Kool & the Gang

Stop the jealousy
We've gotta stop the envy

All my brothers and my sisters
We'll turn this thing around

My father died when I was ten
But mother never spent much time with him
Papa was a rollin' stone
He left eight girls and three boys
Mama said, "Just trust in the Lord
And follow His Golden Rule"

Now I'm a professional
The girls are all doing wonderful
We fought our way from poverty
Bought mom a house on the hill
So she could have a better place to live
Pay back for the life she's given me

Some people in the neighborhood
Say now we think we're too good
'Cause we found a better way
They say that we sold out
From the ghetto we got out
Why, people, do you treat us this way?

We're just like
Crabs in a barrel, yes, we're the same
You try to get out, they pull you back again
Like crabs in a barrel, hear what I say
It's dog-eat-dog
We gotta know how to play the game

There's a child prodigy, gifted from infancy
Greatness was his destiny, hey
He studied hard, played no ball
At seven years played Carnegie Hall
Broadway and overseas
He read about black history
Find out from which he came to be
Not long ago his people were set free
And every night he would pray
Thank God for another day
And for bringing us out of misery

Some people in the neighborhood
Say now we think he's too good
And he's young, gifted and black
They say that we sold out
From the ghetto he got out
Why, people, do you treat him this way?

We're just like
Crabs in a barrel, yes, we're the same
You try to get out, they pull you back again
Like crabs in a barrel, hear what I say
Ah, it's dog-eat-dog
Gotta know how to play the game

Like crabs in a barrel, we're the same now
You try to get out, they pull you back again
Like crabs in a barrel, hear what I say
Well, it's dog-eat-dog
You gotta know how to play the game

Crabs in a barrel, yes, we're the same
You try to get out, they pull you back again
Like crabs in a barrel, you hear what I say
Well, it's dog-eat-dog
You gotta know how to play the game

Like crabs in a barrel, whoo!
We're just like crabs in a barrel
Whoo!

Crabs in a barrel, yes, we're the same
Try to get out
All of my brothers, they gave me the ghetto
All of the love that we need to be loved

Kool & the Gang is an American jazz, R&B, soul, funk, and disco group from Jersey City. They were originally named the Jazziacs when they formed the group in 1964.

They went through several musical phases during their recording career, starting out with a purist jazz sound, then funk and R&B, progressing to a smooth pop-funk ensemble, and in the post-millennium creating music with a modern, electro-pop sound.

The group was becoming prominent in the music industry in the 1970s with hits such as “Holly Wood Swinging”, “Jungle Boogie” and “Summer Madness”. However they cemented their legendary status after the addition of lead vocalist James “J.T.” Taylor. With his help they went on to create classic hits such as “Ladies Night”, “Celebration”, “Get Down On It”, “Cherish” and countless others.

more tracks from the album

State of Affairs

From the album

State of Affairs (1995)

Kool & the Gang popular songs

Crabs in a BarrelKool & the Gang

Kool & the Gang

State of Affairs