I'm just looking for some opinions.

Someone posted in a comment that The Animal Kingdom is obviously the worst cut on The Truth. What are your thoughts?

I actually enjoy the song, and play it over and over at times. It's quirky, semi-hypnotic, and audibly distorted, but the lyrics are extremely interesting and thought provoking. Even the sound of it is sort of captivation.

Here are the lyrics.

[i][i]I saw a friend of mine 2day
In an ad sayin' what would do my body good
I told him he was wasting time I say
If God wanted milk in me
The breast I suck would have a line around the hood

No member of the animal kingdom nurses past maturity
No member of the animal kingdom ever did a thing 2 me
It's why I don't eat red meat or white fish
Don't give me no blue cheese
We're all members of the animal kingdom
Leave your brothers and sisters in the sea

Animal, animal kingdom {x2}

Who told us we should eat the swine?
U can bet your final money it damn sure wasn't no friend of mine
What about the clams on the shore?
Souls in progress, here come the fisherman - soul no more

No member of the animal kingdom nurses past maturity
(Nurses past, oh yeah)
No member of the animal kingdom ever did a thing 2 me
(Ever did a damn thing)
So I don't eat no red meat or white fish
Or funky, funky blue cheese
We're all members of the animal kingdom
Leave your brothers and sisters in the sea

Animal, animal kingdom {x3[/i]"I saw a friend of mine today in an sayin' what would do my body good."[/i]

I always wondered who that friend was her refers to in the first line. And when sings "The breast I'd suck would have a line around the hood."... that's a delightfully inappropiate notion... if there is such a thing. That line always amazed me.

I also always thought it was a bit absurd for Prince to suggest that we "keep our brothers and sisters in the sea" ... but I always chalked that up to "quirky prince", and never considered complying with his quirky notion. (Well, maybe for a minute.)

And even the line about the clams on the shore. I love clams! When he says "here come the fisherman, souls no more"... I always thought... "Well, I guess you're right, but, I gotta eat!"

I like the song. I don't agree, but it's sound is unique. To me it's captivating. I don't have to agree with it to enjoy it, but to me it's deliciously interesting and challenges you audibly... in a good way.

Your thoughts please.

I think the first line was about Spike Lee, whom was in a dairy commercial
or ad or something.

Anyway, I like this song a lot. It's from one of his best albums ever, and
it's got a good, experimental vibe to it. It was something different from
Prince again.

People complain about this song and call it one of the worst things he has
ever done. I don't really understand that. I'm very pleased with it and it
contributes to the album being multi-layered.

I think its one of the best from The Truth album.

This, along with the lyrics in Silicon, really made me consider whether I wanted to keep eating meat. For a little while...

I think its a great song.

The Spike Lee comment made earlier makes a lot of sense I dont know if its true or not but its pretty cool.

I think this might just be his stupidest song to date.

it assumes much.

Kinda funny however.

So, if a member of the animal kingdom does something to you you are allowed to eat them?

bkw said:

I thought about that too... when Prince says "No member of the Animal Kingdom ever did a thing to me." ... as though the resolution would be to eat them. lol...

I like the song for it's absurdness though too, I suppose!

Say the song 'Wedding Feast' to any fan circa 2001/2002, that's pretty much the position Animal Kingdom held circa-1998.

I always liked it, depsite it's clumsy and downright goofy lyrics, can't help but have a fondness for it's awfulness. File it under 'so bad it's good'.

In all the years I've been on the org, I don't remember this many people liking Animal Kingdom before. The song is so bad, all I can do is bust out laughing because of it. It always makes me appreciate hamburgers that much more, believe it or not. I have to agree with NoveauDance on the "so bad it's good" file. I may have to put it on to get a good laugh.

God! I forgot about Wedding Feast! That's my all time "What the Fuck" Prince album moment.

But... indeed... you sing along to it's absurdness.

I can't get down with Prince's beliefs on "leaving your brothers and sisters in the sea"... but I still dig the song.

Great posts! So bad it's good. Hmmm... sounds like the title of a new string.

The difference is that Wedding Feast is SUPPOSED to be silly.

Vegan dude vegan like me!

I never paid much attention to the lyrics but I like the music.

Uh, Man In A Uniform is much much worse...

This song is shit.Sorry

Absolute shite

I crack up every time I hear the part when Prince sounds like he's talking like Beaker from The Muppet Show.

Musically and technically, one of the strongest songs from "The Truth." Rhonda's playing is mesmerizing (I practically told her so in an e-mail, in an inquiry about her technique; she was kind enough to respond), Prince's guitar tone is jaw-droppingly cool and I like the effect on his voice.

The chords remind me of "Electric Ladyland," very late-1960s/early-1970s soul.

PurpleKnight said:

Doesn't it though? The song make me proud to be a meat eater.

I like the song,Prince's quirky voice and lyrics and the wild animal sounds like Fish in the Sea. It's really Offbeat...

I like the music ALOT, but the lyrics really make me cringe!

I'll also file it away with the "so bad its good" songs

purplecam said:

Next time I listen to it, I'm purposely gonna eat a big platter of meat just to further illustrate how much the song truly sucks.

bkw said:

it wasn't that silly if you got it.

actually I was kinda stoked

PurpleKnight said:

Damn right and you eat that meat with pride too! In fact, I'm having a steak for dinner tonight so I'm right there with you!

ThreadBare said:

Thanks, this is exactly what I like about this song. The lyrics are not his best though. Well, maybe if you are a veggie...

MantuaPharoah said:

what the FUUUUUCK????

It sounds silly but has a great big message. Props to Prince for attempting to raise awareness.