Everyday People

I like lyrics that are simple and true. One of my all-time favorites is

We got to live together

Sylvester Stewart, aka Sly Stone, wrote those words in his song “Everyday People.” And it IS true: We’ve got to live together. And because it’s true, how should we do it? That’s the question we’ve been asking for eons, the question we’ll always be asking. Lately, we haven’t been doing such a great job of it. But Saturday, after horrific news out of Minnesota and distressing news day after day for way too long, everyday people across the nation answered that question joyfully: This is a better way.

Sly Stone’s “Everyday People” came out in 1969 when I was eleven. His Greatest Hits album came out in 1970. In 1971, I got my own room for the first time when one of my sisters left for college. On the far side in the corner behind my grandmother’s old four-poster bed, my record player sat on the floor with my albums pressed together between cinder blocks. With a door to close and no one watching, I danced endlessly to that album singing my heart out. Knew (and still know) all the words. The groove was intoxicating. I couldn’t sit still. Still can’t when I hear his songs.

In 2006, I started singing “Everyday People” to myself, often lying on the floor after a good morning stretch. It was just a matter of time before I would record it. White girls recording black boys’ songs is tricky territory, but I finally decided to sing what I loved to sing; honor a man who inspired me to move. Rest in Peace, Sly. Thank you.

Everyday People                                                                        

Sometimes I’m right and I can be wrong
My own beliefs are in my song
The butcher, the banker, the drummer and then
Makes no difference what group I’m in 
I am everyday people, yeah yeah

There is a blue one who can’t accept the green one 
for living with the fat one 
who's trying to be the skinny one
Different strokes for different folks
And so on and so on and scoobeedoobeedoobee
Oo Sha Sha, 
We got to live together

I am no better and neither are you
We are the same whatever we do
You love me you hate me you know me and then
You can’t figure out the bag I’m in
I am everyday people

There is a long hair that doesn’t like the short hair 
for being such a rich one 
that will not help the poor one
Different strokes for different folks
And so on and so on and scoobeedoobeedoobee
Oo sha sha, 
We got to live together

There is a yellow one that won’t accept he black one
that won’t accept the red one that won’t accept the white one
Different strokes for different folks
And so on and so on and scoobeedoobeedoobee
Oo sha sha, 
We got to live together

I am everyday people 

©Sylvester Stewart, Published by Sony/ATV

My version: Tony Levin, bass vocal; Sam Zucchini, drums; Jen Starr and Callie Hersey, backing vocals; Bar Scott, Lead and B vocals.   

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Find the original wherever you listen to music and see if you can sit still. Here’s a youtube link

And my album, still nearby