It's been on heavy rotation for a couple of weeks now.

emesem said:

The humanity that infuses this song is something special. Out of all his gospel flavored/social commentary songs this seems the most mature and developed. I get chills when he says "put down the needle, put down the spoon" Buried at the end of Emancipation this one doesn't get the love it deserves..

Well...IT AIN'T GOSPEL!

Gospel-type tracks...The Ladder, Still Would Stand All Time.

The Love We Make? Nah.

It's a secular, R&B/sort of ballad type song.

Still, I do agree with you on the fact that it should get more love.

Love everything about it...the way P sings it, the keyboards especially, the guitar at various points...

one of his best out of his many many bests!

The love we make is not secular...its not preaching a particular faith but its all about God. I don't follow organized religion but I do so love this song.

Desperate is the day that is tomorrow
For those who do not know the time has come
To whip the dogs that beg, steal or borrow

From the table God set For His Son
Wicked is the witch that stands for nothing
All the while watching to see you fall
Deeper than the ditch that bred your suffering
The one being dug right now by them all
Happy is the way to meet your burdens
No matter how heavy or dark the day
Pity on those with no hope for tomorrow

It's never as bad as it seems until we say
Precious is the baby with a mother
That tells him that his Saviour is coming soon
All that believe will cleanse and purify themselves
Put down the needle, put down the spoon
Put down the needle, put down the spoon
Sacred is the prayer that asks For nothing, oh

While seeking to give thanks for every breath we take, oh
Blessed are we inside this prayer
For in the new world, we will be there

[Outro]
The only love there is, is the love we make
The only love there is, is the love we make
(The only love there is, is the love we make)
Only love there is, only love there is
The only love there is, is the love we make (Yeah)
The only love there is, is the love we make

williamb610 said:

emesem said:

The humanity that infuses this song is something special. Out of all his gospel flavored/social commentary songs this seems the most mature and developed. I get chills when he says "put down the needle, put down the spoon" Buried at the end of Emancipation this one doesn't get the love it deserves..

Well...IT AIN'T GOSPEL!

Gospel-type tracks...The Ladder, Still Would Stand All Time.

The Love We Make? Nah.

It's a secular, R&B/sort of ballad type song.

Still, I do agree with you on the fact that it should get more love.

Love everything about it...the way P sings it, the keyboards especially, the guitar at various points...

one of his best out of his many many bests!

donnyenglish said:

"Sacred is the prayer that asks for nothing" is one of those moments that gives me goosebumps (and I'm a heathen).

I never paid attention to this song until it came on randomly just this year. Blew me away. Don't know why I never took this track seriously.

paisleypark4 said:

I never paid attention to this song until it came on randomly just this year. Blew me away. Don't know why I never took this track seriously.

The studio version is so sparse and plastic. I really hope there's a later version in the vault somewhere that has some emotion and guitar.

donnyenglish said:

The 2013 Montreux performance is one of those special moments.

without a shadow of a doubt. I nearly lost if when I heard him start that song. One of my favourites, but I had never heard him played it live before July 15th 2013.

Underrated? By whom?

Genesia said:

Underrated? By whom?

That's what I was going to say. I hear nothing but praise for this track.

Beautiful track.

yes.. he puts strength and his own praise in a simple form.

I actually prefer the studio version to most live one's I've heard. (I've only heard it wth 3EG... didn't like that lineup and regret not seeing them... East Coast got 3EG + NPG... West Coast only 3EG...)

it's a hauntingly beautiful song. I love Discs II and III of Emancipation... can do without I... thought it has a few.

i think SHE SPOKE 2 ME, DOLPHIN, SAVIOR, LOVE 2 THE 9's, MORNING PAPERS and 2045 Radical Man are horribly underrated... Same with SHE LOVES ME 4 ME... people seem to think that's a throwaway... but everybody's got favorites.

Black album and Come.... way OVER rated... But that's the org for ya

coldasice said:

& you really have no clue what it's about do you? It's a little hypocritical considering the way things ended. I'd put it up there with My Little Pill.

Of course, those of us who were around at the time know that it's actually about Jonathan Melvoin, Wendy's brother who was the drummer in the Smashing Pumpkins. He died of a drug overdose back in '95 or '96. It even says in the booklet that it was "Written 4 a lost friend."

Strive said:

paisleypark4 said:

I never paid attention to this song until it came on randomly just this year. Blew me away. Don't know why I never took this track seriously.

The studio version is so sparse and plastic. I really hope there's a later version in the vault somewhere that has some emotion and guitar.

I agree, the production on Emancipation and The Gold Experience is horrible. 'Plastic' is a good way to describe it. Both albums have several excellent songs, The Love We Make being one of them, but even these are held back by the production.

I wouldn't necessarily say it's too sparse. Some of Prince's best songs are sparse. The Question of U, for example, would hardly benefit from more instruments being added. That said, I can imagine how some understated guitar licks and a tasteful solo at the end -something along the lines of Pink Cashmere- might add another dimension to The Love We Make.

anc282 said:

williamb610 said:

emesem said:

The humanity that infuses this song is something special. Out of all his gospel flavored/social commentary songs this seems the most mature and developed. I get chills when he says "put down the needle, put down the spoon" Buried at the end of Emancipation this one doesn't get the love it deserves..

Well...IT AIN'T GOSPEL!

Gospel-type tracks...The Ladder, Still Would Stand All Time.

The Love We Make? Nah.

It's a secular, R&B/sort of ballad type song.

Still, I do agree with you on the fact that it should get more love.

Love everything about it...the way P sings it, the keyboards especially, the guitar at various points...

one of his best out of his many many bests!

This song is not secular (nothing Prince did was ever secular). It's not underrated either. I don't know anyone who thinks it's just ok. There are many Prince tracks--and one can't keep talking about them all, all of the time.

rogifan said:

donnyenglish said:

The 2013 Montreux performance is one of those special moments.

As is 2011 North Sea Jazz. One of my favorite guitar performances from him.

Yes, second night. Great setlist. Even though NSJF is held in my hometown I didn't feel like going 3 nights in a row. I'm glad I picked the right one.

Yes, one of his most extraordinary moments IMHO... I believe it's his only song to this day that brought tears rolling down my face the first time I listened to it.

anc282 said:

coldasice said:

& you really have no clue what it's about do you? It's a little hypocritical considering the way things ended. I'd put it up there with My Little Pill.

Of course, those of us who were around at the time know that it's actually about Jonathan Melvoin, Wendy's brother who was the drummer in the Smashing Pumpkins. He died of a drug overdose back in '95 or '96. It even says in the booklet that it was "Written 4 a lost friend."

He was the keyboardist, actually. The drummer was there too coincidentally, and got fired from the band as a result. BEAST drummer though, Jimmy Chamberlin.

SanMartin said:

rogifan said: