While Prince was performing "Dreamer" on the Tonight Show, I notice he didn't really sing the 3rd verse the way it is on LotusFlow3r.At first I thought maybe he just 4got the lyrics and tried 2 work his way through it without us noticing. But when I think about it, the third verse contains some hard hitting, honest, and maybe even controversial lyrics that may rub some people the wrong way. So do U think he kinda watered it down 4 the audience who probably weren't ready 4 something so blunt or maybe he just 4got the lyrics? The lyrics Im referring 2 are the one's with vauge references 2 racial profiling, and the spraying the chemicals over the city while we sleep. What do U think?

Mindbells9 said:

Interesting you brought that up. I'm glad you picked up on the "racial profiling" line in that song because that is exactly what its referencing. You mean the part in the song that goes something like "being in a car and holding onto the steering wheel so tight and praying the police sirens pass you by" I picked up on that line definitely referencing "racial profiling." I noticed no one else mentioned anything about that line on discussing that song "Dreamer." I think one of the most powerful lines in that song is the first couple of lines about being born on the plantation of the U.S. of the Red, White and Blue. The song is obviously focuses on race in America I felt like I was getting a Gil Scott Heron moment hearing those lines. Gil always had a message in his music to raise awareness of a societal or political issue. From what I've read here in an article, that was posted here some time ago, the song is supposedly a tribute to Dick Gregory as well as Martin Luther King, Jr.

But as far as leaving those lines out of that song that night, you could be right, maybe he just wanted the audience to get into the "music" and keep the rock vibe flowing. In any case, it's one of the best songs on the album. Just my two cents.
[Edited 4/1/09 17:54pm]