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Sing a Simple Song

"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, Jimi Hendrix' Band Of Gypsys and others. It has also been sampled by numerous artists, including 2Pac, Public Enemy, Digital Underground, Cypress Hill, and Gorillaz.

Credits

• Lead Vocals by Sly Stone, Rose Stone, Freddie Stone, and Larry Graham
• Background Vocals by Rose Stone, Freddie Stone, Larry Graham, and Little Sister (Vet Stone, Mary McCreary, Elva Mouton)
• Piano by Rose Stone
• Guitar by Freddie Stone
• Bass by Larry Graham
• Drums by Greg Errico
• Horns by Jerry Martini (tenor saxophone) and Cynthia Robinson (trumpet)
• Written and produced by Sly Stone

Samples