Brothers Sly Stone and singer/guitarist Freddie Stone combined their bands (Sly & the Stoners and Freddie & the Stone Souls) at the end of 1966. Sly and Freddie Stone, trumpeter Cynthia Robinson, drummer Gregg Errico, saxophonist Jerry Martini, and bassist Larry Graham completed the original lineup; Sly and Freddie's sister, singer/keyboardist Rose Stone, joined within a year. This collective recorded five Top 10 hits and four groundbreaking albums, which greatly influenced the sound of American pop music, soul, R&B, funk, and hip hop music. In the preface of his 1998 book For the Record: Sly and the Family Stone: An Oral History, Joel Selvin sums up the importance of Sly & the Family Stone's influence on African American music by stating "there are two types of black music: black music before Sly Stone, and black music after Sly Stone". The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.
During the early 1970s, the band switched to a grittier funk sound, which was as influential on the music industry as their earlier work. The band began to fall apart during this period because of drug abuse and ego clashes; consequently, the fortunes and reliability of the band deteriorated, leading to its dissolution in 1975. Sly Stone continued to record albums and tour with a new rotating lineup under the "Sly & the Family Stone" name from 1975 to 1983. In 1987, Sly Stone was arrested and sentenced for cocaine use, after which he went into effective retirement.
Cynthia Robinson - January 12, 1944 – November 23, 2015
Family Affair
Sly & The Family Stone Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's a family affair
It's a family affair
It's a family affair
One child grows up to be
Somebody that just loves to learn
And another child grows up to be
Mom loves the both of them
You see, it's in the blood
Both kids are good to mom
Blood's thicker than the mud
It's a family affair
It's a family affair
It's a family affair
It's a family affair
Over there, over there
Newlywed a year ago
But you're still checking each other out, hey
Nobody wants to blow
Nobody wants to be left out, uh huh
You can't leave, 'cause your heart is there
But, sure, you can't stay, 'cause you been somewhere else
You can't cry 'cause you'll look broke down
But you're cryin' anyway 'cause you're all broke down
It's a family affair
It's a family affair
It's a family affair
It's a family affair
Oh, hey, a family affair
It's a family affair
It's a family affair
It's a family affair (oh)
It's a family affair
It's a family affair
It's a family affair
It's a family affair
It's a family affair
It's a family affair
Sly & The Family Stone's "Family Affair" is a song about the complexities of family relationships. It explores the idea that family is both a source of love and support as well as a source of conflict and tension. The repeated refrain of "It's a family affair" emphasizes the idea that no matter what happens, family is always there.
The first verse describes two siblings who have grown up to be very different people. One "just loves to learn" while the other is "somebody you'd just love to burn." Despite these differences, their mother still loves them both equally. The second verse shifts the focus to a newlywed couple who are still figuring out how to navigate their relationship. The lyrics suggest that while they are committed to each other, they are also struggling to reconcile their past experiences with their present situation.
Overall, the song suggests that no matter what challenges families may face, they are still a source of strength and support. It also acknowledges that families are complex and that relationships within them can be difficult to navigate at times.
Line by Line Meaning
It's a family affair
The situation is all about family dynamics.
One child grows up to be
Somebody that just loves to learn
One child grows up to become an academic and loves to learn.
And another child grows up to be
Somebody you'd just love to burn
Another child grows to be hateful to someone else in the family.
Mom loves the both of them
You see, it's in the blood
Both kids are good to mom
Blood's thicker than the mud
Mom loves both children equally, because she sees herself in each of them. Despite disagreements, they remain loyal to each other because family ties are stronger than anything else.
Over there, over there
This line seems to be a random interjection, perhaps meant to signal a change in focus or mood.
Newlywed a year ago
But you're still checking each other out, hey
Nobody wants to blow
Nobody wants to be left out, uh huh
You can't leave, 'cause your heart is there
But, sure, you can't stay, 'cause you been somewhere else
You can't cry 'cause you'll look broke down
But you're cryin' anyway 'cause you're all broke down
A newlywed couple is still feeling out their relationship, trying not to make any mistakes, and stay together even though they may have previous emotional attachments elsewhere.
It's a family affair
It's a family affair
It's a family affair
It's a family affair
Oh, hey, a family affair
It's a family affair
It's a family affair
It's a family affair
The song repeats that this is all about family dynamics.
It's a family affair (oh)
It's a family affair
It's a family affair
It's a family affair
It's a family affair
A final repetition to drive the theme of the song home.
Lyrics © Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Sylvester Stewart
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@smokinjz
It's a family affair, it's a family affair
It's a family affair, it's a family affair
One child grows up to be
Somebody that just loves to learn
And another child grows up to be
Somebody you'd just love to burn
Mom loves the both of them
You see it's in the blood
Both kids are good to Mom
Blood's thicker than mud
It's a family affair, it's a family affair
Newlywed a year ago
But you're still checking each other out
Nobody wants to blow
Nobody wants to be left out
You can't leave, 'cause your heart is there
But you can't stay, 'cause you been somewhere else!
You can't cry, 'cause you'll look broke down
But you're cryin' anyway 'cause you're all broke down!
It's a family affair
It's a family affair
It's a family affair, it's a family affair
It's a family affair, it's a family affair
One child grows up to be
Somebody that just loves to learn
And another child grows up to be
Somebody you'd just love to burn
Mom loves the both of them
You see it's in the blood
Both kids are good to Mom
Blood's thicker than mud
It's a family affair, it's a family affair
It's a family affair
It's a family affair
@Pride317
Lyrics
[Chorus]
It's a family affair
It's a family affair
It's a family affair
It's a family affair
[Verse 1]
One child grows up to be
Somebody that just loves to learn
And another child grows up to be
Somebody you'd just love to burn
[Verse 2]
Mom loves the both of them
You see, it's in the blood
Both kids are good to mom
Blood's thicker than the mud
[Chorus]
It's a family affair
It's a family affair
It's a family affair
It's a family affair
Over there, over there
[Verse 3]
Newlywed a year ago
But you're still checking each other out, hey
Nobody wants to blow
Nobody wants to be left out, uh-huh
[Verse 4]
You can't leave cause your heart is there
But, sure, you can't stay cause you been somewhere else
You can't cry cause you'll look broke down
But you're crying anyway cause you're all broke down
[Chorus]
It's a family affair
It's a family affair
It's a family affair
It's a family affair
Oh, hey, a family affair
It's a family affair
@deeneveu2384
This Song can never get old
@kevinlong5392
NO
@MrCancer1965
Never
@larryaldama1673
👍🇺🇸 sly
@dixielight838
I LOVE it always
@lovepeaceandsoulfullrighto9053
Never ever ❤❤❤
@peteringargiola6323
This guy was SO FAR ahead of his time, and - with any and all accolades that he ever received, is STILL so underrated and under-appreciated for his soul-gifts, as well as for those he imparted to us musically...
Just.....wow...
@ash27slick74
Indeed, a true pioneer.
@liecrusher3506
He did it to himself, his group and black people.
Killed all three.
@jongoldey3842
Of all the performances at Woodstock. With all the great performers. Sly was hands down the best act in the whole show