Prince wants you! · May 24, 06:34 AM by Don
Timedoor readers, Chaka and I want to hear from you! This is America and voting is your right as well as your responsibility. Let us know what your favorite Prince song is. Timedoor will post the biggest vote-getter on June 7, the Purple One’s birthday.
In choosing a song for this voting-themed post, the only real choice was “America,” off Prince’s 1985 effort, Around the World in a Day.
mp3: Prince and the Revolution – America
Prince is not only one sexy motherfucker, he is also, a true blue patriot. Think I’m kidding? Read the lyrics to “America.” The lyrics are in italics. My interpretation is interjected throughout and appears in bold type.
Lyrics to “America”
Yeah…
Peace!
Peace is a noble concept; so noble, in fact, that one should feel free to yell the word for no rational reason whatsoever.
Aristocrats on a mountain climb
Making money, losing time
Wealthy capitalists in America spend a lot of their time working to increase their net worth.
Communism is just a word
But if the government turn over
It’ll be the only word that’s heard
Communism is not only an abstract concept, it is also a real threat to America.
America, America
God shed his grace on thee
God looks out for America’s best interests.
America, America
Keep the children free
People in America are entitled to liberty (as well as life and the pursuit of happiness). Children are no different, though it is easy to limit their freedoms because they are small and weak. Special care should be taken to protect their freedom.
Little sister making minimum wage
Living in a 1-room jungle-monkey cage
Can’t get over, she’s almost dead
Many young adults in America struggle to make ends meet. Consequently, finding adequate shelter can be a challenge. Apparently, the young woman mentioned in the verse cannot even afford food and is starving to death.
She may not be in the black
But she’s happy she ain’t in the red
Even though some Americans are in debt, they are pleased to not be Communists and/or living in Communist state.
America, America
God shed his grace on thee
America, America
Keep the children free
Freedom!
Love!
Joy!
Peace!
Noble concepts, all. One should feel free to simply yell one or more of these words in private or in public for no rational reason whatsoever.
Jimmy Nothing never went 2 school
They made him pledge allegiance
He said it wasn’t cool
Some people choose to not participate in institutions that mandate that people behave in a prescribed manner; in this case, schools that require young people to be vocally patriotic. People who opt out of America’s institutions and traditions are worthless.
Nothing made Jimmy proud
Now Jimmy lives on a mushroom cloud
Some people, like Jimmy, are not patriotic. There are consequences for failing to be patriotic, one being death (in a nuclear conflagration, no less).
America, America
God shed his grace on thee
America, America
Keep the children free
America, America
God shed his grace on thee
America, America
Keep the children free
Freedom!
Love!
Joy!
Peace!
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
The bomb go…
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
The bomb go boom!
Many people, Prince included, are preoccupied with the threat of nuclear armageddon.
Teacher, why won’t Jimmy pledge allegiance?
Jimmy’s contrary nature is noticed by another student. He asks the teacher, presumably in front of Jimmy and the class, why Jimmy is a nonconformist.
What is the message of this song? What does it teach us? It teaches us that America embodies the following four concepts: Freedom, Love, Joy and Peace. It also values Capitalism and the pursuit of personal wealth. God, presumably attracted to the country’s values, is an ally to America. Despite this, America, at least in 1985, was seriously threatened by a Communist takeover. To minimize this threat, educational institutions forced young people to say the Pledge of Allegiance. This was done in the hopes of creating a united front. Nonconformity was seen as a threat to the nation. It made America look weak, thus increasing the chances of a nuclear attack on America by Communists. Nonconformists, like Jimmy, as well as patriotic Americans, would be killed in such an attack.
21 years later, America can rest easy. The Communist threat Prince was so concerned about never gained the power to take over America. Faith in God and forcing children to say the Pledge of Allegiance were instrumental in the prevention of such an action.
Again, to celebrate the continued life of our nation and its Prince, “write in” your favorite Prince song on the “ballot” below.
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“The Ballad of Dorothy Parker”
— jon May 24, 08:03 AM #
Sign ‘o’ the Times
— Gryphon May 24, 10:11 PM #
batdance
— matt May 25, 04:52 PM #
Great post! Favorite tune, many, but gun to my head scenario, still Purple Rain.
— Pete May 25, 10:35 PM #
The song that started it all, “I Wanna Be Your Lover”. I was 11 then and loved this song – weird!
— Lisa* Sichi May 26, 09:07 AM #
“The Doctor say – KISS!!!
— drbopperthp May 30, 05:48 PM #
Did you see him on the final episode of American Idol? ...well, that song(s) with that outfit and those dancers.
— joeyb Jun 1, 06:02 AM #