Lyrics Gil Scott-Heron

Gil Scott-Heron

Racetrack In France

I heard I needed to travel.

"Go out and spread the word" people say.

So I'm kickin' up dust and gravel

on a racetrack near Marseilles.

If it all sounds like a mystery

things that you just don't understand

let me give you a little bit of history

about me and the Midnight Band:

On a racetrack in France

everybody started clapping their hands.

It seemed like a long way fron Union Station.

On a racetrack in France

everybody started to dance.

I was a long way from home but those were good vibrations.

Me and the bothers no parlez-vous.

French was way down on my list.

(But) the Africans said "Merci beaucoup!"

'cause the rhythm's what they missed.

The people got the message

from the music that we play.

It really shouldn't a been no surprise

that we all got down that day:

On a racetrack in France

everybody got to clapping their hands.

It seemed like a long way from Union Station.

On a racetrack in France

Everybody started to dance.

I was a long way from home but those were good vibrations.