Page type: lyric reference
Artist: Gil Scott-Heron
Canonical path: /gil-scott-heron/the-prisoner
Related lyric paths: 6
Lyric guide
The Prisoner
Read The Prisoner lyrics by Gil Scott-Heron on LyroVerse, with linked artist context and related song paths.
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Lyrics
The Prisoner
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Here I am, after so many years
Hounded by hatred and trapped by fear
I'm in a box, I've got no place to go
If I follow my mind, I know I'll slaughter my own.
Help me I'm the prisoner, won't you hear my plea
I need somebody, yeah, to listen to me
I beg you, brothers and sisters, I'm counting on you (yeah).
Black babies in the womb are shackled and bound
Chained by the caveman who keeps beauty down
Smacked on the ass when they're squalling and wet
Heir to a spineless man who never forgets
Never forgets that he's a prisoner, can't you hear my plea
Cause I need somebody, Lord knows, to listen to me
I'm a stranger to my son who wonders why his daddy runs.
On my way to work in the morning when I don't give a damn
Can't nobody, can't nobody, can't nobody, can't nobody see just who in hell I am
Hemmed in by a suit, yes all choked up in a tie
Ain't no wonder some times near morning I hear my woman cry
She knows her man is a prisoner, won't you hear my plea
Yeah, cause I need somebody, wooo, to listen to me
My woman she don't say but she hates to see her man chained this way
Yeah, help me, I'm the prisoner
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm the prisoner
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Who performs "The Prisoner"?
Gil Scott-Heron performs "The Prisoner", and this lyric page sits inside the Gil Scott-Heron catalog on LyroVerse.
Are there related songs to explore after "The Prisoner"?
Yes. The related section below points to B Movie and Did You Hear What They Said? with a short reason for opening each page next.
Where can I find more songs by Gil Scott-Heron?
Use the artist link near the top of the page or the related paths section below to keep moving through Gil Scott-Heron's lyric pages.
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