33 ContributorsFamily Affair Lyrics

“Family Affair” was the lead single off of Sly and the Family Stone’s fifth studio album There’s a Riot Goin' On in 1971. It was Sly’s first new single in two years; reaching number one on the Billboard Hot… Read More 

[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, world gone bad

[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

It's a family affair

It's a family affair

It's a family affair

It's a family affair

(It's a family affair) It's a family affair

Well

It's a family affair

It's a family affair