebody there gotta
Johannesburg, sing like Johannesburg
L.A. like Johannesburg
Say, say, say

Feel there ain′t nothing, ain't nothing, ain′t nothing but a word, sing it
Feel it ain't real, it ain't real, it ain′t nothing but a word, sing
Let me see your ID
Let me see your ID
Let me see your ID
Who are you instead of me?

Johannesburg
I feel there ain′t nothing but a word, ain't nothing but a word
Ain′t nothing but a word
It ain't nothing but a word, sing
Johannesburg, talkin′ 'bout Johannesburg

What′s the word y'all?
What's the word?
What′s the word?
What′s the word?
Let the brother go

Thank you very much everybody
What's the word?
Say, say, somebody do something
Everybody do something, say something
Say something, feels alright
Feels alright, feels alright