Released on November 6, 1971, "Family Affair" was markedly different from the earlier Sly & the Family Stone hits. "Family Affair" is a sombre, Rhodes piano based record with a rhythm box (or drum machine) providing the rhythm, making it the first number-one hit to feature a programmed rhythm track. Sly Stone and his sister Rose sing lead on the song. The lyrics reflect the good and bad aspects of being family, with Sly delivering his part in a low funk-styled tone instead of his earlier gospel-based shout.
"Family Affair" was the most successful hit of Sly & the Family Stone's career, peaking at number-one on the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks, while achieving the same on the Billboard R&B Singles chart for five weeks. The band's long-awaited fifth album, There's a Riot Goin' On, debuted at number one on the Billboard album charts during the same period. There's a Riot Goin' On was typified by a deep, dark style of funk, evident in "Family Affair", that earned the album a place as one of the most influential albums of all time.
Partially recorded in a Winnebago, Sly Stone did not utilize the Family Stone for this recording, with the exception of his sister Rose. His friends Billy Preston and Bobby Womack played the keyboard and guitar lines, respectively, for the song, with Sly playing the bass and programming the rhythm box.
According to the biography Sly and the Family Stone: An Oral History, Sly Stone felt that this song wasn't strong enough to be released as a single. His manager and Epic Records had to convince him otherwise.
Notable covers and derivative recordings
"Family Affair" has been heavily covered, with versions by Tyrone Davis, The Brothers Johnson, MFSB, Iggy Pop, Bunny Wailer, and many more. The song's drum machine-created rhythm was duplicated in several early to mid-1970s recordings, in particular The Temptations' "Let Your Hair Down" (1973), and Stevie Wonder's "You Haven't Done Nothin'" (1974).
A retooled cover was done in 1993 by Shabba Ranks featuring Patra and Terri & Monica as a single for the Addams Family Values soundtrack. This version charted on the Billboard pop chart at number 84, number 16 on the R&B chart, and number-six on the Hot Rap Tracks chart. Madonna featured this song as an intro to "Keep It Together" on her Blond Ambition Tour in 1990.
In 2005, John Legend, Joss Stone, and Van Hunt recorded a cover featuring elements of the original recording for Different Strokes by Different Folks, a Sly & the Family Stone tribute/remix album. This version of "Family Affair" won the 2007 Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.
Family Affair
Sly and the Family Stone Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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
The song "Family Affair" by Sly and The Family Stone speaks of a family dynamic filled with contradictions and conflicts. The opening verse establishes that this is a family affair, but throughout the rest of the song, we see how the members of the family are torn between love and hate, commitment and detachment, acceptance and rejection. The first two lines of the song repeat the refrain "It's a family affair," drawing our attention to the central theme of the song. The following lines reveal that the eldest child has grown up to love learning while another child is disliked by the rest of the family. Even though the two children are vastly different, the mother loves them equally because it's in their blood. The next line, "Blood's thicker than mud," underscores the idea that family members are bound by their shared blood, even though they may not always like each other.
In the second verse, the newlywed couple is experiencing some difficulties. They have only been married for a year, and they are still unsure if they are right for each other. They are both afraid of being left out and are stuck in a limbo that they cannot escape. They are connected by their hearts, but they are also connected to things outside of their relationship, making it hard for them to show their true emotions. The last verse repeats the opening refrain, "It's a family affair," indicating that despite all of the conflicts, contradictions, and difficulties, the family is still their central focus.
Line by Line Meaning
It's a family affair, it's a family affair
This is a song about the joys and struggles of family life.
It's a family affair, it's a family affair
In case you forgot, this is a song about family.
One child grows up to be
You never know what your child will become, but sometimes it's a pleasant surprise.
Somebody that just loves to learn
This child has a natural curiosity and thirst for knowledge.
And another child grows up to be
On the other hand, sometimes things don't turn out so well.
Somebody you'd just love to burn
This child is so aggravating that you just want to set them on fire (figuratively speaking, of course).
Mom loves the both of them
No matter what, a mother's love is unconditional.
You see it's in the blood
This love is something that runs deep and cannot be broken.
Both kids are good to Mom
Despite their differences, they both know how to be respectful and kind to their mother.
"Blood's thicker than mud"
This is a saying that means your family is more important than anything else.
Newlywed a year ago
This is a newly married couple.
But you're still checking each other out
They're still trying to figure each other out and adjust to married life.
Nobody wants to blow
They're both trying to be cool and not make any mistakes.
Nobody wants to be left out
They're both afraid of missing out on something.
You can't leave, 'cause your heart is there
Even though things are tough, they can't just walk away from their love for each other.
But you can't stay, 'cause you been somewhere else!
But at the same time, they both have been elsewhere and aren't sure if they can make this work.
You can't cry, 'cause you'll look broke down
They can't be vulnerable and show their emotions because that would make them look weak.
But you're cryin' anyway 'cause you're all broke down!
But they're still crying because they're overwhelmed and feel broken.
It's a family affair
Despite all of these struggles, at the end of the day, they're still family and will always be there for each other.
Lyrics © 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