Released: June 19, 1987

Songwriter: Jeffrey Wilson Bruce Robinson Sid Johnson Charles Muldrow Jr.

Producer: LA Reid Babyface Jerry Peters Bernadette Cooper

[Verse 1]
'Call it a bad situation the other day
I called on my friend and help me on the way
I thought he was someone that I can trust
But I must have been askin' just a little too much
Before I can even a-leave my room
I was a talk of the town by the afternoon
Everyone cashed in on the glory
And added their own a little twist to the story
And by the time they got it back for me
It grown a lot much bigger than my eyes can see
My lady came knockin' at my door
Then she said to me she didn't want me no more
I didn't know what to say or do
Somebody took a lie and made it come true
Why do we spread much devastation
Hurtin' each other all across the nation?

[Chorus]
If we're all the same
Why do people play games?
We live our lives insane
Runnin' in and out games
Who's playin' games?
Everybody takes a turn
Who's playin' games?
When will they ever learn?
Who's playin' games?
I don't wanna be left out
Who's playin' games?
Who's playin'?

[Verse 2]
You know it took a long time to recover
I have to go find me another lover
Somebody told her to beware
And my love has disadvantaged in thin air
And we were finished before we got started
And now we're both sit brokenhearted
Somebody had it in for me
And so now our love it could never be
It's a hell of a lesson to learn
To trust someone and then get burned
But I guess there is a price we pay
'Cause we all go through it every day
And just because you're not involved
That don't get the problem solved
It's a game, it got no score
And if you don't play, you're a loser for sure

[Chorus]
If we're all the same
Why do people play games?
We live our lives insane
Runnin' in and out games
Who's playin' games?
Everybody takes a turn
Who's playin' games?
When will they ever learn?
Who's playin' games?
I don't wanna be left out
Who's playin' games?
Who's playin'?

[Bridge]
Whenever there's a time for truth
The time is now, everybody unite
We can have a better world
So get it together, let's make it right
If peace to you and love for her
Sent from this heaven above
Everybody needs a friend
The perfect way to find true love

[Chorus]
If we're all the same
Why do people play games?
We live our lives insane
Runnin' in and out games
Who's playin' games?
Everybody takes a turn
Who's playin' games?
When will they ever learn?
Who's playin' games?
I don't wanna be left out
Who's playin' games?
Who's playin'?

If we're all the same
Why do people play games?
We live our lives insane
Runnin' in and out games
Who's playin' games?
Everybody takes a turn
Who's playin' games?
When will they ever learn?
Who's playin' games?
I don't wanna be left out
Who's playin' games?
Who's playin'?

If we're all the same
Why do people play games?
We live our lives insane
Runnin' in and out games
Who's playin' games?
Everybody takes a turn
Who's playin' games?
When will they ever learn?
Who's playin' games?
I don't wanna be left out
Who's playin' games?
Who's playin'?

Shalamar

Shalamar is an American R&B and soul music vocal group, active in the mid-1970s and throughout the 1980s. Their original lineup consisted of Jeffrey Daniel, Jody Watley, and Gary Mumford. The group went through various lineup changes throughout the years, with Mumford replaced by Gerald Brown, and again by Howard Hewett. The lineup of Daniel, Hewett, and Watley was the most successful, selling two Platinum albums (Three For Love, Friends) and one Gold album (Big Fun).

Despite more lineup changes in the ‘80s, the group still churned out hits such as “Dancing in the Sheets” and “Don’t Get Stopped in Beverly Hills”, which won them a Grammy.

Daniel, Hewett, and Watley eventually reunited several times in the ‘90s and as recently as 2015, playing in the UK where they’ve had the most success.