The song is one of Sly and the Family Stone's signature songs, and has been covered by a number of acts, including Dusty Springfield, Diana Ross & the Supremes, The Temptations, The Jackson 5, The Commodores, Miles Davis, The Meters, Booker T. & the M.G.
's, Prince, The Budos Band, Maceo Parker and others.
It has also been sampled by numerous artists, including Ike & Tina Turner, 2Pac, Jodeci, Wu-Tang Clan, Public Enemy, De La Soul, Digital Underground ("Humpty Dance"), Cypress Hill, Gorillaz, Arrested Development, Backstreet Boys, Spice Girls, Alanis Morissette, and Adina Howard.
The song's "yah-yah-yah" refrain was referenced in The Illusion's 1969 hit "Did You See Her Eyes".
The song's title is referenced in the band's 1969 hit "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Again)."