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Sly & the Family Stone — Family Affair
Album: There's a Riot Goin' On
Avg rating:
6.9

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1265









Released: 1971
Length: 2:59
Plays (last 30 days): 1
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 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)
Ow
(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)
Well
Do-do-do-do
Hey-hey-hey
(It's a family affair)
(It's a family affair)
Comments (85)add comment
My new best buddies Roderick G and Stephen B and I in the stairwell, taking extra time on the way down to P.E. Class, 2nd Grade, and the nuns are scolding us because my new mates are showing me the MJ moves and I am grooving... This will not do, laddies! This will not!
 DanFHiggins wrote:

This song is still grooving!



They're still checking each other out!
 gutwill wrote:

Whilst the song in itself is quite likeable, the bass sounds as if played back through a speaker with a destroyed membrane. Been checking my speakers TWICE because I just couldn't believe that this kind of distorsion was actually part of the song. Sorry, it's hard to bear – in my ears.




Great bass playing, but the sound IS distorted. Kind of a shame for an otherwise GREAT TUNE.  
Whilst the song in itself is quite likeable, the bass sounds as if played back through a speaker with a destroyed membrane. Been checking my speakers TWICE because I just couldn't believe that this kind of distorsion was actually part of the song. Sorry, it's hard to bear – in my ears.
Came here by PSDing yet another damned Bob Marley song. Much better.
 idiot_wind wrote:

way, way before snoop dogg,  these guys had it down




Big Time!!   
way, way before snoop dogg,  these guys had it down
Sly was the shit when I was an inner city kid growing up in the sixties.
 lizardking wrote:

LOL!!!  I've had a similar situation w/ my missus....in fact you know you've got THE ONE when something "odd" pops up (on the playlist that is....) and the activity continues despite the [insert funny occurrence here] - well dang if i'm not gonna try and find the youtube playlist you mention and see if we can beat your 20 seconds...until then...Long Live RP!!
 And did these affairs result in family? We need to know...

As many 100s of times as I've heard this, I've never listened to it on headphones. What great production - it's restrained and I like the separation. So much packed into so little. 
Smooth cool, from the once-upon-a-time main source of FM funk.

Yeah, baby: smooth, cool, funky, and super-groovy!
 MattRudely wrote:
I didn't know there was a SATFS song with a yodelling break in the middle, until me and the missus were "doing" "it" one time to a YouTube playlist. We managed to keep going for maybe 20 seconds....
 
LOL!!!  I've had a similar situation w/ my missus....in fact you know you've got THE ONE when something "odd" pops up (on the playlist that is....) and the activity continues despite the [insert funny occurrence here] - well dang if i'm not gonna try and find the youtube playlist you mention and see if we can beat your 20 seconds...until then...Long Live RP!!
This song is still grooving!
I didn't know there was a SATFS song with a yodelling break in the middle, until me and the missus were "doing" "it" one time to a YouTube playlist. We managed to keep going for maybe 20 seconds....
one of my favs ... never gets old
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

Songwriters: Sylvester Stewart
The flyover text for the Wiki picture is ... rather odd.
A 6.5 really???  Oh wait someone else already said that.  CLASSIC STUFF!
dionysius wrote:
A solid 10 is a little cooler. There's a Riot Goin' On!
"Just Like A Baby" is another great tune from that album.
Can't believe this only gets a 6.5; come on, people!
OH YEA!
kazuma wrote:
WTF?
I didn't think this genre was on the RP playlist. F'N SA-WEET!
Happy Happy Sunshine song
On_The_Beach wrote:
Music doesn't get much cooler than this. Sly at his best. A solid 9.
A solid 10 is a little cooler. There's a Riot Goin' On!
Music doesn't get much cooler than this. Sly at his best. A solid 9.
Nice song, but it finished too fast :(
Gettin' my groove on this Sunday morning. Thanks, RP.
One of my absolute all-time favorite songs - thanks, Bill!
Too funky for my Bad Self.
snapdragon wrote:
the best
The best . . . something . . . I suppose. . . .
algrif wrote:
Bill. Did you really just say 'a blast from the past' just then??
He does that every once in a while.
the best
GREAT Sly song in the new movie Take the Lead...Que Sera Sera. Great movie, by the way. Stunning music throughout.
Saw them live at school, Kent State U!, before they decided they didn't have to show up for their shows. They rocked the house!
Bill. Did you really just say 'a blast from the past' just then??
Lately I have been wanting for RP to play some Sly. THANKS! Love 'em!!
Still checkin' each other out!
Such a cool, sexy sound compared to the music I've been hearing on pop and alternative radio, lately.
any and all Sly is good with me
kazuma wrote:
And I thought I was the only one. "Unkle Beel! Unkle Beel!"
me three
good times. this is such a fun little song.
saaz wrote:
I was a kid when this song came out. I thought they were singing about the tv show.
And I thought I was the only one. "Unkle Beel! Unkle Beel!"
Not really something I would listen to but it's ok I'm sure there are better stuff you can play....just my humble opioion
I can dig it.
trekhead wrote:
Sexy walker! Funky talker! Did anyone mention to him that his note on 'af-fai-UH!' slides into home , but gets struck out? Otherwise cool enough. 7.
too pitchy maybe? shouldn't you be calling in your vote on "american idle?" :? :?
I know a lot of people groove to this, but I just don't dig it.
Sexy walker! Funky talker! Did anyone mention to him that his note on 'af-fai-UH!' slides into home , but gets struck out? Otherwise cool enough. 7.
Great Song, takes me back.
Just listening to this makes me feel....i dunno....like I need a shower or something...
at this time of the year...well... kinda breaks up all that silver bells stuff
what a song. sly had a little ... trouble with smack. i went to see him three times (he sold out madison garden, for example) and he performed once. rolling stone's cover story was an interview in a hotel room where he was too strung out to go on stage. family affair was his come-back song after he cleaned up, or cleaned up enough to record. people then (and now) were split on it. i'm one of those who sees it as an outstanding song performed with true soul. as for youse others, you're entitled to your opinion, even when you're wrong.
:-) Love it, love it, love it. :-) Great lyrics, incredible groove, national treasure of a voice.
Can't figure out why this song aggravates so many people on this page. I give it a 9 for the quality of songwriting and its execution. Sly's deep voice is wonderful in this. Very expressive. He was a master. An important inflluence right throught to today.
The_Wood wrote:
It sucks.
Diff'rent strokes, for diff-er-ent folks, yeah! (to quote another great Sly tune)
Platypus wrote:
gotta love that "greatest hits" album cover - looks like it took someone all of maybe ten minutes to put it together. great tunes, though.
Just remember, that cut and paste used to require scissors or X-acto knives and glue! When this was done, there was no "paste again" option, nor was there PhotoShop. It may have taken 11 minutes or more. :)
artmarcia wrote:
I've never really liked this song--don't quite know why.
It sucks.
I've never really liked this song--don't quite know why.
Funkadelic!
Platypus wrote:
gotta love that "greatest hits" album cover - looks like it took someone all of maybe ten minutes to put it together. great tunes, though.
like the font though.
"...still checkin' each other out...."
Sly and the family Stone are fantastic. I love this song, and their cover of "Que Sera, Sera". They are both departures from their standard flat-out funky positivity. The groove is still there, but the mellow feeling can be so nice.
gotta love that "greatest hits" album cover - looks like it took someone all of maybe ten minutes to put it together. great tunes, though.
toastee wrote:
what a stupid song.
rgj13 wrote:
What a brilliant comment.
...i.. i dunno why, but I can't stand this song at all. it's groovy and all, but that guy's singing, and how he bottoms out at "it's a family affair", oooo, get's on my nerves like nails on a chalkboard.
streetsintherain wrote:
the second I heard this intro I got all excited! what a groovy song.
righteous! one of the all time great funky tunes.
the second I heard this intro I got all excited! what a groovy song.
Keep it in the family, Sly.
toastee wrote:
what a stupid song.
What a brilliant comment.
what a stupid song.
(pimp) Damn, baby.
A very nice morning groove indeed...
Brings back memories of hangin out in the back yard and alley with my friends as a young teen. Thanks. This is great.
simply perfect.
Saw them at the Isle of Wight in \'70. Sly was in full rock star state of excess. Stunning to me the guy is still alive. An incredible group/sound.
I looked up funk on Dictionary.com and there was Sly, Sister Rose, et al. A great group and a great sound. Hot fun in the summer time!
this is one of THE coolest songs, a total classic, still sounding good after all these years. sad but true of so many of our dysfunctional familia (pimp) :p
Hated it then; not much has changed.
Waves of nostalgia ... haven\'t heard this in forever, wouldn\'t mind hearing it again in a year or two ...