It's one of my top 10 favorite songs of all time.
Don't know that I have 10 but I know what a bunch of them are in no particular order. Most of my favorite songs are about social justice. Most songs, even great songs don't really matter much. They are about loving some girl and losing her and what not and in the end just don't make the list for lack of significant content. I'm a bit agnostic about who sings a given song as long as it's an honest version by a decent singer. Marvin Gaye - Inner City Blues
Marvin Gaye - What's Going On - Sung by Less McCann,
Less McCann - Compared To What,
Sam Cooke - A Change is Gonna Come - Sung by Otis Redding,
Grand Master Flash and the Furious Five - The Message.
Zappa and the Mothers - Trouble Every Day Stevie Wonder's "Songs in the Key of Life" has no one song that makes this list but has a lot of content that feels like the stuff on this list to me, same with most of Gil Scott Heron's better material. Some of The Last Poets stuff comes close as well, but is just too edgy for me to feel comfortable saying it's in my top 10. Now a few that break from my social justice theme but are all time favorites. Leon Russell - This Masquerade
Townes Van Zandt - Nothin
I can't think of anything else. Lots of great songs but to be a song of my heart of hearts is rare.
I like Marvin's version better but I think that McCann's is heavy and soulful, it's a song right in line with his brand of soulful populism. I'm also a big Less McCann and Eddie Harris fan. Been sitting up pondering this list and while I can't find anything to add to the official list there are few that are strong contenders.
Herbie Hancock - Watermelon Man
Funkadelic - Maggot Brain
Big Star - Thirteen
Barbara Dane and the Chambers Brothers - It Isn't Nice
Ray Koerner & Glover - Banjo Thing
William Onyeabor - Why Go To War
Think that's all I can think off tonight. The stuff I've been listening too is so far from any of the stuff I've posted, Motown girl groups, 80's smooth hits, mediocre 90's ska. While not in my top 10 songs of all time and probably wouldn't make my top 100 here is the most played song on my I Tunes.
STEVE ARRINGTON & DAM FUNK - I BE TRIPPIN