Everyday People

• By: Sly & The Family Stone

Lyrics:

Vocabulary in this song:

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.

Grammar:

• 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.