"Possum Slim" lyrics - GIL SCOTT-HERON

Heard me a story about this brother
Heard he was more than a hundred years old
Beat up and robbed by friends of his, or so he thought
Which proves this world can still be cold

But even old, bent Florida sunshine trees
Stand a little bit taller today
And you can hear the whisper from the seaside breeze
This is what they say
Possum Slim
Don't you mess with him.

Yeah the brother took all he could
This story don't prove that he ain't no good
Possum Slim (my man)
Don't you mess with him

Brother said he been robbed so many times
I reckon he just couldn't take it no more
Took a five dollar bill downtown
With a bottle of gin
Birthday party for a woman he knows
(Knows her well)

But now they got Slim in a Florida jail
Just waitin to go on trial
Sun known Slim for a hundred years
The sun can't help but smile
Possum Slim is alright with me
Don't you mess with him

(Got to understand)
The brother took all he could
This story don't prove that he ain't no good
Possum Slim (my man)
And I don't want you to mess with him
(Feel the spirit moving)

Yeah the brother took all he could
This story don't prove that he ain't no good
Possum Slim (Oh the people power)
Don't you mess with him

I heard me a story about this brother
(At the time) one hundred and five years old (Done time)
Beat up and robbed by friends of his
Which proves this world can still be cold

Yeah but now they got Slim in a Florida jail
Waitin to go on trial
The sun known Slim for a hundred years
The sun can't help but smile
Possum Slim is alright with me
So don't you mess with him

My man, my man, my man
Don't you mess with my man
My man, my man, my man, my man
Don't you mess with my man
Oh people power, people power
Is the thing for the day
Oh people power, people power
Possum Slim is leadin the way
Possum Slim
Don't you mess with him