Whitey On The Moon

Gil Scott-Heron's poem and song "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" is an instant classic -- an anthem for the turbulent '70s -- and in many ways is even more relevant today. The man's written some fantastically funky social commentary. But when I listen to this one ...



... I can't help thinking of the song Garret Morris performed for Saturday Night Live on January 24, 1976. Dressed as a convict appearing in front of the parole board, Morris breaks out this tune:

I'm gonna get me a shotgun and kill all the whities I see,
I'm gonna get me a shotgun and kill all the whities I see.
When I kill all the whities I see, then whitey he won't bother me,
I'm gonna get me a shotgun and kill all the whities I see.

Then I'll get a white woman who's wearing a navy blue sweater.

Damn the persistence of memory.