Sing a Simple Song Lyrics
Sing a simple song!
[Rose]
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
[Freddie]
I'm talkin', talkin', talkin', talkin', talkin' in my sleep
[Larry]
I'm walkin', walkin', walkin', walkin', walkin' in the street
[Sly]
Time is passin', I grow older, things are happening fast
All I have to hold on to is a simple song at last
Let me hear you say...
[All Together]
Yaaaaa, ya-ya yaa ya
Yaaaaa, ya-ya yaa ya
[Cynthia]
Sing a simple song
Try a little do, re, me, fa, so, la, ti, do
Do, re, me, fa, so, la, ti, do
Do, re, me, fa, so, la, ti, do
[Rose]
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
[Freddie]
I'm livin', livin', livin' life with all its ups and downs
[Larry]
I'm givin', givin', givin' love and smiling at the frowns
[Sly]
You're in trouble when you find it's hard for you to smile
A simple song might make it better for a little while
Let me hear you say...
[Rose]
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
[Freddie]
I'm talkin', talkin', talkin', talkin', talkin' in my sleep
[Larry]
I'm walkin', walkin', walkin', walkin', walkin' in the street
[Sly]
Time is passin', I grow older, things are happening fast
All I have to hold on to is a simple song at last
Let me hear you say...
[All Together]
Yaaaaa, ya-ya yaa ya
Yaaaaa, ya-ya yaa ya
[Cynthia]
Sing a simple song
Try a little do, re, me, fa, so, la, ti, do
Do, re, me, fa, so, la, ti, do
Do, re, me, fa, so, la, ti, do
[Rose]
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
[Freddie]
I'm livin', livin', livin' life with all its ups and downs
[Larry]
I'm givin', givin', givin' love and smiling at the frowns
[Sly]
You're in trouble when you find it's hard for you to smile
A simple song might make it better for a little while
Let me hear you say...
[All Together]
Yaaaaa, ya-ya yaa ya
Yaaaaa, ya-ya yaa ya
[Drum and horn breakdown]
[Rose]
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
[Freddie]
I'm talkin', talkin', talkin', talkin'
[Larry]
I'm walkin', walkin', walkin', walkin'
[Freddie]
I'm livin', livin', livin' love
[Larry]
I'm livin' lovin' know about lovin'
[Sly]
Everybody sing together
[All Together]
Yaaaaa, ya-ya yaa ya
Yaaaaa, ya-ya yaa ya
Sing it in the shower
Yaaaaa, ya-ya yaa ya
Sing it every hour, sing it
Sing it, sing it, sing it
Sing it with your mama, sing it
Sing it mama, got it sing it
Yaaaaa, ya-ya yaa ya
Sing it with your papa, sing it
Sing it papa, got it sing it
Yaaaaa, ya-ya yaa ya
Yaaaaa, ya-ya yaa ya
Yaaaaa, ya-ya yaa ya
[Drum and horn breakdown]
[Rose]
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
[Freddie]
I'm talkin', talkin', talkin', talkin'
[Larry]
I'm walkin', walkin', walkin', walkin'
[Freddie]
I'm livin', livin', livin' love
[Larry]
I'm livin' lovin' know about lovin'
[Sly]
Everybody sing together
[All Together]
Yaaaaa, ya-ya yaa ya
Yaaaaa, ya-ya yaa ya
Sing it in the shower
Yaaaaa, ya-ya yaa ya
Sing it every hour, sing it
Sing it, sing it, sing it
Sing it with your mama, sing it
Sing it mama, got it sing it
Yaaaaa, ya-ya yaa ya
Sing it with your papa, sing it
Sing it papa, got it sing it
Yaaaaa, ya-ya yaa ya
About
Genius Annotation
“Sing a Simple Song” is a 1968 song by the soul/rock/funk band Sly & the Family Stone, the b-side to their #1 hit “Everyday People”. The song’s lyrics, sung in turn by Sly Stone, Freddie Stone, Rose Stone, and Larry Graham, with spoken word (or, rather, shouted word) sections by Cynthia Robinson, offer a simple solution for dealing with the problems and paradoxes of existence: “Sing a simple song!” As with nearly all of Sly & the Family Stone’s songs, Sylvester “Sly Stone” Stewart was credited as the sole songwriter.
The song is one of Sly & the Family Stone’s signature songs, and has been covered by a number of acts, including Diana Ross & the Supremes, The Temptations, The Jackson 5, The Commodores, Miles Davis (during the Jack Johnson sessions), The Meters, Prince, The Budos Band, Maceo Parker and others.
The bass line for this song was used by Jimi Hendrix and Band of Gypsys two years later in the 1970 song “We Gotta Live Together”. Whether the bass line was knowingly plagiarized is the subject of much debate by musical scholars.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
- 1.Stand!
- 5.Sing a Simple Song
- 7.Sex Machine
Credits
Produced By
Written By
Bass Guitar
Drums
Guitar
Keyboards
Saxophone
Trumpet
Label
Recorded At
Pacific High Recording, San Francisco, California
Release Date
May 3, 1969
Songs That Sample Sing a Simple Song
Hold Up Your Hands by Freestylers, They Don't Care About Us (Dallas Main Mix) by Michael Jackson, Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg (Left Eye's 3 Minutes & Counting) by TLC, Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg (Dallas Dirt Mix) by TLC, Bust Dat Ass by King T (Ft. Tha Alkaholiks), Get's Into His Move by Stezo, Ain't My Type of Hype by Full Force, 1900-Dial-A-Crook by Convicts (Ft. Geto Boys & J. Prince), Tie Goes To The Runner by Public Enemy, Fire Wood Drumstix by J Dilla (Ft. MF DOOM), Crooklyn by The Crooklyn Dodgers, Phenomenon by Limp Bizkit, CHURCH (AMEN) by INNO THAKID, Hardcore by MC Zappa, Video Dames by MC Zappa, Jazz (We’ve Got) (Re-Recording Radio) by A Tribe Called Quest, Mama Said Knock You Out (The Four Performance) by Sharaya J, Boys Will Be Boys by Backstreet Boys, Can't Stop The Bum Rush by Kris Kross, You Fucked Up When You Slammed My Motha by The Click, Sneakin' Up On Ya by Fu-Schnickens, Thinka 'Bout It by Paris (Rap), You Got It by Jodeci (Ft. Redman), Yakety Yak (Take It Back) by Take It Back Foundation (Ft. Al B. Sure!, Barry White, B.B. King, Bette Midler, Brenda Russell, Bugs Bunny, Charlie Daniels, Dr. John, Jerry Leiber, Kenny Loggins, Lita Ford, MC Skat Kat and The Stray Mob, Melba Moore, Mike Stoller, Natalie Cole, Ozzy Osbourne, Pat Benatar, Queen Latifah, Quincy Jones, Randy Newman, Ricky Van Shelton, Stevie Wonder & Tone Lōc), Blast If I Have To by E-A-Ski, Get The F... Outta Dodge by Public Enemy (Ft. True Mathematics), In the House by Run–DMC, Worldwide by Del the Funky Homosapien (Ft. Unicron (Del)), Believe by Q-Tip (Ft. D'Angelo), Check it Out by Das EFX, Freak Like Me by Adina Howard, Jump by Kris Kross, It's In My Song by Stetsasonic, It’s A Man’s World by Ice Cube (Ft. Yo-Yo), Lo straniero (Hardcore Remix) by Sangue Misto, The Humpty Dance by Digital Underground, Peep Game by 2Pac (Ft. Threat), Mr. Flamboyant by E-40, Soldiers Gone Psyco by Heltah Skeltah, Eazy-Duz-It by Eazy-E, Represent by Showbiz & A.G. (Ft. Big L, D'Shawn & Lord Finesse), Nuttin' Ass Nigga by E-40, Hide 'n' Seek by E-40, Temptations by 2Pac, Eye Know by De La Soul (Ft. Otis Redding), Mic Checka by Das EFX, Rated P.G. by Da Youngsta's, Fight the Power by Public Enemy, Protect Ya Neck (The Jump Off) by Wu-Tang Clan, Thank U by Alanis Morissette, The 13th Message / Livin' in a Zoo by Public Enemy, Deep Cover by Dr. Dre (Ft. Snoop Dogg), 19-2000 by Gorillaz, Who’s The Mack? by Ice Cube, Twinz (Deep Cover '98) by Big Pun (Ft. Fat Joe), Gangsta's Fairytale 2 by Ice Cube (Ft. Lil Russ (USA)), Sound of da Police by KRS-One, Really Doe by Ice Cube, The Jack Back by Sir Mix-a-Lot (Ft. The Wicked One), Mama Said Knock You Out by LL COOL J, How I'm Comin' by LL COOL J, Jackin' For Beats by Ice Cube, Blow Your Mind by Redman, So Ruff by Redman, Time 4 Sum Aksion by Redman, Party for Your Right to Fight by Public Enemy, Walk Don't Walk by Prince and the New Power Generation, Getto Jam by Domino, Hippa to Da Hoppa by Ol' Dirty Bastard, Can't Truss It by Public Enemy, Brothers Gonna Work It Out by Public Enemy, Souljah's Revenge by 2Pac, Make Room by Tha Alkaholiks, They Don't Care About Us by Michael Jackson, Anger in the Nation by Pete Rock & CL Smooth, For Pete's Sake by Pete Rock & CL Smooth, J. Beez Comin' Through by Jungle Brothers, Supa Star by Group Home, Mackstress by Yo-Yo, Check it Out Ch'all by Paris (Rap), Love Is All We Need by Mary J. Blige (Ft. Nas), You Gotta Believe by Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch, Here Come the Lords by Lords of the Underground, Stereotype by Kam, Holiday Madness by Kam, Ain't That a Bitch by Kam, Ricochet by Ice-T, All Glocks Down by Heather B., Stay Real by Erick Sermon, It’s On by Eazy-E, The Return of the Crazy One by Digital Underground, Hard Like a Criminal by Das EFX, Miss Moon by Cree Summer, I Don't Dance by Compton's Most Wanted, Lost in the Storm by Chubb Rock, Shit Popper by B.W.P., Cotex by B.W.P., Mr. Wendal by Arrested Development, Playground by Another Bad Creation, Love Makes No Sense by Alexander O'Neal, Bags Packed by Akinyele, Can I Party? by Ahmad, Don't Be Afraid by Aaron Hall, The Humpty Dance (Mini-Hump Radio Mix) by Digital Underground, The Humpty Dance (Edit) by Digital Underground, Pigskinna 2 by House Of Krazees, Cherish the Day (Sade Remix Short Version) by Sade & Cherish the Day (Sade Remix Long Version) by Sade
Songs That Interpolate Sing a Simple Song
Sing a Simple Song Covers
Sing a Simple Song by King Curtis, Sing a Simple Song by Charles Earland, Sing a Simple Song by Mongo Santamaria, Sing a Simple Song by Willie Mitchell, Sing A Simple Song by James Last, Sing a Simple Song by Bob Mintzer Big Band, Sing a Simple Song (Mono Mix) by The Supremes & The Temptations, Sing A Simple Song by West Street Mob, Sing a Simple Song by Booker T. & The MG's, Medley: Sing A Simple Song / Can You Remember (Live At The Hollywood Palace) by The Jackson 5, Sing a Simple Song by Hampton and the Hamsters, Sing a Simple Song by The Supremes & The Temptations, Sing a Simple Song by Maceo Parker & Sing A Simple Song by Commodores
Sing a Simple Song Live Performances
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