Life’s complexities often feel too vast to capture, especially in something as concise as a song. The world is filled with discord, simmering anger, and an overwhelming number of intricate issues. Yet, occasionally, a song emerges that perfectly encapsulates the prevailing mood, transcending time to resonate with different generations.
Sly and the Family Stone, a band celebrated for their fusion of funk, psychedelia, rock, and soul, gifted the world with numerous such songs. Tracks like “Dance to the Music,” “Hot Fun in the Summertime,” and “I Want to Take You Higher” have become integral to our collective musical consciousness, evoking memories of summer and defining cultural moments like Woodstock. Despite their significant impact and groundbreaking sound, Sly and the Family Stone’s deeper messages, often embedded within their infectious rhythms, are frequently overlooked. This is a disservice, as their music is not only incredibly innovative but also rich with social and political commentary that remains startlingly relevant today.
Consider the backdrop against which Sly and the Family Stone rose to prominence. The period from 1967 to 1973 was a tumultuous era marked by the rise and fall of the flower power movement, escalating opposition to the Vietnam War, and a surge in racial and religious tensions. The political landscape was intensely polarized and chaotic. Does this historical snapshot echo any contemporary realities?
In today’s media environment, observing public discourse reveals a similar landscape of anger, confusion, and division. Alongside this, there are also persistent calls for unity, compassionate outreach, and efforts to bridge divides and foster understanding. While many observe and analyze these trends, the solutions remain elusive. Personal beliefs, concerns, hopes, and inherent biases often cloud judgment, making it difficult to find common ground.
No single song can act as a panacea for societal ills. However, Sly and the Family Stone’s “Everyday People” stands out as a powerful and poignant anthem that resonates just as profoundly now as it did in 1968, the year of its release as a single before appearing on the 1969 album “Stand!”.
1968 was a year of profound upheaval. The Democratic party was fractured. President Lyndon B. Johnson’s political influence was waning, strained by social unrest and the Vietnam War. The assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy sent shockwaves through the nation. Richard Nixon’s election in November reflected a nation grappling with deep divisions. Student protests and riots were commonplace. Despite advancements in technology and education, solutions to pressing social problems seemed scarce.
Against this backdrop of desperation, “Everyday People,” released in November 1968, emerged as a hopeful, idealistic rallying cry. The song is a direct appeal for peace and equality. Sly and the Family Stone themselves embodied this message as an integrated band, composed of both Black and White musicians. Their music, vibrant and groundbreaking, propelled “Everyday People” to the No. 1 spot on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, a testament to its unifying message even amidst turbulent times.
The lyrics themselves are a powerful statement of unity: “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.” This verse emphasizes a shared human identity that transcends social roles or group affiliations. The line “Makes no difference what group I’m in. I am everyday people,” is a powerful declaration of commonality, identifying with the universal struggles and experiences of humanity.
Further emphasizing this point, the song continues, “There is a blue one who can’t accept the green one / for living with a fat one, trying to be a skinny one. / And different strokes for different folks / and so on and so on and scooby dooby doo. / Oh sha sha, we got to live together.” This addresses the absurdity of prejudice and discrimination based on superficial differences. It’s a call for acceptance and tolerance, highlighting the essential need for coexistence in a diverse society. Humanity’s tendency towards division is deeply ingrained – tribalism, familial loyalties, religious affiliations, and political ideologies often create rigid boundaries. We tend to believe in the purity of our own motives while viewing those outside our groups with suspicion.
But “Everyday People” counters this divisive instinct with the simple yet profound lines: “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.” The lyric “I am no better and neither are you” is a crucial reminder of our shared humanity and inherent equality. It challenges the common reaction to dismiss opposing viewpoints as uninformed, urging humility and recognizing that everyone is, at their core, “everyday people.”
We all share fundamental human experiences: hopes, fears, and concerns about the future. The song further illustrates societal divisions with the line, “There is a long hair that doesn’t like the short hair, for bein’ such a rich one that will not help the poor one.” This highlights how superficial differences are often exploited to manipulate and control populations. Fear, anger, and confusion can be weaponized to incite base instincts, trigger tribalism, and intensify “us vs. them” mentalities.
While acknowledging the complexities of financial disparities, resource management, religious differences, social hierarchies, and discrimination, “Everyday People” doesn’t offer simplistic solutions. It recognizes that peaceful coexistence requires conscious effort and agreement across all segments of society. There will always be those who seek to dominate and divide.
Yet, here we are in a new era, and many of the societal challenges of 1968 persist. Political polarization, racial tensions, and fear of the “other” remain prevalent. How do we break free from this cycle? Is it even possible? “Everyday People” offers a starting point: “We got to live together. / I am everyday people.”
Life’s complexities cannot be resolved by a single song. However, a song like “Everyday People” can initiate crucial conversations and inspire the decisions necessary to move towards a more unified and understanding world. Because, ultimately, we are all everyday people.
