Album: Stand! (1968)

Charted: 36 1

License This Song 

• 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 a fat one, trying to be a skinny one
  Different strokes for different folks
  And so on and so on and scooby-dooby-dooby
  
  Ooh, sha-sha
  We got to live together (ooh, sha-sha)
  
  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, yeah, yeah
  
  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 scooby-dooby-dooby
  
  Ooh, sha-sha
  We got to live together (ooh, sha-sha)
  
  There is a yellow one that won't accept the 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 scooby-dooby-dooby
  
  Ooh, sha-sha
  I am everyday people (ooh, sha-sha) Writer/s: Sylvester Stewart
  Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 12

• Pk7 from Tallahassee, Fl.The bass line is one note (G) throughout the entire song. Very cool!
• KentThe group Ta Mara and the Seen, best known for being a one hit wonder with their song Everybody Dance, released a cover of this song and it was a minor hit in the Philippines. I think it’s a shame that it wasn’t a hit here in the US because it is a really good version of the song with the Minneapolis R&B sound.
• Leroy from Ca.I love Bob Marley, Yusef Cat Stevens Islam, Johnny Nash! Such true humanitarians through music!!! & I am a Christian. This song is trying to equate racial equality with selfish rich greedy people who won't help the starving poor all over the world. I recommend anyone fooled by this song to listen to song Start Right Here.
• 60s Baby from Mi And CtThe song is profound I. Its simplicity. The nursery rhyme implications, the teasing childlike singing of the lyrics, the simple chord exchange ... All of it reaches you on some level as if teaching children the wrongness of discrimination and racial or socioeconomic prejudice. The immature nature of discrimination ... I've loved and adored this and and Sky's genius nearly my entire 57 years. I was so lucky that my teenage brothers and sister were so into the music scene in the late 60s and 70s. Try blessed me with the best music ever made in my opinion.
• Ralph from Indianapolis Sly had a way to promote good things while condemning the the bad ones. This song is similar as it promotes peace amongst people despite their race, color or creed. Read the lyrics and think about it.
• Seventhmist from 7th Heaven"The world is black; the world is white..."
• Chris from San Francisco, CaNot only it's two chords only as mentionned earlier by John, but I notice that the bass line is played on one key only the whole song through. Fantastic song.
• John from Nashville, TnTwo chords (C and G) and the truth. What a song!
• Jack from Brookline, MaI LOVE how Dave highlights the KEYWORD to his comment how: Aressted "ATTEMPTED" to RE-CONVEY the same message...haha! They tried, but pretty much FAILED MISERABLY at it! The songs are completely incomparable..no question to which song was extremely more influential, better and more culturaly important. And also, it is pretty SAD that Rolling Stone put this all the way UP at 145 out of 500...In my mind it should be in the top 10 at LEAST. Everyone in the world should listen to this song at least ONCE, and I mean REALLY listen to it. In my mind, it is certainly one of the most IMPORTANT songs ever recorded.
• Dave from Cardiff, WalesIn 1992, R&B act Arrested Development scored a UK #2 hit with "People Everyday", which was based on the original by Sly Stone and attempted to re-convey the same message
• Andy from Arlington, VaThis is #145 on the Rolling Stone top 500 songs.
• Max from New York, United Statesvery cool song, from a now under raited band

More Songfacts:

Black WaterThe Doobie Brothers

The Doobie Brothers' swampy #1 hit "Black Water" is about the Mississippi River, evoking the rafting adventures Mark Twain and Huckleberry Finn.

Radio Free EuropeR.E.M.

Michael Stipe hadn't finished the lyrics when R.E.M. recorded "Radio Free Europe." He calls the vocal "complete babbling."

Midnight RiderThe Allman Brothers Band

A roadie for the Allman Brothers came up with the line "The road goes on forever" for "Midnight Rider," and got a songwriting credit for his contribution.

Pretty VacantSex Pistols

The riff for The Sex Pistols' "Pretty Vacant" was pinched from a very unpunk song, the ABBA ballad "S.O.S."

FireJimi Hendrix

Thirty years after Jimi Hendrix played "Fire" at Woodstock, Red Hot Chili Peppers played it at Woodstock '99, but this time the unruly crowd actually set fires and looted.

Blinded By The LightBruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen wrote "Blinded By The Light," which was a #1 hit for Manfred Mann's Earth Band. The "Madman Drummers" line is a reference to Springsteen's first E-Street drummer, Vinnie "Mad dog" Lopez.

Editor's Picks

Gary LeVoxSongwriter Interviews

On "Life Is A Highway," his burgeoning solo career, and the Rascal Flatts song he most connects with.

Jay, Peaches, Spinderella and other Darrining VictimsSong Writing

Just like Darrin was replaced on Bewitched, groups have swapped out original members, hoping we wouldn't notice.

Danny KortchmarSongwriter Interviews

Danny played guitar on Sweet Baby James, Tapestry, and Running On Empty. He also co-wrote many hit songs, including "Dirty Laundry," "Sunset Grill" and "Tender Is The Night."

Adam Duritz of Counting CrowsSongwriter Interviews

"Mr. Jones" took on new meaning when the song about a misguided view of fame made Adam famous.

David Paich of TotoSongwriter Interviews

Toto's keyboard player explains the true meaning of "Africa" and talks about working on the Thriller album.

Judas PriestSongwriter Interviews

Rob Halford, Richie Faulkner and Glenn Tipton talk twin guitar harmonies and explain how they create songs in Judas Priest.