Everyday People – English Lyrics

• By: Sly & The Family Stone

Lyrics & Translation

Learn English through the timeless and uplifting message of Sly & The Family Stone's 'Everyday People.' The song's clear and direct lyrics about unity and acceptance, using simple yet profound phrases like 'different strokes for different folks,' make it an excellent and enjoyable way to expand your vocabulary and understand a pivotal moment in cultural history. What makes this song special is its powerful simplicity and the genuine hope it inspires for a world where everyone can live together in harmony.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
right /raɪt/ A1	adjective - correct; true
wrong /rɒŋ/ A1	adjective - incorrect; untrue
beliefs /bɪˈliːfs/ B1	noun - an acceptance that a statement is true or that something exists
butcher /ˈbʊtʃər/ B2	noun - a person who cuts up and sells meat in a shop
banker /ˈbæŋkər/ B2	noun - a person who works in a bank
drummer /ˈdrʌmər/ B1	noun - a person who plays the drums
people /ˈpiːpl/ A1	noun - human beings in general or considered collectively
blue /bluː/ A1	adjective - of a color such as that of a clear unclouded sky
green /ɡriːn/ A1	adjective - of a color such as that of growing grass
fat /fæt/ A1	adjective - having a relatively large amount of flesh or body weight.
skinny /ˈskɪni/ B1	adjective - very thin
live /lɪv/ A1	verb - to have your home somewhere
love /lʌv/ A1	verb - to like someone very much
hate /heɪt/ A1	verb - to dislike someone very much
figure /ˈfɪɡjər/ B1	verb - to think or believe
long /lɔːŋ/ A1	adjective - measuring a great distance from end to end
short /ʃɔːrt/ A1	adjective - measuring a small distance from end to end
rich /rɪtʃ/ A2	adjective - having a great deal of money or assets; wealthy
poor /pʊr/ A2	adjective - having little money or few possessions
help /help/ A1	verb - to give assistance or support to someone
yellow /ˈjeloʊ/ A1	adjective - of the color that is like gold or lemons
black /blæk/ A1	adjective - of the very darkest color owing to the absence of or complete absorption of light; the opposite of white.
red /red/ A1	adjective - of a color such as that of blood, fire, or rubies.
white /waɪt/ A1	adjective - of the color of milk or fresh snow, due to the reflection of all visible rays of light; the opposite of black.

Key Grammar Structures

• Sometimes I'm right and I can be wrong

  ➔ Use of coordinating conjunction 'and' and modal verb 'can'

  ➔ 'And' connects two independent clauses. 'Can' expresses possibility or ability. Here it shows the speaker acknowledging they aren't always correct: I'm "right" and I "can" be wrong.

• Makes no difference what group I'm in

  ➔ Use of 'no difference' with an embedded question clause 'what group I'm in'.

  ➔ The phrase 'makes no difference' means 'it doesn't matter'. 'What group I'm in' is a noun clause functioning as the subject. It highlights that identity or affiliation doesn't impact the speaker's inherent nature: Makes "no difference" "what group I'm in".

• There is a blue one who can't accept the green one

  ➔ Relative clause using 'who' and negative form 'can't' to describe inability.

  ➔ 'Who' introduces a relative clause that modifies 'a blue one'. 'Can't accept' demonstrates an inability to accept someone. The sentence depicts intolerance or prejudice: There is a blue "one" "who" "can't accept" the green one.

• For living with a fat one trying to be a skinny one

  ➔ Gerund phrase 'for living' acting as a prepositional phrase, infinitive phrase 'trying to be' showing purpose.

  ➔ 'For living' explains the reason or context. 'Trying to be' clarifies the action being attempted. It describes the challenges and social pressures: For "living" with a fat one "trying to be" a skinny one.

• I am no better and neither are you

  ➔ Negative concord with 'no better' and 'neither are you' for agreement in negativity.

  ➔ 'No better' indicates a lack of superiority. 'Neither are you' agrees and extends that lack of superiority to the listener. This sentence highlights equality: I am "no better" and "neither are you".

• You can't figure out the bag I'm in

  ➔ Modal verb 'can't' expressing inability and relative clause 'I'm in' (with omitted relative pronoun).

  ➔ 'Can't figure out' means unable to understand. 'The bag I'm in' is a reduced relative clause (the relative pronoun 'that' or 'which' is omitted). It suggests the speaker's complex situation is incomprehensible: You "can't figure out" the "bag I'm in".

• There is a long hair that doesn't like the short hair

  ➔ Relative clause using 'that' and negative form 'doesn't' to describe dislike.

  ➔ 'That' introduces a relative clause modifying 'a long hair'. 'Doesn't like' expresses aversion or dislike. The sentence shows a division based on superficial characteristics: There is a long "hair" "that" "doesn't like" the short hair.