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Evolution (And Flashback) Lyrics by Gil Scott-Heron

Small Talk at 125th and Lenox

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We'd like to do a thing that was written down on this sheet of paper
That I didn't go in to
It's called "Evolution"
And in the middle of it, in this poem called "Evolution"
We're going to interject something called "Flashback"

Yeah
In 1600 I was a darkie
Until 1865 a slave
In 1900 I was a nigger
Or at least that was my name
In 1960 I was a negro
And then brother Malcolm came along
And then some nigger shot Malcolm down
But the bitter truth lives on

Martin is dead
With Martin as our leader
We prayed and marched
And marched and prayed
Things were changing
Things were getting better
But things were not together

With Malcolm as our leader
We learned and thought
And thought we had learned
Things were better
Things were changing
But things were not together

And now it is your turn
We're tired of praying and marching and thinking and learning
Brothers wanna start cutting and shooting and stealing and burning
You are 300 years ahead in equality
But next summer may be to late to look back

In 1600 I was a darkie
And until 1865 a slave
In 1900 I was a nigger
Or at least that was my name
In 1960 I was a negro
And then Malcolm came along
Yes, but some nigger shot Malcolm down
Though the bitter truth lives on
Well now I am a black man
And though I still go second-class
Whereas once I wanted the white man's love
Now he can kiss my ass

[Laughing]

About “Evolution (And Flashback)” by Gil Scott-Heron

Read the complete lyrics to "Evolution (And Flashback)" by Gil Scott-Heron from the album "Small Talk at 125th and Lenox". On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Non-Music, Literature.

"Evolution (And Flashback)" is performed by Gil Scott-Heron. from the album "Small Talk at 125th and Lenox" This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Evolution (And Flashback)", explore more songs by Gil Scott-Heron using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"Evolution (And Flashback)" is credited to Gil Scott-Heron. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"Evolution (And Flashback)" appears on "Small Talk at 125th and Lenox".

Visit the Gil Scott-Heron artist page at /artist/gil-scott-heron for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.


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