What's The Word?

I watched The Wilby Conspiracy (1975), an action movie with a message set in Apartheid South Africa, staring Sidney Poitier and Michael Caine this afternoon. As I began watching a song I haven't thought about in a long time popped into my head, Gil Scott-Heron's 1976 protest song Johannesburg. This song was released at a time in history (before the Internet.) when government officials could keep information about its own people's struggle to end a centuries old political system that was both racist and oppressive from the rest of the world.




Gil Scott-Heron

Hey!
Said, what's the word?
Tell me, brother, have you heard
From Johannesburg?

Tell me, what's the word?
Sister, woman, have you heard
From Johannesburg?

They tell me that our brothers over there are defyin' the Man
And we don't know for sure because the news we get is unreliable, man
Yes, I, I hate it when the blood starts flowin'
But I'm glad to see resistance growin'

Somebody tell me, what's the word?
Tell me, brother, have you heard
From Johannesburg?

What's the word?
Tell me, woman, have you heard
About Johannesburg?

They tell me that our brothers over there refuse to work in the mines
They may not get the news but they need to know we're on their side
Yeah, now, sometimes distance brings misunderstanding
Amen, deep in my heart I'm demanding

Somebody tell me, what's the word?
Tell me brother, have you heard
From Johannesburg?

I know that something's happening

Tell me what's the word?
Sister, woman have you heard
About Johannesburg?

And I know that their strugglin' over there, that ain't gonna free me
Yeah, but we all got to be strugglin' and if we're wanna be free
And don't you wanna be free, free?

Somebody hear!

We ought to come together

They tell me that our brothers over there refuse to work in the mines
They, may not get the news but they need to know we're on their side
Yes, I, I hate it when the blood starts flowin'
But I'm glad to see resistance growin'

Somebody tell me, what's the word?
(Johannesburg!)
So, what's the word?
(Johannesburg!)
So, what's the word?
(Johannesburg!)
So, what's the word?
(Johannesburg!)
Get from the drum
(Johannesburg!)
Say, haven't you hear?
(Johannesburg!)
You got to get one
(Johannesburg!)
Somebody, tell me what's happening
In Johannesburg

LA's like Johannesburg
New York like Johannesburg
Freedom's ain't nothing but a word
Ain't nothing

Said, what's the word?
(Johannesburg!)
So, what's the word?
(Johannesburg!)
Say, haven't you heard?
(Johannesburg!)
Somebody tell me what's happening
In Johannesburg

(Garbled)like Johannesburg
Detroit's like Johannesburg
Freedom ain't nothing but a word
Ain't nothing but a word

Let me see your ID
Let me see your ID
To prove that you...