I've just been listening to "The War" and had forgotten how good this is. I've been feeling this song today.

The song was lyrically revolutionary. Prince really did have a head start on so many things.

(1,2, the evolution will be colorized) {repeated throughout song}

I can't hear U, say it
Y'all ain't ready, I can't hear U, say it

Do like this...

The evolution will be colorized

This is the war... right on!
The war will go on and on and on
If U don't wanna miss your Saturday morning cartoons
1,2, the evolution will be colorized {x2}
Yeah... right on!

Y'all niggas is bad

The war will go on and on
Revolution will be... {x2}
Revolution will be on and on and...

(1,2) {repeated}

War will go on and on
If U do not wish 2 be in the war U should leave now
We are about 2 challenge what U believe
If U do not wish 2 be challenged U should leave now
Saturday morning awaits
Do U love your country? {x2} (Yes)
Do U love God? (Yes)
Do U love your country as much as U love God? (No)
If the government... {x2}
If the government wants 2 put a microchip in your neck, heh heh,
right on!
Do U still love your country? (No)
The war will go on and on
If U do not wish 2 be challenged, leave now
The evolution will be colorized
1,2, the evolution will be colorized

We are running out of the essentials of life:
Oxygen, water, food, fertile earth
Underground right now as we speak, there is a metropolis
Awaiting, waiting... 4 U, me
Clean air, food 2 eat
Will U go, will U go?
Will U go underground 2 this metropolis, this metropolis paradise?
We are running out of the essentials of life here on earth
Will U go, will U go, will U go?
Don't U love your country? (No)
If your country no longer exists on this earth
But exists under this earth, will U go?
Underneath in this metropolis, there's food 2 eat, clean air
It's a paradise
One condition: microchip in your neck
1,2, the evolution will be colorized
Right on!

Would U stay above the metropolis, the microchip city?
Would U stay above and await your fate?
Do U trust your God? (Yeah)
Would U stay on top of the chip and await your fate?
2night U will be challenged, U best leave now
This war will go on and on

2, the evolution will be colorized
1,2
1,2, the evolution will be colorized

Without God there is no country
Without God there is no metropolis
Without God there is no oxygen, there is no food to eat
Without God there is no chocolate microchip 4 your neck

Somebody say it
1,2, the evolution will be colorized
In other words, there'll be a little bit of U and a little bit of me
1,2, the evolution will be colorized
The evolution will be colorized {x2}

1 4 me, 2 4 U
Preach a lie, not the truth
U give me candy, I keep the store
Gonna' eat it in the war
I said, 1 4 me, 2 4 U
U preach a lie, not the truth
U give me candy, keep the store
Gonna' eat it in the war

Batter up, pitcher down
What your teachers say, it ain't down
Pledge allegiance 2 your flag
U tie me 2 a truck, 'n' then U drag (James Byrd murder reference)
1 4 me, 2 4 U
U preach a lie, not a truth
U give me candy and keep the store
U gonna eat it in the war

U give me AIDS, your history
When it comes 2 mine, another name
Many die and this is true
Red, black, yellow, even Jew
Claimin' God was backin' U on a cross, what a fool
1 4 me, 2 4 U
U preach a lie, not the truth
U give me candy, U keep the store
Gonna eat it in the war

Shall I go on? (Yes)
So U say U got a cure?
HIV, I'm not sure
Every seed, fruit 2 bear
The great Babylon, I don't care
We know your name, it's the beast
All of God's child is your feast
When the righteous one plant the seed
No more kids with mama bleed
Only way 2 get there is the truth, y'all
In the war, talkin' 'bout me and U

Come on
1,2, the evolution will be colorized
1,2
1,2, the evolution will be colorized
1,2
1,2, the evolution will be colorized
Play your organ, son

(1,2) {repeated}
1 4 me, 2 4 U
Preach a lie, not the truth
Give me candy, U keep the store
What the hell is goin' on y'all?

There's a mountain that's mighty high
Can't reach the top unless U fly
Ain't about the money, it's about the gold
21st century, money just got sold, y'all
Ya hear me?
Money just got sold, y'all
Check the yen
It's has-been
It's all gone
Your pocketbook is next
It's about the gold y'all

1,2, the evolution will be colorized
1,2, the evolution will be {x2}
The evolution will be
The... evolution... will... be... colorized

(1,2, the evolution will be colorized) {repeated till end}

I will have to give this song another try, I have never really liked it in the past. But as you say, in this present climate, it might get to me more.

Thanks benni, for highlighting such a timely song. And thanks to Trivial for posting the lyrics to read.

He actually payed this live once in London at the Hippodrome aftershow back in 98'.

Farfunknugin said:

He actually payed this live once in London at the Hippodrome aftershow back in 98'.

yep, also a short version at Rotterdam (nighttown) that year.

Farfunknugin said:

He actually payed this live once in London at the Hippodrome aftershow back in 98'.

I would love to have seen him play this live!

Lyrics might try to be deep but sounds like nonesense.

slyjackson said:

Lyrics might try to be deep but sounds like are nonsense.

.

FTFY

.

I do like the track though, but I like tracks that have a little bit of room to breath. The song I listen to most of Prince is the 12" version of America. In its entirety.

it's not even a real song, it's a simple jam, and I dont like it a bit. Dont know what the fuzz is about.

I pulled it up and listened to it today while prepping some dinner stuff. I still enjoy it.

I wish that there was a recording circulating of the whole performance, even though I doubt there would be much missing.

Killer drums on this.

I'm always thinking about the Matrix movie when i hear this jam. As if he had access to the script before writing the lyrics to this song.

There was talk of a 45-minute version of this song. I'd love 2 hear that if it exists.

Graycap23 said:

There was talk of a 45-minute version of this song. I'd love 2 hear that if it exists.

who in their right mind would sit to listen to 45 minutes of such a thing.

slyjackson said:

Graycap23 said:

There was talk of a 45-minute version of this song. I'd love 2 hear that if it exists.

who in their right mind would sit to listen to 45 minutes of such a thing.

Me...4 starters

It is a cool jam - I especially love Prince's leads on the second half. Sort of a pre-cursor to the effects he used on The Rainbow Children for soloing

benni said:

I've just been listening to "The War" and had forgotten how good this is. I've been feeling this song today.

TrivialPursuit said:

The song was lyrically revolutionary. Prince really did have a head start on so many things.

(1,2, the evolution will be colorized) {repeated throughout song}

I can't hear U, say it
Y'all ain't ready, I can't hear U, say it

Do like this...

The evolution will be colorized

This is the war... right on!
The war will go on and on and on
If U don't wanna miss your Saturday morning cartoons
1,2, the evolution will be colorized {x2}
Yeah... right on!

Y'all niggas is bad

The war will go on and on
Revolution will be... {x2}
Revolution will be on and on and...

(1,2) {repeated}

War will go on and on
If U do not wish 2 be in the war U should leave now
We are about 2 challenge what U believe
If U do not wish 2 be challenged U should leave now
Saturday morning awaits
Do U love your country? {x2} (Yes)
Do U love God? (Yes)
Do U love your country as much as U love God? (No)
If the government... {x2}
If the government wants 2 put a microchip in your neck, heh heh,
right on!
Do U still love your country? (No)
The war will go on and on
If U do not wish 2 be challenged, leave now
The evolution will be colorized
1,2, the evolution will be colorized

We are running out of the essentials of life:
Oxygen, water, food, fertile earth
Underground right now as we speak, there is a metropolis
Awaiting, waiting... 4 U, me
Clean air, food 2 eat
Will U go, will U go?
Will U go underground 2 this metropolis, this metropolis paradise?
We are running out of the essentials of life here on earth
Will U go, will U go, will U go?
Don't U love your country? (No)
If your country no longer exists on this earth
But exists under this earth, will U go?
Underneath in this metropolis, there's food 2 eat, clean air
It's a paradise
One condition: microchip in your neck
1,2, the evolution will be colorized
Right on!

Would U stay above the metropolis, the microchip city?
Would U stay above and await your fate?
Do U trust your God? (Yeah)
Would U stay on top of the chip and await your fate?
2night U will be challenged, U best leave now
This war will go on and on

2, the evolution will be colorized
1,2
1,2, the evolution will be colorized

Without God there is no country
Without God there is no metropolis
Without God there is no oxygen, there is no food to eat
Without God there is no chocolate microchip 4 your neck

Somebody say it
1,2, the evolution will be colorized
In other words, there'll be a little bit of U and a little bit of me
1,2, the evolution will be colorized
The evolution will be colorized {x2}

1 4 me, 2 4 U
Preach a lie, not the truth
U give me candy, I keep the store
Gonna' eat it in the war
I said, 1 4 me, 2 4 U
U preach a lie, not the truth
U give me candy, keep the store
Gonna' eat it in the war

Batter up, pitcher down
What your teachers say, it ain't down
Pledge allegiance 2 your flag
U tie me 2 a truck, 'n' then U drag (James Byrd murder reference)
1 4 me, 2 4 U
U preach a lie, not a truth
U give me candy and keep the store
U gonna eat it in the war

U give me AIDS, your history
When it comes 2 mine, another name
Many die and this is true
Red, black, yellow, even Jew
Claimin' God was backin' U on a cross, what a fool
1 4 me, 2 4 U
U preach a lie, not the truth
U give me candy, U keep the store
Gonna eat it in the war

Shall I go on? (Yes)
So U say U got a cure?
HIV, I'm not sure
Every seed, fruit 2 bear
The great Babylon, I don't care
We know your name, it's the beast
All of God's child is your feast
When the righteous one plant the seed
No more kids with mama bleed
Only way 2 get there is the truth, y'all
In the war, talkin' 'bout me and U

Come on
1,2, the evolution will be colorized
1,2
1,2, the evolution will be colorized
1,2
1,2, the evolution will be colorized
Play your organ, son

(1,2) {repeated}
1 4 me, 2 4 U
Preach a lie, not the truth
Give me candy, U keep the store
What the hell is goin' on y'all?

There's a mountain that's mighty high
Can't reach the top unless U fly
Ain't about the money, it's about the gold
21st century, money just got sold, y'all
Ya hear me?
Money just got sold, y'all
Check the yen
It's has-been
It's all gone
Your pocketbook is next
It's about the gold y'all

1,2, the evolution will be colorized
1,2, the evolution will be {x2}
The evolution will be
The... evolution... will... be... colorized

(1,2, the evolution will be colorized) {repeated till end}

That part in RED above... Homie Prince clockin' Signs and giving warning way early like in some of his other songs.

Graycap23 said:

slyjackson said:

who in their right mind would sit to listen to 45 minutes of such a thing.

Me...4 starters

Well, there are always outsiders here and there. Don't feel so bad.

slyjackson said:

Graycap23 said:

There was talk of a 45-minute version of this song. I'd love 2 hear that if it exists.

who in their right mind would sit to listen to 45 minutes of such a thing.

The same people who listen to the 30-minute version of "I Would Die 4 U" 12" single, the 21:46 version of "America," the 18 minute version of "Purple Rain" from Syracuse, 10:something version of " Wish U Heaven," I suppose.

Farfunknugin said:

He actually payed this live once in London at the Hippodrome aftershow back in 98'.

I was at that gig, but I was very drunk. It felt like he'd turned alcohol into LSD.

TrivialPursuit said:

slyjackson said:

who in their right mind would sit to listen to 45 minutes of such a thing.

The same people who listen to the 30-minute version of "I Would Die 4 U" 12" single, the 21:46 version of "America," the 18 minute version of "Purple Rain" from Syracuse, 10:something version of " Wish U Heaven," I suppose.

Waste of time some of them.

slyjackson said:

TrivialPursuit said:

The same people who listen to the 30-minute version of "I Would Die 4 U" 12" single, the 21:46 version of "America," the 18 minute version of "Purple Rain" from Syracuse, 10:something version of " Wish U Heaven," I suppose.

Waste of time some of them.

I mean, music is relative to the listener. What you deem a "waste of time" when it comes to Prince's music is a treasure to the rest of us.

But hey, your schedule just cleared up.

SquirrelMeat said:

TrivialPursuit said:

purplepolitician said:

Here here. Gimme all dem long ass joints. The longer the better. Mad Soul Psychodelicide was only an hr instead of a year as previously stated .

OMG I totally forgot about that! Yes! Reminds me of "Junk Music" or "Purple Music."

Graycap23 said:

slyjackson said:

who in their right mind would sit to listen to 45 minutes of such a thing.

Me...4 starters

me too