meow85 said:

I was one of those people who coined out for one of those pretty piss poor "Interview with Prince" CD / Picture Discs / Limited Vinyl thingies in the 1980's, which was recorded just after ATWIAD came out.

You know the one... the one where when asked why the album came out before any singles and he says he wanted it to be judged complete but he trips up over the word "complete" and says "comtete" instead and tuts at himself...

Anyway, in that interview which is al about ATWIAD when asked about "America" he said it was meant to be "straightforwardly patriotic"...

Perhaps he was being ironic in both the song *AND* his interview responce?

Alright!! Tell it like it is!

I interpret the song as straight up convervative, patriotic. He even said he did the video because he was homesick from filming in France...

I thought it was ironic when I first heard it in 1985 by its depressing tone, but then I realized different in the context of his other songs, the lyrics themselves, and statements he made.

Prince is not a political professor! fo sho.

thesexofit said:

"America" is a bad-assed funk/rock jam.
America is still the best place in the world to live(regardless of what you hear).
your M.C Hammer avatar sucks...

the only reason you picked the song "America" to degrade is because you really hate the USA,right?,you just used that song as bait to disrespect this country,right?
don't be a coward and hide your anger towards the USA behind a song.
i can see right through you.
your M.C Hammer avatar is really,really awful.it's not hammertime.

wallysafford said:

Just curious...how many countries have you lived in?

FunkMistress said:

as a buisiness man,i have lived in 3 countries,USA,ENGLAND and BELGIUM.
your point?

FunkMistress said:

c'mon,educate me.
what is the best country in the world to live in?
just curious...

One of Prince's best videos EVER!

wallysafford said:

Out of those three, USA is an easy choice.....
Still, as an European (dutch), I have lived in the USA and I was glad to leave after 1.5 years. It was a deception..... I had visited the USA many times before and have many times since, it is always great to be there.....and it is always great to leave as well!

'American' is a kick ass song.....I believe the lyrics are meant to be satirical:
God shed his grace on tea

Now Jimmy lives on a mushroom cloud


and it's not Hammertime!!
[Edited 12/1/04 13:06pm]

wallysafford said:

I was asking a question, not claiming to have the answers. It's completely subjective in the first place.

abierman said:

"God shed his grace on tea".

lol, another one to add to the misheard lyrics list

Rico said:

shit, you got me there.....


thee

AsianBomb777 said:

Don't hate period.

BTW, America is a kick-ass song. The long version is a Revolution classic.

wallysafford said:

This is the funniest shit I've read on here in ages

CalhounSq said:

Damn

I thought you guys just sat around, and in hushed tones, politely try to out Prince trivia each other 24/7.


You need Michael Buffer up in here...


"Let's get ready to rumb-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-ule"



Y'all get down

Seriously though, after scanning the lyrics, the tune sounds pro-America.
Basically saying regardless of how bad things might be for someone here, it's better than Communism.

Communism is just a word
But if the government turn over
It'll be the only word that's heard

She may not be in the black
But she's happy she ain't in the red

And finally, the live horn-aided version (the video i've got on a tape around here somewhere) is jammin'!

tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...rmusic.htm

misty2k said:

Keep in mind Prince seems to be a chronic liar. Pretty much everything he says needs to be taken with a grain of salt.

wallysafford said:

You fucking kill me.

I think it's time to up your dosage....

wallysafford said:

There is no one "best country". Anyone who thinks so is deluding themselves.

Prince is certainly no expert on politics, but given his viewpoint as expressed in, oh I dunno, let's try every single other song he's done even remotely relating to the the subject it's pretty safe to say the lyrics to "America" are meant to be ironic. Not necessarily anti-America, but definitely not pro-America.

Dance On
Dear Mr. Man
Family Name
Money Don't Matter 2 Night
New Power Generation
Partyup
Race
Sexuality
Sign O' the Times
Slave 2 the System
United States of Division


To name only a few. The only way I can think of "America" being meant literally is if it's written from the point of view of someone who is blindly pro-U.S. I say blindly because of the line "...may not be in black, but she's happy she ain't in red". Little Sister is getting fucked over by her government, she's likely near death, and she's thinking, "Hey! At least I'm not a dirty pinko commie!"

ufoclub said:

It ever occur to you Prince may have been being facetious? It wouldn't be a first for him...

no telling what's going on in his mind...
[Edited 12/2/04 12:24pm]

Aristocrats on a mountain climb, making money but losing time. Communism is just a word, but if the government turn over itll be the only word thats heard. Little sister making minimum wage, living in a one room jungle monkey cage, cant get over shes almost dead. She may not be in the black, but shes happy she ant in the red.

rudeboynpg said:

F****N 'Classic song .and one of my faves.

let me go play the 22:41 minute version right now!

rudeboynpg said:

And this is patriotic how?


It's a subtle criticism wrapped up in an ironic "YAY for the U.S.!" package.


And a damn good song at that.

sounds more like a song about American freedom... even living in American poverty offers one more freedom than living in a communistic country where people are controlled by a handful of dictators

Snap said:

"She may not be in black, but she's happy she ain't in red" What the fuck kind of attitude is that to have? Like I said, Little Sister is living in a shitty environment and may be near death because of the actions of her own government, yet she's still thinking she lives in a great country and "at least I'm not some filthy commie." Patriotic brainwashing at it's finest.

I cannot believe some of u guys.....maybe I gave no lyrical proof that it is patriotic, but I did not think i had to.....a few have reminded u that the lyrics obviously r pro american and it sucks.....yes the tune is funky but some of the lyrics r just yuch.....

Oh and by the way, i was born in the USA


Thankgoodness some of u did re-print the lyrics.....maybe is is being satirical, but MAYBE HE IS NOT!

I think, like most Americans at first, he believed in Reagan, maybe now his mind is changed though but in this case, he seems to hate on Russia etc.....and that is kinda sad!

When did Rocky IV come out?
[Edited 12/3/04 4:44am]

meow85 said:

Duh! You should listen properly or better still read the lyrics... the line is "She may not be in the black, but she's happy she ain't in the red" !!

Meaning (IMHO) that she is living hand to mouth and therefor has no money in the bank (i.e. in the Black) but she's happy not to be in debt to some big fincance business who could kick her out of her home!

Nothing to do with communism... well not in this part of the song anyway.

Regarding the meaning behind the song 'America', Prince replied "100% straight-up patriaotic"

Interpret that how you like.

misty2k said:

The reference to black indeed means she doesn't have money. BUT the "in the red" has double meaning (that's why it's witty) and is definitely an allusion to communism.


(think about it, if she has no money in the bank she's pretty much in debt (the red) so the lyrics wouldn't even make sense if Prince weren't referencing communism)


Anyway, yes I do think the song is patriotic even though contains strong contempt for the country's current state. I feel Prince is saying "despite the evils in America, at least it's freedom and democracy -- but don't praise it too much because some conditions are inhumane. Shame on you America, may good bless the future of country or else it's going to hell soon"


Certainly, he is schizophrenic with his contempt/praise in the song.

That's quite evident in the verse about Jimmy Nothing. Prince seems to praise Jimmy for not pledging allegiance, but chides him because nothing in America made him proud. But PRince also chides America for sending Jimmy to death in war... so maybe Jimmy was right in his views ... (PRince makes sure to ask at the end... teacher why won't Jimmy pledge allegiance? And I think he's wanting us to contemplate whether Jimmy knew something we didn't).

It's all very complex. But I'm sure many citizens have this love-hate relationship. The concept of AMerica is ideal, the executed reality is almost blasphemous.
[Edited 12/3/04 7:10am]