Games People Play

Joe South explores some heavy topics in this song, which looks at class divides, religion, and deception. When you encounter someone who is always trying to get ahead or push some agenda, the song will ring true. It was released in 1968, a time of profound cultural shifts in America as the Vietnam War raged on, but it's not a typical protest song. Rather than pointing the finger at politicians and war mongers, it examines human nature - the drives and desires that motivate but also corrupt us. The worst of it are the greedy who gauge their success by their new worth, but the folks who tell you how to live can be rather odious as well. South singles out the gurus and spiritual leaders - plentiful around this time - as agents of deception: People walking up to ya Singing glory Hallelujah And they're tryin' to sock it to you In the name of the Lord

The song was inspired by the 1964 book Games People Play: The Psychology Of Human Relationships by the Canadian psychologist Eric Berne. The main idea behind Berne's book is that we often treat our interactions with others as transactional, always looking to gain an advantage in the metaphorical games we play. And once we "win" a game, we start another one, creating a cycle where we're always competing and never satisfied.

"Games People Play" was the biggest hit for Joe South as an artist, but he had many more accomplishments as a session musician and songwriter. South was just 18 when he released the novelty single "The Purple People Eater Meets The Witch Doctor" in 1958. Over the next decade, he played guitar on some very famous songs, including Aretha Franklin's "Chain Of Fools," Tommy Roe's "Sheila" and Simon & Garfunkel's "The Sound Of Silence." He also played on Bob Dylan's Blonde On Blonde album. His songwriting accomplishments include "Rose Garden," made famous by Lynn Anderson, and "Hush," popularized by Deep Purple.