Sly and the Family Stone

Released: November 21, 1971

Songwriter: Sly Stone

Producer: Sly Stone

[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 cryin' 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

Sly and the Family Stone was an American band from San Francisco, active from 1966 to 1983 and led by singer-songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Sly Stone.

The music style of the band is a blend of funk, soul, rock and psychedelic music. Their albums influenced the subsequent American pop, soul, R&B, funk and has been sampled by many hip hop producer.

The group’s core line-up featured Stone’s brother and singer/guitarist Freddie Stone, sister and singer/keyboardist Rose Stone, trumpeter Cynthia Robinson, drummer Gregg Errico, saxophonist Jerry Martini, and bassist Larry Graham.

more tracks from the album

There’s a Riot Goin’ On

From the albums

There’s a Riot Goin’ On (1971)
Tour of Duty 6 (1993)
Have a Nice Decade: The 70s Pop Culture Box (1998)
Ultimate Seventies: 1971 (2003)
70s 100 Hits (2010)
NOW 100 Hits 70s [UK] (2020)

Sly and the Family Stone popular songs

Family AffairSly and the Family Stone

Sly and the Family Stone

There’s a Riot Goin’ On