Song Of The Day: Gil Scott-Heron “Shut ‘Um Down”

“Shut ‘Um Down” is a 1980 protest song against nuclear energy by the powerful songwriter and ‘godfather of rap’ Gil Scott-Heron. He takes the listener on the funkiest possible journey through the dangers of placing the world in the hands of inevitable human error. “Shut ‘Um Down” is a highlight from what is essentially Gil Scott-Heron and partner Brian Jackson’s farewell to the 1970s, the appropriately-titled 1980 album.

Did you feel that rumble? Did you hear that sound,
Well It wasn’t no earthquake but it shook the ground,
Made me think about power like it or not,
Got to work for Earth for what it’s worth,
‘Cause it’s the only Earth we’ve got,

Shut ‘em down
if that’s the only way to keep them from melting down,
Shut ‘em down
if that’s the only way to keep them from melting down,

I heard a lot about safety and human error,
A few dials and gauges is just a wing and a prayer,
If you need perfection and that’s what it takes,
Then you don’t need people, can’t use people,
You know people make mistakes

Song Of The Day: Gil Scott-Heron “Shut ‘Um Down”