Gil Scott-Heron — Not Needed

[Verse 1] He had had two cups of coffee Two cups more than he was allowed But he never been one to take advice And no sense in starting now Light up a cigarette, sit down Turn on the radio You can't be in no hurry 'cause There ain't no place to go They could call this a retirement They could call the wall the floor But they always call collect When you're not needed anymore [Chorus] When you're not needed Things ain't like they were before When you're not needed You're not needed anymore When you're not needed Hard to say just what's in store When you're not needed You're not needed anymore [Verse 2] Spent a thousand frozen midnights Headed north on slow freight trains Drinkin' brandy from a thermos When the boss could not complain Check the mornin' papers See what's runnin' at the track Your sister called two nights ago And you swore you'd call her back Your day just seems to close in Like a room that's got no doors When the plain and simple truth is You're not needed anymore [Chorus] When you're not needed Things ain't like they were before When you're not needed When you're not needed anymore When you're not needed Hard to say just what's in store When you're not needed When you're not needed anymore [Verse 3] There was no use being bitter It was over with and done And if the struggle was to finish He supposed that he had won But it seems that when you slow down Things can catch up with you then Get the rest you always needed And you feel the rust set in The only thing worse than being old Is being old and poor 'Cause they'll use you and discard you When you're not needed anymore [Chorus] When you're not needed Things ain't like they were before When you're not needed You're not needed anymore When you're not needed Hard to say just what's in store When you're not needed You're not needed anymore When you're not needed Things ain't like they were before When you're not needed You're not needed anymore When you're not needed Things ain't like they were before When you're not needed When you're not needed anymore When you're not needed Hard to say just what's in store When you're not needed When you're not needed anymore