the o’jays, “back stabbers”
from: back stabbers, 1972
“All the time they want to take your place
The back stabbers (back stabbers)
(They smilin’ in your face)
All the time, they want to take your place
The back stabbers (back stabbers)
All you fellas who have someone and you really care, yeah, yeah
Then it’s all of you fellas who better beware, yeah, yeah
Somebody’s out to get your lady
A few of your buddies, they sure look shady
The blades are long, clenched tight in their fists
Aimin’ straight at your back
And I don’t think they’ll miss
All the time, they want to take your place
The back stabbers (back stabbers)
I keep gettin’ all these visits from my friends, yeah, what they doin’ to me?
They come to my house again and again and again and again, yeah
So are they there to see my woman?
I don’t even be home but they just keep on comin’
What can I do to get on the right track?
I wish they’d take some of these knives out my back
All the time, they want to take your place
The back stabbers (back stabbers)
Ha, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, low down, dirty
Smilin’ faces smilin’ faces sometimes tell lies (back stabbers)
(They smilin’ in your face)
I don’t need low down, dirty bastards (back stabbers)
down, down, down, down, down
Down, down, down, down, down, down, down (back stabbers)
(They smilin’ in your face) might be your neighbor
Your next door neighbor, yeah (back stabbers)
”
There are certain songs, the opening strains from which, put you into some kind of cathartic, historic divine provenance. In this case, it would be 1972 when this soul masterclass poured forth. A.M. radio was still a kingpin and this Ohio trio all were all wearing crowns. It took 17 musicians to create this beauty! Back stabbin, by the way, still timelessly alive and well.
““When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.””