Lyrics

**Verse 1**
Sunday dinner at my mother’s house
Everybody dressed up clean
Smiling wide across the table
While resentment sat between

My brother asked me how I’m doing
But he already knew the news
Somebody carried all my business
Through the family like bad news

My auntie spoke about forgiveness
Then whispered when I left the room
Funny how the ones who say they love you
Can be the first to want your doom

**Pre-Chorus**
They say blood is thicker than water
But blood can leave a stain
And the deepest cuts I ever carried
Came from people with my name

**Chorus**
It’s a family affair, baby
Everybody wants a side
One will smile and call you brother
Then go home and tell your life

It’s a family affair, darling
Love gets tangled up with pride
Blood may put us at one table
But blood don’t make it right

Don’t tell me family means forever
When respect gets pushed aside
Blood may make us all related
But blood don’t make it right

**Verse 2**
I helped my cousin when he struggled
Put some money in his hand
Now he talks like I owe him
For becoming who I am

My sister knows the truth about me
Still she changes it around
Because some folks feel much taller
When they’re tearing someone down

Mama keeps on saying, “Make peace, son
Life is much too short for pain”
But peace don’t mean I keep returning
To be wounded all again

**Pre-Chorus**
I can love you from a distance
I can pray and still move on
Being family doesn’t give you
The right to keep doing me wrong

**Chorus**
It’s a family affair, baby
Everybody keeps a score
They remember what you didn’t give them
But forget what came before

It’s a family affair, darling
Old wounds hide behind closed doors
Blood may bring us all together
But it can’t excuse no more

**Bridge**
I’m not asking for perfection
I’ve made mistakes like everybody else
But don’t use my childhood against me
Every time I choose myself

Don’t call control protection
Don’t call jealousy concern
Some bridges need repairing
Some bridges need to burn

I still love every one of you
But love don’t mean I must pretend
Sometimes keeping peace within you
Means letting certain ties come to an end

**Final Chorus**
It’s a family affair, baby
And the truth is hard to face
Sometimes strangers show you kindness
That you never found at your own place

It’s a family affair, darling
But I’m done swallowing my pride
Blood may put your name beside mine
But blood don’t make it right

I’ll forgive without forgetting
I’ll keep love without the lies
Blood may make us all related
But respect keeps us unified

**Outro**
So I’ll come around when love is honest
I’ll stay away when hate appears
I won’t keep passing down the damage
That has traveled through these years

I love my family, yes, I do
But I finally see the light
Blood may make us all connected
But blood don’t make it right.