Escrita por Sly Stone, foi gravada em 1971 e lançada em 6 de novemro de 1971 em um compacto que tinha Luv and Haight como Lado B. Também saiu no LP There's a riot goin' on em 20 de novembro de 1971.
Chegou ao numero 1 dos charts pop americanos e também dos charts de R&B e número 1 no Canadá. É o número 139 da lista das maiores canções de todos os tempos da revista Rolling Stone. A guitarra de Sly Stone foi colocada no mudo na maior parte da gravação, pra dar enfase ao piano de Billy Preston. Sly cantou junto com sua irmã, Rose. Bob Womack tocou guitarra base. Fala sobre as partes boas e ruins da família.
Foi regravada por Iggy Pop, John Legend junto com Joss Stone e Van Hunt, entre outros artistas.
Novamente, Sly Stone cantou, tocou baixo, guitarra elétrica e programação de bateria. Rose Stone cantou. Billy Preston tocou Hohner Pianet e Bobby Womack tocou guitarra base.
A letra:
It's
a family affair
It's a family affair
It's a family affair
It's
a family affair
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
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
It's a family affair
(It's a family affair)
It's a
family affair
(It's a family affair)
Over there, over
there
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
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
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)
Ow
(It's a family
affair)
(It's a family affair)
Oh
(It's a family
affair)
(It's a family affair)
It's a family affair
(It's a
family affair)
Well
Do-do-do-do
Hey-hey-hey
(It's a
family affair)
(It's a family affair)
A versão de Sly and The Family Stone:
A versão de Iggy Pop:
A versão de Joss Stone, Van Hunt e John Legend: