Joe South, that is. Per Wikipedia this song, Games People Play , is a protest song against assorted varieties of hate, inhumanity and intolerance both interpersonal and social. " The central theme of the song is that, it is we who are responsible for our humanitarian actions or inaction. It is each of us who needs say what we mean and mean what we say. The song seeks to show us that we adults play with human decency as if it were a game ." Sad truth, ain't it? Some things never change. Sadder still, I actually remember from the song's Grammy award-winning heyday. Yikes.