Ah, The WAR. I just put it on for the first time in ages, and I'm now posting here for the first time in what is definitely years. I used to spend a LOT of time in the old prince.org forums. About as much time as I, until today, spent on Facebook - which is to say a lot. So considering I've quit using Facebook for awhile, I thought I'd make a post about this awesome recording just to say hello to the org once again.

I was lucky to be in burgeoning status as a Prince fan back in '98 when Prince held yet another one of - what was at the time, seemingly constant - his freaky parties at Paisley Park (man, how I wished I could have gone to one of those. I would have moved to MPLS in that period of my life if I could have done) and performed The WAR, a seemingly improvised 47 minute song (I forget the exact length of the original). It was so freaky and progressive, and in my opinion contained some very interesting lyrical musings by Prince, which spurred me on to learn about things that I had never known of before, which in turn changed my life not insignificantly. Prince was, in my opinion, ridiculously far ahead of the curve in some respects in the mid- to late 90s. Internet distribution (how cool is listening to the intro segue to Exodus - "when it comes time for your fans to download your work into their computers..." - that was 1994 people!) - and the way in which Prince decided to distribute the 26-minute, edited down and lightly overdubbed version of The WAR was no different. I mean, the idea of a boot 'tree' wasn't Prince's, but I just, at the age of 17, was so excited and impressed by the idea that an artist of Prince's stature (even such as it was in 1998 *ahem*) would organise a way for fans to get hold of a work for free and in such a communal way. I liked it. And that was before I sat down in the sixth form room at school and put the CD-R in my Discman. The build. The live feel, which contributed to the overall feel that Prince, rather than simply performing a song, was giving an address. A crazy freaky address, but an address to the fans nonetheless, at least the non-naysayers (LOL!) The guitar solo. The mindblowing lyrics (yes, they really blew my mind at the time).

I liked The WAR. I'm enjoying listening to it - off my computer - now. Anyone else, to put it bluntly, feel me?

I feel ya

yeah, I love this hypnotic & dark song.

I have no idea what it is about though, very weird lyrics, the evolution will be colorized.... ???? and something about the Yen at the end....?

Pretty weird... but I love it.

I think I have posted this here somewhere in the past but I was there the night it was recorded and remember just how the room felt that night. It was definately different then any other paisley party I had ever attended. It was the night he premiered the video for "The One" and also the only night I ever saw him perform Still The One by Shania Twain (The crazy part was the guitar work on that song....it literally felt like the guitar was singing the choros...AMAZING!!). About The War though, it was eery (sp?) because he was laying on the floor improvising off a sheet of paper and he was saying, "the war will go on...if you don't wanna miss your saturday morning cartoons, you should leave now" which was a little creepy since it was a Friday night party. I remember thinking...what the heck does he know that I don't...he got CNN in the tech room or somethin?? LOL!!

Anyways, just thought I'd share my 2 cents.

i remember people already trying to make a profit off it, back in 1998,
and at least 5 people i asked for a copy and offered to send a stamped
envelope, never answering.

in the end i got the song online from a totally non prince related site
that posted it simply because of the news worthy factor of the track.

great song though. i don't listen to it very often. i like the 'chorus'
and the lines

one for me, two for you
you give me lies
not the truth
you give me candy
and keep the store
gonna eat it
in the war

and fcuz.

one, two, the evolution will be colorized

funking well cool trak

"If the government wants to put a micro-chip in yo neck, do you still love your country?" Even though this was a fairly long song I use to play it over and over. I think I've got this as an mp3, you inspired me to dig it up.

The first time I heard this track was actually live at the Hippodrome aftershow in 98 and I loved it then it was really ominous and atmospheric with the crowd joining in with the 'evolution will be colourised' line.

So I kinda have a soft spot for it and would love to hear the full 47 minutes