nice tune. i actually just dusted this one off again yesterday, after having forgotten about it
for ages.

it was so good when he released some b-sides again with the musicology singles.

i've actually added this track instead of 'life of the party' to musicology in my itunes player.

The chorus is just horrible. One of his worst tracks.

The United States Of Division

2004, still at war and everybody hates Americans
Let's go!
Come on

Flyin' in an aeroplane with pen in hand
Over miles and miles of deep blue
Wonderin' if it was all part of a master plan
Forget the 1 and become 2

How could your brother hear the same music (Music, music, music, music)
Yet somehow dance 2 a different tune?
I guess that once U go divide this precious land
This precious land will divide U
Sing!

CHORUS:
Doo doo doo doo doo doo
Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo
Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo
Everybody stop fighting
Doo doo doo doo doo doo
Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo
Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo
Everybody make love

Drivin' a brand new Cadillac through my neighborhood
Everything still look the same, uh
Everything except the fact I wish I could
Take away all the hurt and pain (Soul)

We let Supafly straighten up our curly hair (Hair)
He took the afro out the game
It's kinda cool but the guns and drugs 2 much 2 bear
10 years later Scarface came (Who U think U messin' with?)

Sing the hook

CHORUS
(Come on)

Bridge

A united state of mind will never be divided
The real definition of unity is 1
People can slam their door, disagree and fight it
But how U gonna love the Father but not love the Son?
United States of Division

Walkin' down the street, no flag in hand
No stars and stripes, no claim 2 land
No crescent moon, just a holy man, holy man

How far from heaven must we go
Before the winds of change will blow and show
This world how it's supposed 2 be
Land of peace and harmony?
Come on

Everybody stop fighting
Everybody make love
Everybody stop fighting
United States of Division

People can slam their door, disagree and fight it
But how U gonna say U love the Father and not love the Son?
United States of Division

Black (Division)
White (Division)
Straight (Division)
Gay (Division)
Christian (Division)
Muslim

Why must I say "God Bless America"
And not the rest of the world?
(Oh say can U see?)
I love my country but I love God more
Every man, women, boy and girl
Ooh, can U sing with me?

CHORUS {x2}
(Come on)
(Everybody)
(Oh)
(Put your gun down)
(Hey)
(Everybody gather round, gather round)
(Talk 2 me)
(What is this rush 2 declare war?)
(What we fightin' 4?)
(Hey)
(Oh)
(Come here, baby)

Talkin' 2 United States, United States, United States of Division!

Everybody make music
Everybody make love

Robert3rd said:

Great song, especially for these trying times in USD (read: USA). Thoughts?

Going back to the early 80s I always really appreciated it when Prince would get political. He had a philosphical way of looking at social ills and a clever and poetic way of making his observations. Plus I usually agreed with where he was coming from so his writing validated observations I was making of a world gone half crazy. It was comforting to know I wasn't alone in noticing things were wrong.

.

I like how he talks about America being so divided but he brings it back to a higher insight that we are ourselves as individuals, spiritually divided from God and/or from ourselves. He was very adept and see the big picture as well as the details.

I always thought this was one of the worst things he released.

More than ever those of us living in Prince's home country are part of the D.S.A, not the U.S.A. We are members of the Divided States of America. Thanks almost entirely to racists, liars, and greedy criminals posing as Presidents.

I always wondered if the "doo doo doo" parts were meant as placeholders for horns, and he just never got around to it.

leecaldon said:

Robert3rd said:

leecaldon said:

I always thought this was one of the worst things he released.

When it was released, I thought so too. Now I’m listening to this with a greater appreciation for it.

I'll give it another listen.