What is sacrifice?

(We s... we s... we s... we sacrifice)

NPG in mass attack, Sonny, please.

(we sacrifice)

Church if u will, please turn 2 the book of Victor (We s, We s)
We like 2 start at the top if u don't mind

(we sacrifice)
(Don't say it, preacher)

I was born on a blood stained table
Cord wrapped around my neck
Epilectic 'til the age of 7
I was sure heaven marked the deck

(we sacrifice)
I know joy lives 'round the corner
{Joy for sale down on the corner} (we sacrifice)
One day I'll visit her I'm gonna
{Out on my block I'm just a loner} (we sacrifice)
When she tell me everything {tell me}
That's when the angels sing {sacrifice}
That's when the victory is sho 'nuff {sho 'nuff down with the sacrifice}
(we sacrifice)
(help me)
(Don't say it, preacher)

Mama held up her baby 4 protection
From a man with a strap in his hand
Ask the Victor 'bout pain and rejection
U think he don't when he do understand

(we sacrifice)
I know joy lives 'round the corner
{Joy for sale down on the corner} (we sacrifice)
One day I'll visit her I'm gonna
{Out on my block I'm just a loner} (we sacrifice)
When she tell me everything {tell me}
That's when the angels sing {sacrifice}
That's when the victory is sho 'nuff {sho 'nuff down with the sacrifice}
(we sacrifice)
(help me)
{S.A.C.R.I.F.I.C.E}
(we-we-we sacrifice)
(Don't say it preacher)
(sac-sacrifice)
(we-we-we sacrifice)

(we-we-we sacrifice)
(sacrifice... if u turn the page)
(Don't say it, preacher)

1967 in a bus marked public schools
Rode me and a group of unsuspecting political tools
Our parents wondered what it was like 2 have another color near
So they put their babies together 2 eliminate the fear
We sacrifice yes we did
Fighting one another, (we sacrifice) (don't say it preacher)
All because of color
The angel of hate - she taught me how 2 kick her
If she called me anything but Victor (u mean like nigger?)
If the only thing that tells me is father time
Then sacrifice is the mutha sublime - we love it

Listen mutha - we sacrifice

(don't... don't... don't say it preacher)

(we sacrifice)

(Well, well, well, well)

(What is sacrifice?)

Hold yo' text, deacon

Never understood my old friends laughing
They got high when everything else got wrong (pass the booze up here)
Dr. King was killed and the streets
They started burnin'
When the smoke was cleared, their high was gone
Education got important, so important 2 Victor
A little more important than ripple and weed
Bernadette's a lady, and she told me (what she say?)
"Whatever u do son, a little discipline is what u need,
is what u need, u need to sacrifice"

(we sacrifice)
I know joy lives 'round the corner
{Joy for sale down on the corner} (we sacrifice)
One day I'll visit her I'm gonna
{Out on my block I'm just a loner} (we sacrifice)
When she tell me everything {tell me}
That's when the angels sing {sacrifice}
That's when the victory is sho 'nuff {sho 'nuff down with the sacrifice}
(we sacrifice)

(what is sacrifice?)
(we sacrifice)

{S.A.C.R.I.F.I.C.E}
(we sacrifice) (joy around the corner)
Hey Wendy, how come we... (we sacrifice)
'scuse me y'all (we sacrifice)
We don't don't mean 2 take up yo time (joy around the corner)
But we got something
heavy on our minds (we sacrifice)
Yes, we do (we sacrifice)
Sometimes, u gotta leave the one u love
Somebody, anybody, everybody wave your hand
Around the corner, there's another sacrifice (joy around the corner)
But u got 2 do the best u can y'all (we sacrifice)
Say u got 2 go through it (go through it)
U got 2 go through it all (go through it all)
High glory, yeah
Sell it, don't tell it, don't tell me (joy around the corner)
[.....] nice at my feet

Lord I might get tired,
but I, I've got 2 keep on (we sacrifice)
Walkin' down this road, (we sacrifice)
Keep on walkin' down this road (joy around the corner)
When I reach my destination (we sacrifice)
My name will be Victor

Amen


[Edited 6/9/06 14:36pm]

I really love this song too. Surprisingly.

this is the only song ever that i like tony m's contribution to.

theghostoftonym said:

me too. i would still like it if there were a version of this
great song without him. but as far as tony m 'contributions'
to prince songs go, this one i can take best.

I LOOOOOVE this JAM!

Around 1997 I had this friend who was a BIG 80s Prince fan and he was always trying to shove his opinion in my face about how great 80s Prince was and how awful and jaded 90s Prince sounded. We argued quite a few times and I got sick of it so I challenged him to a showdown. We could each pick one song to play back to back in a duel. When I saw him loading up Dirty Mind I knew this wasn't even going to be a contest...I couldn't wait to wipe that self-righteous smirk off his face. After he played "Head" it was my turn, so I loaded up "The Sacrifice of Victor" which "spanked him like his father!" He shut the fuck up for good after that. After that humbling experience, he was slow to knock post 80s Prince ever since.

Did I mention I LOOOOOVE that JAM?

VICTORy is sweet, indeed!

.....

I dig it too. I always thought Emancipation (the song) was just a revamp of this song. I do prefer Emancipation over TSOV, but it's still a nice way to cap off a great album.

pinkgirl93 said:

"Emancipation"....another GREAT track! It's kind of a tighter, stripped down version of TSOV.

.....

gcu1 said:

Yes, I love the way he uses the base as the rhythm for the song. Great riff!