Credits
PERFORMING ARTISTS
Esther Phillips
Vocals
Joshie Armstead
Vocals
Hilda Harris
Vocals
Barbara Massey
Vocals
Pee Wee Ellis
Conductor
Louis St. Louis
Vocals
Tasha Thomas
Vocals
Cornell Dupree
Guitar
Eric Gale
Guitar
Airto Moriera
Percussion
Bernard Purdie
Drums
Richard Tee
Piano
Max Hollander
Violin
Leo Kahn
Violin
Charles Libove
Violin
Guy Lumia
Violin
Max Pollikoff
Violin
Alvin Rogers
Violin
Paul Winter
Violin
Jack Zayde
Violin
Gordon Edwards
Bass
Charles McCracken
Cello
Alan Shulman
Cello
Margaret Ross
Harp
Dave Liebman
Flute
Hank Crawford
Alto Saxophone
John Gatchell
Trumpet
John Eckert
Trumpet
Sam Burtis
Trombone
Dick Griffin
Trombone
Michael Comins
Violin
Frank Vicari
Tenor Saxophone
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
G. Scott-Heron
Composer
Pee Wee Ellis
Arranger
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Creed Taylor
Producer
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
A junkie walking through the twilight
I'm on my way home
I left three days ago
But no one seems to know I'm gone
Home is where the hatred is
Home is filled with pain
And it might not be such a bad idea if I never
Never went home again
[Chorus]
Stand as far away from me as you can and ask me why
Hang on to your rosary beads
Close your eyes and watch me die
You keep sayin, "Kick it, quit it"
Lord, but did you ever try
To turn your sick soul inside out
So that the world, so that the world can watch you die?
[Instrumental]
Home is where I live inside white powder dreams
Home was once an empty vacuum that's filled now with my silent screams
Home is where the needle marks
Try to heal my broken heart
It might not be such a bad idea if I never
Never went home again
[Chorus]
Stand as far away from me as you can and ask me why
Hang on to your rosary beads
Close your eyes and watch me die
You keep sayin, "Kick it, quit it"
Lord, but did you ever try
To turn your sick soul inside out
So that the world, so that the world can watch you die?
[Outro]
Can watch you die
Watch you die
Watch you die
You say, "Kick it"
You keep sayin', "Quit it"
Did you ever try?
Ooh-ooh
Turn your sick soul inside out
So the world can watch you die
Written by: Gil Scott-Heron