Joe South – Games People Play

“Games People Play” – Single by Joe South from the album Introspect
B-side: “Mirror of Your Mind”
Released: August 1968
Label: Capitol
Songwriter: Joe South
Producer: Joe South
Charted No.12 in US, No.6 in UK, No.6 in Austria, No.11 in West Germany

“Games People Play” is a protest song whose lyrics speak against various forms of hatred, hypocrisy, inhumanity, intolerance, and irresponsibility, in both interpersonal and social interactions between people. Billboard favorably reviewed the song some three months after its release and eight weeks before it finally reached the Hot 100.

The song was released on South’s debut album Introspect and as a single, reaching No. 12 on the Hot 100. It was also a No. 6 hit in the UK in 1969, No. 4 in Ireland, and won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Song and the Grammy Award for Song of the Year.