Waiting for the Axe to Fall Songtext
von Gil Scott‐Heron

Brother livin′ in a cell
Doin' 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

Waitin' for the axe to fall
And sometimes Lord I think that's all
When your head is on a block
And ain′t no way for you to stop
You′re waitin' for the axe to fall

Brother served in Vietnam
Found out no one gives a damn
Agent Orange fell on his camp
Rather go there looking for Uncle Sam

Waitin′ for the axe to fall
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


Sister on the welfare line
Examining the threads of her life
She never thought she′d be cheatin' and lyin'
Make sure her and the kids survive (it′s so much better than)

Waitin′ 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 dive
You're waitin′ for the axe to fall

Last night grandma sure got shook
'Cause someone grabbed her pocketbook
Now she ain′t safe in the neighborhood
'Cause too many youngin's up to no good (they′re sick and tired)

Waitin′ 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 waitin′ for the axe to fall


Seems like we're waiting
Feel just like waiting
Seems like they′re waiting
Everybody's waiting
Seems like they're waiting
Feels like they′re waiting
Feel like they′re, seems like they're waiting
And waiting and waiting, say

Waitin′ 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 waitin' for the axe to fall

Seems like we're waiting
Everybody′s waiting
Nervous and they′re waiting
Standing 'round and waiting
Feel like they′re waiting
Seems like they're waiting
Seems like they′re, seems like they're, seems like they′re
Seems like they're, I said

Waitin' 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 waitin' for the axe to fall