Gil-Scott Heron Fans- The song Grandma's Hands on Gil's Reflections CD, is that sung by Bill Withers?

Question

When I went to do some research on it, It came up as a Bill Withers song, but its on Gil-Scott Heron's CD.

For the longest time I thought it was a Gil-Scott song, but a friend told me it was Bill Withers

Answer 1

Bill Withers wrote the song, but Gil-Scott sings it. GS' voice is a lower baritone than Bill's and more gritty. Look it up on allmusic.com - that's my favorite source for music info.

Answer 2

Bill Withers wrote it and released over 25 years ago. Take 6 also does a good version of that song.

Answer 3

Yes, Bill Withers

Answer 4

I'll choose "First in Flight" by Blackalicious, which has Gil Scott-Heron on the chorus. Or for a song that actually samples him, I'll choose "Mr. *****" by Mos Def which samples "A Legend in His Own Mind". Damn, I can't believe he passed at a relatively young age of 62. "The Revolution Will Not be Televised" is seriously one of the greatest songs ever written. R.I.P. to a legend. [2]

Answer 5

Yep - Bill Withers did record it originally; it's one of my favorite Bill Withers songs. (and the guitar hook in the beginning was looped in Blackstreet's No Diggity)
You'll also find it on one of his Best of's or Definitive Collections CD's

Mm-mm-mmmmm
Grandma's hands clapped in church on Sunday mornin
Grandma's hands played the tambourine so well
Grandma's hands used to issue out a warnin
She'd say
Billie don't you run so fast
Might fall on a piece of glass
May be some snakes there in that grass
Grandma's hands

Grandma's hands soothed the local unwed mother
Grandma's hands used to ache sometimes and swell
Grandma's hands used to lift her face and tell her
She'd say
Baby, grandma understands
That you really loved that man
Just put yourself in Jesus' hands
Grandma's hands

Grandma's hands used to give me a piece of candy
Grandma's hands picked me up each time I fell
Grandma's hands, boy, the really came in handy
She'd say
Matty, don't you whip that boy
What you gonna spank him for
He didn't drop no apple core
But I don't have grandma anymore
When I get to heaven I'll look for grandma's hands

mm-mm-mmmmmmmmmm

Answer 6

Bill Withers has been guest vocalist on a handful of jazz efforts, and it's no surprise he helped on this piece as well. After all, he wrote it for his grandmother!

Bill is the lead vocal on Grover Washington Jr's #1 hit "Just The Two Of Us", one of several of Bill's huge smashes. Bill also wrote and performed the original "Lean On Me" (covered by Timex Social Club), "Use Me" (covered by Hootie and The Blowfish), and my personal favorite Ain't No Sunshine (covered by John Waite and many others).

Answer 7

bill withers recorded the original version and did did the vocals for gil-scott heron's remake...

Answer 8

You hear that?/
What Gill Scott was hearin' (Heron)
When I hear Rosa's heroin
Got me hooked on Heroin (CRACK)
Raise the murder rate in DC and Maryland
We invested in that, it's like we got Mary - lynched
And we be hangin' from the same tree ever since
Sometimes i feel that music is the only medicince
so we cook it
cut it
measure it
bag it
sell it
the feds cop it, nowadays they cant tell if
thats that good sh*t, we aint sure man
put the CD on the tongue, yeah thats pure man...

Crack Music

Answer 9

IF U LIKE BILL-- CHECK OUT
AIN`T NO SUNSHINE WHEN SHE`S GON````