Back Stabbers
O'Jays Lyrics
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(They smile in your face)
All the time they want to take your place
The back stabbers (back stabbers)
(They smile in your face)
All the time they want to take your place
The back stabbers (back stabbers)
All you fellows who have someone and you really care, yeah, yeah
Somebody's out to get your lady
A few of your buddies they sure look shady
Blades are long, clenched tight in their fist
Aimin' straight at your back
And I don't think they'll miss
(What they do)
(They smile in your face)
All the time they want to take your place
The back stabbers (back stabbers)
I keep gettin' all these visits from my friends, yeah, what they doin' to me
They come to my house again and again and again and again, yeah
So are they there to see my woman
I don't even be home but they just keep on comin'
What can I do to get on the right track
I wish they'd take some of these knives off my back
(What they do)
(They smile in your face)
All the time they want to take your place
The back stabbers (back stabbers)
Low down dirty
(What they do)
(They smile in your face)
Smiling faces smiling faces sometimes tell lies (back stabbers)
(They smile in your face)
I don't need low down, dirty bastards (back stabbers)
The O'Jays' hit song "Back Stabbers" is a cautionary tale about those who smile in your face while aiming to take you down. The lyrics warn of false friends who are out to get your lady and take your place. The backstabbers smile in your face, but all the while, they are sharpening their blades, ready to strike. They are low down and dirty, with long blades clenched tight in their fists, aimed straight at your back. The singer keeps getting visits from his friends who he suspects are after his woman, even when he isn't home. He wishes they would take the knives off his back and stop their deceitful ways.
The song warns listeners to be aware of the fake friends and allies who pretend to support you while plotting your downfall. The backstabbers may smile in your face, but their true intentions are anything but friendly. The lyrics urge listeners to keep their guard up and watch for those who are out to get them.
Line by Line Meaning
(What they do)
The deceptive people
(They smile in your face)
They present themselves as friendly and trustworthy
All the time they want to take your place
They secretly desire to take what belongs to you
The back stabbers (back stabbers)
Those who betray you from behind
All you fellows who have someone and you really care, yeah, yeah
Those who are in love with someone and hold them dear
Then it's all of you fellows who better beware, yeah yeah
They need to be careful of those who pretend to be friends
Somebody's out to get your lady
Someone wants to steal your beloved
A few of your buddies they sure look shady
Some of your friends are suspicious
Blades are long, clenched tight in their fist
They have hidden knives ready to attack
Aimin' straight at your back
They are planning to harm you from behind
And I don't think they'll miss
They will succeed in their betrayal
(What they do)
The deceptive people
(They smile in your face)
They present themselves as friendly and trustworthy
All the time they want to take your place
They secretly desire to take what belongs to you
The back stabbers (back stabbers)
Those who betray you from behind
I keep gettin' all these visits from my friends, yeah, what they doin' to me
The singer is questioning the motives of his so-called friends who keep visiting him
They come to my house again and again and again and again, yeah
His visitors keep coming over repeatedly
So are they there to see my woman
The singer suspects that his visitors are interested in his wife or girlfriend
I don't even be home but they just keep on comin'
They show up when the singer is not even home
What can I do to get on the right track
The singer wants to know what he can do to prevent his supposed friends from betraying him
I wish they'd take some of these knives off my back
He wants his backstabbers to stop hurting him
(What they do)
The deceptive people
(They smile in your face)
They present themselves as friendly and trustworthy
All the time they want to take your place
They secretly desire to take what belongs to you
The back stabbers (back stabbers)
Those who betray you from behind
Low down dirty
Despicable and mean-spirited
(What they do)
The deceptive people
(They smile in your face)
They present themselves as friendly and trustworthy
Smiling faces smiling faces sometimes tell lies (back stabbers)
People who smile and act nice can also be deceiving and untrustworthy
(They smile in your face)
They present themselves as friendly and trustworthy
I don't need low down, dirty bastards (back stabbers)
The singer does not want any deceitful and hateful individuals around him
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LEON HUFF, GENE MCFADDEN, JOHN WHITEHEAD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@billbently7778
This song is an absolute GEM!!!! 50 years after this timeless hit, and, unfortunately, Lord knows, we still have too many backstabbers!!!
@earnestinecole4030
"Amen, you and dude up top said that, I'm with you. I've been stabbed all up in my back by all of that!! So called friends, so call family and co workers, NONE OF THEM SPIT WITH IT. But you gotta love them anyway, you gotta keep going!! Life goes on!! Long as I got Jesus, God and the Holy Ghost, Ion give a detn who don't want me!! Life is grrreeeeattt, life is cool!! They will be alright!! You Gon have backstabbers all through out your days and ain't nothing you can do about it!!! I've been stabbed so many times, it don't even hurt no more, it just slightly disappoints and that's it. You gotta keep going cuz in the end you win by staying real,sweet and staying strong!!!!! Life is something else, but it's all cool, it's all worth it!!!!! They Gon answer to God for they inconsistencies?! You can't be stun these folks?! These folks weird!! Just keep on going, keep living!!!! God got SOME REAL,TRUE BLUE FOLKS and friends for you up ahead!!!!! That's in the real, for real!!!!! Strangers,complete strangers,such as myself keep it realler than most family and some friends, even some of your intermediates be weak or lacking with it. I testify!!"
@LuckyLarry33
Sin!
@karlschneider9479
I loved this song from day 1. Thank God for WILD in Boston!
@jamesgossett194
Amen that is for sure
@5274100
People have been backstabbing each other for hundreds of years possibly 1000s of years. You can't trust nobody.
@OfficialTMurdock
I Dedicate This Song To Everyone That Back Stabbed Me, From So Called Friends, So Called Family, So Called Fellow Co Workers.
@nicolemartin1799
💜
@cws6493
I shouldn't respond like this, but I can't help it ...🤣🤣🤣🤣
@truthhurtz8517
💯💯💯💯💯