“The Revolution Will Not Be Televised,” released in 1971, is one of Gil Scott-Heron’s most influential and enduring works. With its sharp social commentary and spoken-word delivery over a jazzy groove, the song became a defining anthem for the Black Power movement and a powerful critique of mainstream media’s failure to capture the real struggles for social justice. This revolutionary piece of art blends poetry, politics, and music, making it a cornerstone of both the civil rights and hip-hop movements.

About The Song

• Lyrics Interpretation: “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” critiques the media’s portrayal of social and political upheavals, particularly the fight for civil rights in America. Scott-Heron’s lyrics suggest that real change won’t be packaged neatly for consumption through television or commercial platforms. The revolution, according to Scott-Heron, must happen within the streets, within communities, and within individuals—outside of corporate control. The line “The revolution will not be televised” has since become an iconic phrase that signifies that deep, systemic change cannot be commodified or marketed.
• Cultural Impact: “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” became an anthem for the Black Power movement, symbolizing the fight for racial justice, equality, and self-determination. The song resonated with those frustrated by the mainstream media’s superficial coverage of the civil rights struggles, calling attention to the real issues that were being ignored or downplayed. Over the decades, the song has continued to inspire social movements and protests around the world, making it a timeless critique of media’s role in shaping public perception of activism and revolution.
• Song Legacy: Widely regarded as one of the most important protest songs of all time, “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” helped pave the way for politically charged music, particularly in the hip-hop genre. Gil Scott-Heron’s influence can be seen in the work of countless artists, from Public Enemy to Kendrick Lamar, who continue to use their music as a platform for social commentary. The song’s powerful message has made it a lasting symbol of resistance and activism, with its influence felt far beyond music, shaping conversations about media, politics, and justice.
• Songwriting Inspiration: Gil Scott-Heron was inspired by the growing disillusionment with the American political system and the media’s sanitized coverage of social issues during the late 1960s and early 1970s. The song’s title plays on the idea that true revolution happens beyond the reach of television and mainstream media, in the grassroots movements and actions of ordinary people. Scott-Heron’s keen observation of these dynamics led him to craft a piece that remains as relevant today as it was when it was first released.
• Musical Composition: “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” features a minimalistic yet compelling musical arrangement, combining jazz, funk, and spoken-word poetry. Scott-Heron’s deep, commanding voice delivers the message with precision, while the jazzy instrumentation complements the rhythm of his delivery. This fusion of music and spoken word was groundbreaking, blending the influences of jazz, soul, and early hip-hop, and it set a precedent for the use of music as a medium for direct political commentary.

“The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” stands as a seminal work in both music and social activism, serving as a powerful reminder that real change begins from the ground up. Gil Scott-Heron’s sharp critique of media and his timeless message continue to inspire and resonate with those fighting for justice and equality across generations.

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Lyric

You will not be able to stay home, brother
You will not be able to plug in, turn on and cop out
You will not be able to lose yourself on skag
And skip out for beer during commercials, because
The revolution will not be televised
The revolution will not be televised
The revolution will not be brought to you
By Xerox in four parts without commercial interruptions
The revolution will not show you pictures of Nixon blowing a bugle
And leading a charge by John Mitchell, General Abrams, and Spiro Agnew
To eat hog maws confiscated from a Harlem sanctuary
The revolution will not be televised
The revolution will not be brought to you by the Schaefer Award Theatre
And will not star Natalie Woods and Steve McQueen or Bullwinkle and Julia
The revolution will not give your mouth sex appeal
The revolution will not get rid of the nubs
The revolution will not make you look five pounds thinner, because
The revolution will not be televised, brother
There will be no pictures of you and Willie Mae
Pushing that shopping cart down the block on the dead run
Or trying to slide that color TV into a stolen ambulance
NBC will not be able predict the winner
At 8:32 on report from twenty-nine districts
The revolution will not be televised
There will be no pictures of pigs shooting down brothers on the instant replay
There will be no pictures of pigs shooting down brothers on the instant replay
There will be no pictures of Whitney Young
Being run out of Harlem on a rail with a brand new process
There will be no slow motion or still lifes of Roy Wilkins
Strolling through Watts in a red, black, and green liberation jumpsuit
That he has been saving for just the proper occasion
Green Acres, Beverly Hillbillies, and Hooterville Junction
Will no longer be so damn relevant
And women will not care if Dick finally got down with Jane
On Search for Tomorrow
Because black people will be in the street looking for a brighter day
The revolution will not be televised
There will be no highlights on the eleven o’clock news
And no pictures of hairy armed women liberationists
And Jackie Onassis blowing her nose
The theme song will not be written by Jim Webb or Francis Scott Keys
Nor sung by Glen Campbell, Tom Jones, Johnny Cash
Engelbert Humperdinck, or The Rare Earth
The revolution will not be televised
The revolution will not be right back
After a message about a white tornado
White lightning, or white people
You will not have to worry about a dove in your bedroom
The tiger in your tank, or the giant in your toilet bowl
The revolution will not go better with Coke
The revolution will not fight germs that may cause bad breath
The revolution will put you in the driver’s seat
The revolution will not be televised
Will not be televised
Will not be televised
Will not be televised
The revolution will be no re-run, brothers
The revolution will be live