I was listening to it today for the first time in ages.


what an amazing song to close Emancipation.
I dont see it getting mentioned much in here but surely this is a classic?

andykeen said:

i disagree.
I wouldnt say it was over produced.Virtually everything else on Emancipation is though, but i wouldnt say The Love we Make was.

It's not something I listen to often, but when I do, I remember why I don't listen to it very often - Because I find it kind of depressing.

Not to say it isn't an amazing song - because it is, and clearly one of the most interesting, if not THE most interesting, from Emancipation.

I find it hard to beleive a lot of people dismiss this song with some of the rest of Emancipation. I think it's great. It's one of my absolute favorites in fact!

Eye love that song...very spiritual....

I've always loved the song, probably my favorite from the Emancipation
discs....it has a mood all its own....spiritual too...

Beautiful song, shits over practically everything on Emancipation. Is the 2004 live version the only time he's played it live??? See thats what i love about prince. You think he's confined a song to the past, and then he can just pluck it at random and deliver the most blistering rendition of it.

Its song like the Love We Make that should one day work their way onto a "best of the wilderness years" type compilation, or that constantly delayed Best Of .

Free from the shackles of Emancipation, songs like that would find a new audience.

I think the mood of his position was to "preach" the meaning through song. But as far as invoking emotion, this song is one of my personal favorites...

"Happy is the way to meet your burdens" - a beautifully, poetic way to address the trials in life that we all must face....

One of my favorite P songs, period.

i didn't really care for the song until i saw it done live. it's so much better live imo.
[Edited 2/24/06 12:56pm]

OdysseyMiles said:

One of my favorite songs, period.

The best song on Emancipation, no doubt. And one of my favorite songs ever written - Just love it. Incredibly moody, downbeat, but also manages to be inspiring.

Ive always been a fan of this one. He tore it up!

This was my favorite spiritual ballad for years, until The Last December came along. He eclipsed The Love We Make slightly with this one. And there is going to undoubtedly be at least one more to come along after this.

I liked it until I stopped thinking of myself as Christian (more Bhuddist/Hindu in nature), but the reference to Jonathan Melvoin still stirs me when I hear it. It was also a song that was written during a time of great personal pain for P, so it seems, and the torch really does only stay ignited for so long there. The Last December comes from a healthier place, it seems.

I L.O.V.E this song. One of his strongest song, period. Anyway I think Emancipation is full of incredible songs, I don't understand why some diss it at times.

klaatu said:

I don't understand that either. I like Emancipation a lot. The Love We Make is one of my all time faves. I got all sappy and teary the first time I heard it.

that song is such a tearjerker. Very emotionally rousing song.

I love this song, think I played it more last month than most songs (besides Alphabet Street)

It's one of the only songs on Emancipation that I think rise above the level of average R&B, and truly show what Prince can do!

I give this song

Depressing, no. On the contrary, whenever I'm overwhelmed and just can't see past the I play this song a few times and I realize there is hope.

"Happy is a way to meet your burdens, no matter how heavy or dark the day. Pitty on those with no hope for tomorrow, it's never as bad as it seems 'til we say."

From my stand point it's a beautiful, beautiful song.



([i]never heard a 2004 version only the xenophobia. what's this from?)[i]

i find all ther lyrics to be inspiring

Desperate is the day that is 2morrow
4 those who do not know the time has come
2 whip the dogs that beg, steal or borrow
From the table God set 4 his son
Wicked is the witch that stands 4 nothing
All the while watching 2 see u fall
Deeper than the ditch that bred your suffering
The one being dug right now by them all

Happy is the way 2 meet your burdens
No matter how heavy or dark the day
Pity on those with no hope 4 2morrow
It?s never as bad as it seems until we say

Precious is the baby with a mother
That tells him that his saviour is coming soon
All that believe will cleanse and purify themselves
Put down the needle, put down the spoon {x2}

Sacred is the prayer that asks 4 nothing, oh
While seeking 2 give thanks 4 every breath we take, oh
Blessed are we inside this prayer
4 in the new world, we will be there

The only love there is, is the love we make {x2}
(the only love there is, is the love we make)
Only love there is, only love there is
The only love there is, is the love we make (yeah)
The only love there is, is the love we make

PurpleKnight said:

If only i could get my hands on the live version..

Yeah, watching him perform it live at the HOB in Vegas on guitar killed me. Great song. Been on my mind again ever since.

The lyrics are definitely inspiring, it's the tone that I find at little depressing at first - Like he's hopelessly lost, but things are getting a little clearer.

And of course, by the end of the song, it's become an extremely moving and powerful tune.

cracknbush said:

How lucky for you to have been there.
I would have been the one bawling my
eyes out.

i've been meaning to make a disc of forgotten love songs from emancipation...
i have to admit i don't spin those discs because there are some songs on it that drive me nuts
but there are so many forgotten jems on there just like this one

bias alert..bias alert..

the melvoin/coleman clan inspire genius out of the man...In This Bed & The Love We Make are songs that define why I love prince.....

i cant help but wonder if prince was writing these songs with the girls style in mind....

bias alert part 2...

me thinks prince does wendy and lisa better then wendy and lisa...

:lurk2:

Yes, Yes, YES!

i generally dislike Emancipation (too much filler) but this song is pure brilliance. One i hope he's very proud of.