databank said:

I agree with y'all. I read several accounts of America being patriotic over the years and it always baffled me. I always found the message ambiguous at best, if not openly critical of the US of A.

Right.
The verses are problems that need to be fixed.
The chorus says, "hey, do better!"

databank said:

I agree with y'all. I read several accounts of America being patriotic over the years and it always baffled me. I always found the message ambiguous at best, if not openly critical of the US of A.

There was one of the European soundchecks during teh ONA tour where someone asked him on his opinion on 9/11 and if he would play America these days because of the patriotism odf the song, and his answer was short as pretty clear, he said it wasn't partiotric but a prayer for America that;s needed again like a America part 2, people were cheering. I don't know which song would qualifi as a America part 2 that he released after 9/11.

BlueShakooo said:

ShellyMcG said:

If you think America is a far right song then I'd suggest maybe listening to it again .

Again: from a mainstream German perspective, some of the lyrics (if you were to replace "America" ​​with "Deutschland") would be considered far-right, and the artist singing them would be canceled.
Only local patriotism is acceptable here.
Something like "MPLS," just in German (naturally replaced with a German city name), would be played on the radio here without any problems.
But "Deutschland" with lyrics like that?
Not since 1945.
If you know a German, show them the German translation of the following "America" ​​lyrics and ask them whether they would place the author of these lyrics more on the conservative or right-wing political spectrum.
"...Communism is just a word
But if the government turns over
It'll be the only word that's heard
America, America
God shed His grace on thee
America, America
Keep the children free..."

"...Kommunismus ist nur ein Wort.
Aber wenn die Regierung stürzt,
wird es das einzige Wort sein, das man hört.
Deutschland, Deutschland
Gott schenke dir seine Gnade.
Deutschland, Deutschland
bewahre den Kindern ihre Freiheit... "

JorisE73 said:

ShellyMcG said:

JorisE73 said:

There was one of the European soundchecks during teh ONA tour where someone asked him on his opinion on 9/11 and if he would play America these days because of the patriotism odf the song, and his answer was short as pretty clear, he said it wasn't partiotric but a prayer for America that;s needed again like a America part 2, people were cheering. I don't know which song would qualifi as a America part 2 that he released after 9/11.

Dear Mr Man and Welcome 2 America are kind of like America Part 2. Maybe even even more critical of the USA. Cinnamon Girl too to am extent.

YEah, when I typed my previoous post Cinnamon Girl and Dear Mr Man popped in my head, but I would link these more to Sign O The Times. BUt he did alot of pilitical songs so he probably considers one of them as America part 2.

thisisreece said:

Prince was, as many have said, probably all over the map politically. Some opinions well-formed and others not so much. He was a member of a deeply conservative religion and prone to conspiracy theories. So that says so much. Looking to his lyrics. Many of his lesser songs (in my opinion) certainly appear like celebrations of wealth, he was surely no hard-leaning leftist where money was concerned - and as someone who experienced extreme wealth he revelled in it and bragged about it. More than any other artist I listen to regularly, Prince liked to sing about money and his possession of it. Many of his songs’ fantasies are wrapped in wealth (LCD: ‘Take me to your mansion’; Darling Nikki, ‘She took me to her mansion’) or use wealth to seduce, sometimes jokingly (Mr Goodnight) for example. At the same time, any consciously political songs of his appear to be left-leaning, certainly where race is concerned. Certainly, he appeared anti-war in his songwriting and interviews. His charity, especially in later life, showed he was a supporter of grass-roots initiatives. Prince wanted to see others access opportunities, evident in his often overlooked charity and in his choice of musical collaborators. He provided oppertunity and rose people up. I’m reminded of what Susan Rogers said on the Purple Rain podcast: how Prince was uncomfortable interacting with celebrities back stage on the Purple Rain tour. It was her belief that Prince considered himself a hard-working working class man and was uncomfortable around all these monied people who had ‘had it easy’. Whether this is true, we’ll never know. If any song speaks to Prince’s true leanings, it’s probably ‘Money Don’t Grow on Trees’. [Edited 3/4/26 10:10am]

I always consideed him a workaholic even tho he never saw recording music as 'work' so I can imagine him being uncomfortable or even looking down on people who got easy money back in those Reagan days.

thisisreece said:

ShellyMcG said:

Don't forget about Prince's commentaries of America on Family Name and Dreamer... maybe these were potential part 2's as well!

ShellyMcG said:

thisisreece said:

Prince was, as many have said, probably all over the map politically. Some opinions well-formed and others not so much. He was a member of a deeply conservative religion and prone to conspiracy theories. So that says so much. Looking to his lyrics. Many of his lesser songs (in my opinion) certainly appear like celebrations of wealth, he was surely no hard-leaning leftist where money was concerned - and as someone who experienced extreme wealth he revelled in it and bragged about it. More than any other artist I listen to regularly, Prince liked to sing about money and his possession of it. Many of his songs’ fantasies are wrapped in wealth (LCD: ‘Take me to your mansion’; Darling Nikki, ‘She took me to her mansion’) or use wealth to seduce, sometimes jokingly (Mr Goodnight) for example. At the same time, any consciously political songs of his appear to be left-leaning, certainly where race is concerned. Certainly, he appeared anti-war in his songwriting and interviews. His charity, especially in later life, showed he was a supporter of grass-roots initiatives. Prince wanted to see others access opportunities, evident in his often overlooked charity and in his choice of musical collaborators. He provided oppertunity and rose people up. I’m reminded of what Susan Rogers said on the Purple Rain podcast: how Prince was uncomfortable interacting with celebrities back stage on the Purple Rain tour. It was her belief that Prince considered himself a hard-working working class man and was uncomfortable around all these monied people who had ‘had it easy’. Whether this is true, we’ll never know. If any song speaks to Prince’s true leanings, it’s probably ‘Money Don’t Grow on Trees’. [Edited 3/4/26 10:10am]

Surely every sane person holds some beliefs that align with "the other side". I don't see Prince as being any different. Sure, he may have harboured some right wing leaning beliefs. I'd say a lot of millionaires do. Don't forget that he was also an older man who grew up during a time where religion played a big part in people's lives. Especially those from poor backgrounds. So again, it's no surprise that he held some conservative views. However, if we look at his actions, especially in later life. His stance on the Black Lives Matter movement, his songs denouncing war, the charities he supported, his "love for one another" slogan, all that stuff. He comes across to me as a left-leaning man with some conservative views. All that to say that I very much doubt he would want his music associated with a fucking criminal lunatic or his wife.

Did she ever get legal into the USA i wonder?

Her English is so wonderful, her voice would be wonderful for a disney movie.

Prince probably also would've kicked her off stage. lol

Vannormal said: