Compared to What - Roberta Flack: Song Lyrics, Music Videos & Concerts

Compared to What

382,861

R&B/Soul

Compared to What was released on June 20, 1969 by Atlantic Records as a part of the album First Take

Popular Segments

Song Details

Most Popular

Past 7 Days

00:35 - 00:40

Compared to What was discovered most frequently at around 35 seconds into the song during the past week

00:00

00:05

00:35

00:50

01:00

01:05

01:10

01:15

01:35

01:50

01:55

02:10

02:15

02:35

02:55

03:00

03:10

03:40

04:05

05:00

00:00

05:17

OVERVIEW

LYRICS

Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS

Roberta Flack

Vocals

Seldon Powell

Baritone Saxophone

Ron Carter

Bass

Ray Lucas

Drums

John Pizzarelli

John Pizzarelli

Guitar

Frank Wess

Tenor Saxophone

Bennie Powell

Trombone

Jimmy Nottingham

Jimmy Nottingham

Trumpet

Joe Newman

Trumpet

William Fischer

William Fischer

Horn Conductor

COMPOSITION & LYRICS

Gene McDaniels

Songwriter

William Fischer

William Fischer

Horn Arranger

PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING

Joel Dorn

Producer

William Arlt

Recording Engineer

Bob Liftin

Mixing Engineer

Lyrics

[Verse 1]

Said I love the lie, lie the love

Hanging on with push and shove

Possession is the motivation

Hanging up the whole damn nation

Looks like we always end up in a rut

Trying to make it real

But compared to what?

[Verse 2]

Slaughterhouse is killing hogs

Twisted children are killing frogs

The poor dumb rednecks rolling logs

Tired old ladies are kissing dogs

And I hate that human, love that stinking mutt

Trying to make it real

But compared to what?

[Verse 3]

Said the president, he's got his war

Folks don't know just what it's for

No one gives us rhyme or reason

You had one doubt, they call it treason

I said we're chicken feathers, all without one gut

Trying to make it real

But compared to what?

[Verse 4]

Go to church on Sunday, sleep and nod

Trying to duck the wrath of God

Preachers filling us with fright

Telling what he thinks is right

But he must be some kind of stupid nut

[Verse 5]

He tries to make it real, trying make it real, yeah

Trying to make it real, real, real

Trying to make it real, real, real, yeah

Trying to make it real, yeah

Real, real, real, real

Trying to make it real

Trying to make it real, yeah

[Verse 6]

But where's that bee, and where's the honey?

Where's my God, and where's my money?

Unreal values, crass distortion

Unwed mothers need abortion

And it kind of brings to mind ol' young King Tut

He tried

Tried

Tried

Tried to make it real

Trying to make it real, yeah

But compared to what?

[Verse 7]

Said I love the lie, lie the love

Hanging on with the push and shove

Possession is the motivation

Hanging up the whole damn nation

Looks like we always end up in a rut

Trying to make it real

But compared to what?

Written by: Gene McDaniels

Shazam Footer

Select language:

Company

Legal

Chrome Web Store

Galaxy Store

Follow Us

© Copyright 2026 Apple Inc. and its affiliates | Supplier Responsibility

Loading...