SexGod said:

Totally agree, he just says there is no assistance in aids.. ie deadly aids does not help anyone.

I happen to like this song. He wrote it when Bush was in office and he specifically is unhappy with the political situation and unfairness of the system.

However I don't agree with not voting. It was voting that got us Obama / democrats in power and hopefully the US economy will change for the better. We did not really have the monetary resources for a war in Iraq and what is the use of helping others find freedom and democracy when it does not exist in your own country (re: Katrina 2005, I know just an example).
[Edited 1/25/09 17:41pm]

errant said:

Same thing I was thinkin cause nothin was said bout skin colour

GNS said:

Ultimately he's saying it doesn't necessarily matter who you vote in, you generally get the same outcome....

'Maybe we should write a letter'...if enough people do this, maybe politicians will be more aware of the nations worries and of what the people want/need?

As for speaking French...have you seen UTCM? 'Garcon! Avez-vous un crayon?' That's French, you understand...

the lyric 'we don't understand...' is part of 'we don't understand WHY poor people keep struggling, but u don't lend a helping hand'

the play on words 'ain't no fair in welFARE' and 'no assistance in AIDS' is about the ironic use of those terms, it doesn't mean anything about assisting the funding of AIDS research and suchlike or the fairness of the social security system (see reply #51)

the only thing wrong with this song is 'we want 2 end this letter with 3 words:
We tired o'y'all'...It's actually six words...'We are tired of you all'. (I'm being pedantic here 'K?

smiler69 said:

I agree with most everything said here. I never felt "Dear Mr. Man" was as backwards thinking as everyone makes it out to be. Suggesting, "maybe we should write a letter" shouldn't be taken as if he believes that's a true solution. It expresses how utterly hopeless the situation is. Writing a letter is like throwing a hail mary in the final seconds of a football game because nothing else has worked.

As far as the "we tired 'o ya'll" line, that was obviously intentional. I think he was being faecetious by speaking in the language of the downtrotten; The way many people would speak that line, it sounds like three words to the ear, not four.

Oh yeah, the groove is smooth and funky too, a great song imo.

I think my I.Q. dropped 10 points reading this thread.

prince's religious views prevent him from voting?

daym prince what is this lol

Surely with the vote thing he's just stating that when forced to choose between the devil and the deep blue sea does it really matter as you're fucked either way?

It's been one of my sentiments since I gained my right to vote.

We've had many governing parties in Britain and too be honest the whole thing just keeps going around and around. It'll never change if it's allowed to continue. One party is no better than another. They're just a different group of people standing under a different colour, that's all.

So people fought for this right I have. Great, we have a democratic vote but unfortunately no democratic rule.

And as for AIDS in the first world? Well, bar the unfortunates (and my heart does go out to them), we have the opportunity to get tested or either keep our cock in our trousers and our legs shut or use a clean needle. You can't be arsed with that? Well then spin the wheel my friend.

Hi Dig Deep Into Your Soul,And If You Are Really A Prince Fam,You Would Understand This Song Completely If You Keep Up With The World And Things,Prince Has Grown And Yet Some Of Us Have Not.His Music Is In All Different Directions And We Should Be Humble And Be Blessed To Have His Music,Who Would Of Thought So Much Talent Would Exist In One Man,Who Is Forever Taking Music In Every Direction,Personally Mr. Man Is On Of My Favorite Songs,I Listen To Daily,The Undertaker Is My Number One Song,With Prince's Diversity,His Music Will Never Get Old And He Will Always Sell Records,Because He Understand The Real Meaning Of What A Musician Is Supposed To Do,Cover All Generes,Which Is Why He Keeps One Always Coming Back For More,Last Note"Remember All The Critics In New York"?,They Love Him Now,Peace And Love And We Are Here To Enjoy And Not Be So Critical Or Opioniated,Even Though We Are Entitled To Our Own Beliefs,It Would Be Nice To Hear Nice Postings About Prince,We Have Enough Negativity In This World."Peace & Love" Is What The New Power Is All About! O+>
[b][Edited 1/26/09 3:15am]
[Edited 1/26/09 3:16am]
[Edited 1/26/09 3:17am]

Well that last post was easy on the eye wasn't it.

h0uSeQuAkE said:

I'm not.

GNS said:

You are right that there is assistance when it comes to issues such as AIDS, but lets be real here, the government could be doing so much more than they are doing. With where our economy is now, God only knows how the government will be able to help with services like the ones where AIDS research and assistance are concerned because of lack of money we have, thanks in part to George W. Bush.

Speaking of "Dubya", when it comes down to the whole "these 3 words" thing, remember, George W.Bush was notorious for destroying the english language. Just 2 weeks ago he said the word "misunderestimate" at a press conference in the White House. I think it was Prince just mocking GWB. Something that wasn't and still isn't hard to do 4 years later.
[Edited 1/26/09 8:12am]

JayJai said:

To quote Steve Harvey from last nights BET's Celebration of Gospel, "he is Barack, NOT THE ROCK".

daPrettyman said:

He keeps talkin bout change, which was why I said "hopefully". I'm not sayin he's "the Rock"
Can anyone over-fuckup more than wat Bush has done anyway?

i sometimes wonder if my light-hearted yet pointed response above was even worth saying...people seem to love taking things literally with no real comprehension of what's being said

true.....stupid ass song

smiler69 said:

Your post seems to be on point there smiler...or is it 69? which would u rather?

errant said:

errant, I think I love you.

viewaskew said:

True indeed.

NouveauDance said:

No. It's nothing.

Just like the overall idea of the; why bother?

GetAwayFromMe said:

SexGod said:

Umm, I GET the intended pun, but for it to be "clever", it would have to be true on both sides of the entendre.

"In France a skinny man died of a big disease with a little name."

Now THAT'S clever. He was using vivid wordplay, and it was true in the sense that he was alluding to "Patient Zero", the flight attendant who was thought to have infected men in LA, SF and NYC. (That theory has since been debunked).

GNS said:

Don't understand the joke above (I put it in bold)

What do you mean ?

Graycap23 said:

[Flame snipped - Mars23]

syble said:[quote]

GNS said:

[Flame snipped - Mars23]

syble said:

[Flame snipped - Mars23]

xpertluva said:

If I gave up everytime I thought things were hopeless, I'd be dead.

iloveannie said:

Your signature says it all.

purplecam said:

I never even considered him mocking number 43. If that IS the case, BRILLIANT!!!

I think people r taking the lyrics entirely too literally.


I think he uses an image of a letter for the exact reason that it is so understated in relation to the offenses being committed. And while "no assistance in AIDS" may not be true, the idea he is trying to get across is that with as much $ as the Gov't AND Private industries spend on other issues, couldn't more & b spent on AIDS research. Don't look at the lyrics so literally. It's a symbolic song based on symbols and not actuality.


It';s reflected in the title as well. Seriously with all the issues mentioned and the title is "Dear Mr Man" instead of "WTF IS GOING ON U IDIOTS IN GOVERNMENT!!!!"


The amount of anger is reflected by the amount of reserve it took to hold the gut feeling back.




at least that's what I get out of it.