Games People Play (song)
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| “Games People Play” | ||
|---|---|---|
| Single by Joe South from the album Introspect |
||
| Released | 1968 | |
| Genre | Rock, Pop | |
| Writer(s) | Joe South | |
"Games People Play" is a song written, composed and performed by singer/song-writer Joe South. In 1968, the song was released on South's debut album Introspect. It was also featured as the title of his second album, Games People Play in 1969. It won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year in 1970. The song has been covered by Petula Clark, Waylon Jennings, Jerry Lee Lewis, Tesla, King Curtis and Duane Allman, The Georgia Satellites, Big Tom and The Mainliners, Dolly Parton, Bill Haley and His Comets, The Tremeloes, Johnny Johnson & the Bandwagon, Ike and Tina Turner, Dreadzone, Hank Williams Jr., YOYO, Inner Circle as well as others. It was also mentioned in the Brian Wilson song "Games Two Can Play" from his unreleased album Adult Child.
Notably, in Singapore circa 1969, an instrumental version showed-up on a single by The White Crane Orchestra. The reggae band Inner Circle also released a cover version which was quite popular in Europe for a while in the mid-90s. In 2006, it was covered by Jools Holland on his album Moving Out to the Country with guest vocalist Marc Almond. The Scottish singer, Dick Gaughan, covered it on his album A Different Kind of Love Song.
The lyrics and title are thought to be a direct reference to Dr. Eric Berne's masterpiece on transactional analysis of the same name. The book which was released in 1964, deals with the "games" human beings play in interacting with one another
'Games People Play' is a protest song. The lyrics protest against various forms of hate, inhumanity and intolerance--both interpersonal and social.
Whoa--the games people play now. Every night and every day now. Never meanin' what they say now. Never sayin' what they mean. While they while away the hours in their ivory towers, 'till they're covered-up with flowers in the back of a black limousine. [Chorus] La, da, da da, da-da da; La, da, da da, da-da de... talkin' 'bout you-n-me and the games people play--now. Whoa we make one another cry, break a heart then we say goodbye; cross our hearts and we hope to die that the other was to blame. But neither one will ever give-in, so we gaze at an eight-by-ten thinkin' 'bout the things that might have been and it's a dirty rotten shame. [Chorus] People walkin'-up to ya, singin' glory hallelujah 'n' they're tryin' ta sock it to ya, in the name of the Lord. They're gonna teach you how to meditate, read your horoscope, cheat your fate. And furthermore to Hell with hate Come-on and get-on board. [Chorus] Look-around tell me what you see. What's a-happenin' to you and me? God grant me the serenity to jus' remember who I am. 'cause you've given-up your sanity for your pride and your vanity, turn your back on humanity; Oh and you don't give a da da da da da. [Chorus x 3] -Joe South
The song closely resembles an older song, the traditional Cajun "'Tit Galop Pour Mamou", which was played by the Balfa Brothers among others, and is on the Balfas' Play Traditional Cajun Music. After South's hit got around, Nathan Abshire (accordionist with the Balfas and others), recorded a version in French, with singing by Don Guillory, on his album A Cajun Legend. A new Cajun version, introduced by a partial recounting of the genealogy of the versions, is at [1] under the heading Robert Jardell.
