I was listening to this song yesterday and it has me kinda confused.
What's he trying to get across here?

Is he making fun of the state of the country?
Is he concerned about the "Cold War"?
Is he trying to loosen everyone up about the goings-on with the US & USSR? (like he did with "1999" regarding y2k)

Good song and everything... but it has me

It's kind of schizo in its message. It's both criticizing and commending.

The video is off the hook though....

ejnbmore said:

one of his best vid and my vote for best extended. haven't listened in a while, but i recall it primarily highlighting the hypocrisy of America

datdude said:

parts of it. parts of it seem to be quite pro-America and pro-capitalism.

InsatiableCream said:

Good Gawd!

Prince has said that the song was "straightforwardly patriotic"
Hm I don't know 'bout the straightforwardly part though.

Aristocrats on a mountain climb
Making money, losing time
Communism is just a word
But if the government turn over
It'll be the only word that's heard

America, America
God shed his grace on thee
America, America
Keep the children free

Little sister making minimum wage
Living in a 1-room jungle-monkey cage
Can't get over, she's almost dead
She may not be in the black
But she's happy she ain't in the red

America, America
God shed his grace on thee
America, America
Keep the children free

Freedom
Love
Joy
Peace

Jimmy Nothing never went 2 school
They made him pledge allegiance
He said it wasn't cool
Nothing made Jimmy proud
Now Jimmy lives on a mushroom cloud

America, America
God shed his grace on thee
America, America
Keep the children free

...Teacher, why won't Jimmy pledge allegiance?

vindication said:

for me America was like Free pt2. Even tho there is still many things to complain about, America is still the greatest place to live. I think that is what P was saying in this song. "She may not be in the black, but she happy she ain't in the red."

adorable2 said:

That sounds about right. (I haven't heard 'Free' yet, but I will when I add 1999 2 my collection).

Still... it's kinda hard to tell what his message is based on the tone in his voice. It comes out as sarcasm 2 me, like he's poking fun and isn't taking anything too seriously. Although, he doesn't seem to take much in ATWIAD seriously in general (except 4 Condition of the Heart & Temptation)

DreamyPopRoyalty said:

I believe after the success of Purple Rain, songs like Pop Life and America were bound to be written. It was his way of saying everything that is bigger isn't necessarily better. If anything it was written to make u question ur view of America and wealth. He's not saying America and capitalism is the worst but isn't saying its the best either. He is showing 2 sides of the coin.

adorable2 said:

again, thanx for the "translation".

haha... it doesn't so much make me question my view of America... it just makes me question his... he DID write it after all... so I guess that's one of his "playings with double meaning"

in respect 2 Pop Life, though, I think that's a brilliant song. I just never saw the similarites in the 2 songs b4 (but I've only listened to the album 10x since I bought it about a month ago... i was bound to find out sometime), but it certainly made a lot more sense to me.

As for the extended version, at least he made it worth listening to... unlike the half-hour version of 'I would die 4 u' boring & repetitive 2 me

DreamyPopRoyalty said:

yeah but when i was younger P was one of the first people who made me take a long hard look at America for what it really is. While its far from the worst place to reside, its not all roses.

DreamyPopRoyalty said:

he is poking fun.... at people who bitch and moan about America, even with its flaws.

Raze said:

Umm, does :

"Little sister making minimum wage
Living in a 1-room jungle-monkey cage
Can't get over, she's almost dead
She may not be in the black
But she's happy she ain't in the red"

sound like he poking fun at someone?

It sounds to me like commentary on someone who is literally working themselves to death just to survive with close to nothing... Combined with the first verse that seems to be about politicians misusing their government station to get wealthy, and the 3rd verse which appears to suggest the disenfranchisement of our children (our future) by a failing system (both educational and otherwise), it seems like a stinging lyrical address about the state of America in the mid 80's. In this context the chorus is delivered as sarcasm, imo.

Keep in mind that Prince was very patriotic up until the mid 90´s ...there was an awards show in the mid 90´s were he got very pissed when some younger Rock group did something ( with the star spangled banner ? ) that he didn´t like.

He has reevaluated his patriotism in the late 90´s, for example with songs like The War or some of his other songs with conspiracy theory tendencies.

Many people here on the org think that the lines about "change the color of the flag and to them you´re still a spade " were written about Sly Stone and his album " There´s A Riot Going On" with the altered American flag but those lines could also refer to the Gold Experience phase when Prince changed the colors red , white and blue into gold.
So, in a nutshell, he was somewhat of a more " classic " patriot up until the Gold Experience ( not necessarily conservative but politically ambigious and undecided, as he would also change his political leanings in interviews and songs and donate to Republicans and later Democrats) and at a later point in his career became sort of more aware of his "blackness", for lack of better words, as seen in songs like Avalanche and so on. He also became more critical and skeptical of the USA ( see Cinnamon Girl, Dear Mr.Man, When Will We Be Paid, The War and many other songs from the late 90s, early 00s ).

KoolEaze said:

Thanx for the insight. I DID NOT know that. He just didn't seem the type to me.

jtfolden said:

but he still reminds us not to be like Jimmy Nothing. There is a gray area with this song. On one end of the spectrum u have Little sister and her situation on the other u have politicians and wealthy misers who basically steal but somewhere in the middle there are people who are just glad they don't live somewhere in a third world country starving every single day...

I never knew what point Prince was trying to make with this song.

Can u help explane this

Jimmy Nothing never went 2 school
They made him pledge allegiance
He said it wasn't cool
(He was drafted, and sent to war)
Nothing made Jimmy proud
Now Jimmy lives on a mushroom cloud
(Jimmy died for something/war he didnt belive in ?)

mplsmike said:

Jimmy is gettin high man! He dropped outta school and now he's gettin high! He didn't stand for nothing...

adorable2 said:

that sounds good to me.... but i like mine too

mplsmike said:

It was the cold war chirun, but nevermind that, the video was the kizu swizu ze'. Got dizam, that mofo was banging! Dichotomys, hypocrisys, even the funk faces he was making playing the drums, that ninja hit his stride on that joint. That is what you call "in the zone". I defy you to show any doubter/hater that vid and youll be loaning them your records. Good grief. Off the chain

JonnyApplesauce said:

Cappatown! Sadate! it is u Pootie isn't it?
[Edited 6/2/07 11:45am]

A knuckleheaded, base take on patriotism. "It might not be perfect in America but hey its better than anywhere else! woo-haa"

Ronnie Talk To Russia and Free cover similar themes.

jtfolden said:

Sounds like she's happier to be working hard for a living than existing under a communist regime.

I think this song is a case of the higher a monkey climbs the tree, the more you see its arse.
Prince, on a dazed fantastical technicolour trip overdosing and choking on the stardust slipstream rush of global superstardom with the outrageous success of Purple Rain relases his own personal doctrane on earthbound hierarchy, portraying himself as prophet, lover, comedian, philosopher, moral bastion and, conclusively, immortal and unkillable by God himself. The torchbearer of ultimate truth the greatest human who has ever lived.
Alas, Prince's ameoba's scrotumful of knowledge and understanding regarding politics and history at the time made him look like a spolied, clueless, pious fucking idiot. The words also cheapened that funky bassline.
So, explained,and I thank you for reading and, hopefully, understanding.

Raze said:

Exactly how I see it. Pro-capitalism, anti-communism... pretty much the jist of the song imo.