wyld1 said:

Well you see, I run this site. So it's kinda my role to address the "manner" in which people state things. Sorry, that's just the way it is.



Well given the varying opinions on this site, it is very obviously "divisive". And he does express contemptuous and dismissive opinions of other civilisations. And Prince's version of events certainly isn't "my history" as you state - although I wouldn't expect you to have any knowledge of my history (Irish history) since as you stated yourself, there are Americans who barely even acknowledge their own history, let alone others'.



You should be accusing those "teachers in south of the USA" of having "amnesia" and spreading "revisionist history", rather than this blanket term "Europeans" which you employ incorrectly.



Nice. Again, someone has taken a reasonable discussion and turned it into a personal attack on the people of this site. Again, I'll advise you not to post like this. Criticise the points made here by all means, and contribute to the discussion in the manner you see fit, but insulting people here is not acceptable (please re-read our site rules if necessary).

Have a nice day!

It's impossible to have a reasonable discussion about race and history in this society.Nobody wants to take responsibitlity for the past and nobody is brave enough to define the future. So we keep sweeping issues of race and injustice under the rug, for future generations to deal with.

The REAL issue here,though, is that many Prince fans won't let go of 1986. Prince has apparently let all that go, but his fanbase, largely, has not. And so some are "offended" by lyrics in a song.

This is silly.

But more importantly, it's a symptom of the society we've become. Have you ever known someone was lying, and so to get them to conmfess, you drop hints that you know the truth? How does the liar react? Uncomfprtably. Fidgety. Defensive.

There are people of African descent on the continent of North America because certain Europeans thought it would be cool to have slaves imported from Africa. An entire industry was formed around this. These African people were treated like cattle and the psycohloguical effects are still hard to shake. Anyone who suggests these people "get over it" is either enjoying the benefits this industry has brought, or is delusional.

There. I've said it. So what. Prince, a man of African descent, exists because someone refused to do their own work and used a system of lies and violence to get it done.

Now that we know the problem, what will be the solution? More people being "offended"? Or progress? Wouldn't it be cool if music actually inspired us to be BETTER?

Again, this discussion is a silly distraction and not befitting the work of someone who is advancing in his own creativity.

dml said:

I’m really trying to understand where you are coming from with this, but I simply don’t get it.

Firstly, you seem disturbed that “nobody wants to take responsibility for the past”. If someone played no part in previous actions, do you actually believe they should take responsibility for something they did not do?

Should the peace loving Germans of today stand up and take responsibility for Hitler’s actions? Is that fair?

I am the son of Irish immigrants, now living in England. Should I take responsibility for the actions of the British, hundreds of years ago, or should I take responsibility for Irish acts of terrorism? Or should I accept the guilt from both sides, even though I had nothing to do with either of them?

Secondly, you believe the real issue is that Prince fans won’t leg go of 1986, and some are offended by lyrics of a new song. These are two completely separate issues. Many fans believe the Princes output has been weaker over the last couple of years. That is their opinion, not a fact. If the majority do indeed prefer he earlier material, maybe it was simply more accessible? Maybe it was better?

Personally, I do find the “Moors” lyrics weak. It has nothing to do with Prince’s music; we haven’t even heard a tune (if indeed there is one) to go with the lyrics. My issue is that Prince is only commenting on half the facts, and this is why some people have called it half assed or half-baked.

I am glad that Prince is learning new things about the world, but it is dangerous when he abuses his position (that being, he has an audience and fan base) to deliver only selected facts from the truth. The moors were indeed a great society. However, they were also invaders. Prince might redress the balance, and write a song about how the Moors slaughtered thousands of Spanish, who were defending their own country, but somehow I doubt it.

Prince should be more careful with his power of influence. Especially over fans who swallow every word.

As I said before, it has nothing to do with 1986 or 2003 music. I find the words to Sister equally offensive. However, sister is aimed at provocation, where songs like Muse to the pharaoh seemed to be aimed as a form of education. If education is the goal, you have to be very careful in getting your facts right, otherwise, you are not educating, but corrupting.


I found the next section of your post somewhat disturbing. You talk about liars getting fidgety and defensive. What are you getting at? Fans are lying about liking the 1986 music better? Or do you believe that people are lying about racist acts?

Either way, you are making a sweeping generalisation, aimed at no clear party.

Slavery was not an act of skin colour; it was an act of power. It has happened since the dawn of time and it is happening now. Power creates greed. The easiest way to rule over a group of people is to pick the easiest target. When a corrupt or ill-educated leader realises his power, he can take over the belongings of another. The English did it Ireland, The Australians did it to the Aborigines, and the Americans did it to the Indians. The list is endless. In fact, the Moors did it to the Spanish. What good the invaders brought is a different issue.

Racism mutated out of slavery, because the more “powerful” side in the conflict, believed themselves to be better than the enemy. Religion played a large part in this.

I remember as a child, my mother and father looking for a flat in London. Some buildings had policies saying “No dogs, no blacks no Irish”. We had to go elsewhere. Should I “get over it”? Yes. Otherwise the bitterness could take over. Do I want apologies? No. I’m English and proud, because the majority are learning. Who should apologise to me anyway?

You say Prince would not exist if it had not been for cruel actions of the past. True. So are you saying it a good or bad thing? Remember one thing, not only would Prince not exist but neither would the USA, as it was born out of invasion and stealing.

Nothing here it taking away from Prince and his creative output. You believe that these topics are talking away from his artistic growth. Some people may believe that he is going backwards, and they have every right to have that view. Just because you don’t agree doesn’t meant they have to.

Lastly, you stated “Now that we know the problem, what will be the solution? More people being "offended"? Or progress? Wouldn't it be cool if music actually inspired us to be BETTER?”

So you are saying that your mixed message has identified the problem for all of us, now we need the solution.

I agree that it would be cool if the music actually inspired us to do better. But that is not going to happen until Prince stops and thinks about what he is putting down. As I said before, education is fine, corruption of facts is not.

ian said:

We love Ian we do!!!

EvilWhiteMale said:

My solution:bend that ass over so i can start plowin.

SquirrelMeat said:

Thank you for your honesty. I respect and understand your position on this.

I'd hate to think you were equating growing up Irish in London with the physical, enotional, and psychological effects of the African slave trade.

You know back in the day before Prince starting hanging with Larry, he really seemed like an intelligent guy even could be called a genius. It's not the part of history that he provided on his website that was offensive, it's the way he put it across. If he had good sense he wouldnot do or say anything that would divide his black and white fans.

He is an extremely blessed man. Why doesn't he relax and enjoy his many blessing instead of getting stressed out?

And this man belongs to a religion that at one time in their history they were told that God was going to correct their color in the new system? Who do they think made their color in the first place?

I think sometimes Prince stresses his own self out so much, he makes himself unhappy and it is so unnecessary.

dml said:

I don't think he was "equating" anything, but at least he was trying to "relate" which is not a bad idea.

No-one is being dismissive of the history of slavery with regard to African people, and no one is making light of it. However I'll remind you that my country (Ireland) was under a very cruel British occupation for hundreds of years. Our land was taken from us, our people were starved and enslaved, and our language and culture and religion were all but destroyed and had to be practised in secret, and Irish people who travel in the UK have been subject to racist discrimination by English people right up to present day.
So umm, since I'm not dismissing African history, please don't dismiss mine.

African people aren't the only people in history to get crapped on and exploited. That's the way of the world. Prince could do with a bit of humility and respect the history of other people, their struggles, and try to relate to them like any intelligent, rational human being would. I have nothing but respect for the history of black people, the hardships they have endured as well as their accomplishments, and as a reasonably intelligent person I deny no part of history however unpleasant it may be to stomach. As a black man, Prince is absolutely right to comment on black issues and black history. However his audience is made up of many different people from all over the world, so he could attempt to relate to these people as equals and communicate with them intelligently, rather then just telling them how shit their ancestors were.

When Chuck D travels the world on tour, he has always made an effort to learn a bit about the local situation and relate it to his own history as a black man in America, which a lot of his audience appreciate. Frankly I don't give a toss what Prince's politics are, but I don't think he is beyond criticism when he tosses out some venomous ill-expressed nonsense.

Hallurain,

First of all, thanks for taking the time to read my email.

HalluRain said:

Why do you have to play or have a guitar for this song to uplift you? Isn't it just a metaphor for doing whatever you're good at? Kinda like toot your own horn?

Secondly my friend, please dont mistake my sarcasm (U gotta have a guitar) for some ACTUAL point meant to be disagreed with. Of course "Cream" is about everyone and the art every INDIVIDUAL is good at. Maybe making a counterpoint is yours, eh?

I agree with you here. Prince has always written songs that push the envelope on topics of race, religion, sex, politics...all the topics that really push people's buttons. He's built his career on it. Not sure how you figure he gets it from Jesus, though...

Jesus was a man known for metaphors. It would confound people. Any careful analysis of Prince as a lyricist would find him employing the similar tactics. I just jokingly mention it here, cause Prince comes off as such a "Jesus freak" sometimes. And now with the new accusations out, he might surprisingly be Jesus AND a freak! LOL


I'm sorry, but WTF are you talking about? Africans were specifically captured to feed the demand for slaves, not as prisoners of war. Groups of slave hunters struck into the west coast of Africa to look for, trap and haul off men, women and children for shipment to the Americas. In fact, they were often tipped off by other Africans who were paid for information on where to find their brothers and sisters or some Africans actually performed the capture and sold their captives to slave traders.

Your statement makes it sound like they shoulda fallen to their knees in thanksgiving for being "allowed" to live in slavery 'cause they would otherwise have been killed? Yet countless thousands of them did die in the holding tanks prior to the trip to the Americas, or while packed like sardines into the cargo holds of the ships, or upon arrival in America, or at the hand of their new "masters".

Seems like alot of the going back and forth here isn't about finding correct hysterical (oops, i mean HISTORICAL) information. The going back and forth is actually doing nothing but furthering the divide.

You can find differing opinions about the Slave Trade (Atlantic or otherwise) in books by Hugh Thomas and David Eltis. Both offer information to support my claim AND yours. History is always debatable. MYSTORY is the only thing I'm ever SURE about. Thanks though.

Again, I'm not saying that people were taken from Africa AS prisoners of war. I'm saying that some of the people that were offered FOR TRADE (and remember... it was a TRADE, not just a capture) were prisoners of wars WITHIN African countries.

[/b]
And the line is "Sold to the one who can now MATE THE displaced bloodline with the white jailbait"...[/b]

Yeah yeah. I know. The T is right next to the K on my keyboard. (smile). Same sentiment regardless.


DonRants,

Preciate your post. I'm not sure what Cold means in that my response was so TRULY inappropriate. But he's looking for people to substantiate his point. And while your post starts out with how much you agree with my respone, I guess the focus of this thread is how much is DISagreed upon.

Shame.

Coldblooded (Talib),

You get props from me again for starting a controversial subject.

My challenges with it, however, still stand.

Where I agree with you - is that I don't doubt that a significant amount of people who don't like Moors, might not like what it brings up. And since Caucasian Guilt is still about as easily catchable as the common cold, I don't doubt that some who take issue with these lyrics might be descendants of the "mentioned" and are averse to anything that puts them in the hotseat.

Your assumption however, is that EVERYONE who has a problem with it is "of European decscent," is ignorant and intolerant.

You - who in this post call Prince the "most BRILLIANT musical artist ever," but in a previous one suggest that he aint in a league with Jimi Hendrix.

But I digress.

Stop lumpin' folk, bruh. The blanketed line about 'everybody who has a problem with it isn't REALLY a fan of his music.' is where you start and many (obviously from the responses) stop.

If you dig it, cool. If you find it uplifting, you can start your post with "Why I'm so uplifted by this message!" But you gotta attack everyone else that either didn't get it or didn't like it and on top of that discredit their 'allegiance' to Prince. You say that the SONG wasn't offensive, but is your DEFENSE of the song offensive?

I, like you, can appreciate the brother's (Prince's) search for historical information. But you're making him out to be Cornel West!! Prince, at one time in his life, came off more like Tiger Woods.

Yes, a true AFRICAN AMERICAN fan remembers the days when P's POCKETS meant that he didn't want to be pigeon-holed into one particular race. All of our people might not know the "depth of this man" - but one does know some of the depth and can even recall some of the shallow-ness.

I take it all for what its worth, man. Its information. Plain and simple. Everybody that aint down with it aint somebody that has NO appreciation for his art, for history or even for you. Prince, Michael Jackson - everbody has a right to do the almighty "come home to Blackness" when the money starts running low.

When Mike started calling Tommy Matolla a racist for something he 'overheard' Tommy say about another artist, did anybody even bother to ask WHEN Mike heard it? Its amazing the kind of ignorance that fat pockets can buy you, isn't it?

Be real, bruh! Moors in Spain, Avalanche - you think Warners would have put the brakes on these songs in the Purple Rain days? Maybe... But I also think a brother more interested in the almighty $$$ might not have even cared to write it.

Prince has a right to "come home to Blackness" at any point in his career. Those of independent thought (whether Black or White) aint necessarily willing to go slamming down a plastic cup of the Jim-Jones-juice everytime he says something political, religious or otherwise.

He's a man FULL of contradictions. Like everyman. Like you. Like me.

lovebird said:

---
Yes, just keep ranting about sex all day!!! That really shows intelligence. It was time for this guy to go read a book. Just because he brings a historical fact up it is know reason for fans to flip out.

Abrazo said:

---
Put a sock in it already.

There is no divide in the Prince "community" We all have different opinions about the "Moors".

Some of us realize that a lot of historical information about Africa is belittled or left out of the history books.

Some of us think any attempt to uplift the race with some important information is a automatic put down of the white race. When it really has nothing to do with the white race.

The fact that some fans think it would be great if Prince keep ranting about sex as a 45 year old man is pretty damm sad. As long as a blackman plays the clown everybody is happy as soon as he picks up a book he is being divisive.

laurarichardson said:

Hey, you'll get no argument from me on that... I'm quite glad Prince dropped the juvenile clumsy sex-obsessed BS and is trying to further his education a bit and stretch himself lyrically.

At the same time though, although I agree with your points in essence Laura, I do feel that if Prince is going to try to discuss "serious" topics then he can reasonably expect "serious" criticism. No harm in that, and as you say, we all have own opinions on the matter.

I for one don't need popstars giving me history lectures or indeed lectures about anything. He's just a 45 year old musician and his opinions (which he is perfectly entitled to) are no more valid than anyone else's. That all said, I applaud Prince trying to expand his knowledge and tackle issues... especially if it attempts to provide balance to the way black history is currently taught in American schools. It's just a shame that the WAY Prince expresses himself can often detract from the MEANING of what he wants to say and indeed the SPIRIT in which his statements are intended. Surely the great achievements of black civilisation (such as he describes) are sufficient to impress in their own right, without the need to malign other races of people. Tsk tsk.

ian said:

Oh, I might get labelled an Uncle Tom or a republiklan for applauding you, Ian. Oh, well. Fuck it.

ian said:

How Alexander Haig of you, Ian.





In as much as it was distracting, Cold's secondary point of defining "real Prince fans" as those that agree with the singer's latest lyrics understandably distracted a number of folks, it seems, from what I took to be his central point:

That "minority" or darker-hued members of the world don't seem to matter much in the global scheme of things. And, to extrapolate upon Cold's points about distorted histories, one could argue that the aforementioned revisionist tide in the South concerning U.S. slavery is symptomatic of a wider, deeper principle of ignorance that fuels everything from shortsighted (and, yes, often racist) foreign policies of the U.S. and Europe to the exclusion of real-to-life blacks, Latinos, Native Americans, Arabs and other "minorities" from everyday media images in America.

And, that is the principle that ties the worth of nonwhites to what they can do for whites, that we only matter when we're a means to an end.

Much of American history bears this out [again, the oft-referenced "History of the People of the United States" by Howard Zinn illuminates the damage done in the spirit of that flawed principle].

It's seen in the harm done the Native Americans, to the Africans who became slaves here and in the Caribbean and in the short shrift given news out of the African continent in today's newspapers and news broadcasts. (To this day, for example, many Westerners -- particularly Americans -- might be shocked to learn that Africa comprises a number of thriving metropolises, not just famine- or war-torn nations.)

And, in a more trivial vein, it's the exposition and repudiation of that principle of "nonwhite validation through servitude" that has occupied a major spot in Prince's music in the past few years. The race politics of Warner executives (vis a vis Prince during the 1980s and 1990s) have been discussed numerous times before, far more expertly, so I won't belabor them.

It's a fair bet (and I'm referencing "Dig U Betta Dead," here) that Prince sees a direct relationship between the course of his career/popularity and the racist attitudes he continually confronted as a top artist for a media corporation during that period. And, to put it bluntly, he's pissed. (Granted, Lil' Man has shot himself in the foot many a time, through poor business decisions and whimsy.)

So, yes, he probably has had a "coming home to black America" moment or rebirthing that, coinciding with his personal crises in recent years, has manifested in a seemingly newfound interest in the histories of historically marginalized people -- particularly people who resemble him.

In a sense, Prince's story as a "rejected black artist" is as American as the success stories of Elvis or Eminem, in my opinion.

But, again, black buffoonery has always been more palatable to the American/Western mainstream than has the self-assertion of black pride. And, sometimes -- and this is hardly a newsflash -- explicit black declarations of pride and beauty are mistaken for implicit denunciations of other peoples (even with no proof of the latter exists).

stymie said:

Thanks! Hopefully the powers that be will permit us to agree on stuff, even though we may have different ancestors etc haha.

Also, great post ThreadBare, thanks for that.

dml said:

Thanks for thinking about what I said.

Of Course what I went through is nothing in comparison to slavery.

However, there are many people going through troubles, first hand, that even though, they are less severe than slavery, feel worse as they are first hand rather than past down through gererations.

I think I've had it easy.

What annoys me somethimes is that I, like 99% of the population in "Western" countries get labelled with being the majority.

I am a non religious, son of an immigrant, English man. If 90% of the world follow some form of religion, I must be a tiny minority. So where are my minority rights? Or am I labelled a "western aggressor" because of my skin"?

An important thing to point out is that you made no accusations about these points in any way. I don't want people to think you did!

Its good that Prince's music has us talking. But I just think he has to watch what he says.

Anyone remember in the ONA tour when Prince was "re-naming" fans in the crowd?

Why did he re-name some people "Blackburn"? Was this a name picked at ramdom, or was he suggesting something darker?

If he was suggesting that something along the lines of "Blacks" and "Burn" then he could not be further from the truth.

The name blackburn comes from one source. In the 1500's when coal was mined in Lancashire, England, The "Burn", meaning river, ran through the mining town. The Town, and some miners, adobted the name "Blackburn" meaning "black river".

Now Prince might not have meant any harm with this choice of name, but judging where he was coming from I don't think it was random.

Its this type of message that can cause conflict or mis-understanding.

ian said:

ian said:

No prob. And, ultimately, we all have the same ancestors.

CDHTUNE said:[quote]Hallurain,

You - who in this post call Prince the "most BRILLIANT musical artist ever," but in a previous one suggest that he aint in a league with Jimi Hendrix.


Now hold on now ... don't twist my words like CNN or FOXNews. The statement that I made was with specifically concerning guitar playing skills. And furthermore I put him second behind Jimi because Jimi was the greatest. I said second behind Jimi is saying a lot. But Prince is far more than a guitar player. His a brilliant composer, an excellent singer, a great entertainer, and a great dancer. So I would never compare the two in general because there is none. The discussion was about guitar playing. And as far as R&B(Rock) guitar playing Jimi is first and Prince second in my book. To add a twist to it no one plays like Stanley Jordan but that is a different category all together.

Yo ... Psalm 62 ... brilliant writing ... you must be a pro ... I am going to check out Psalm 62 and see what that is all about.

Psalm 62 was absolutely right about rejection from 'mainstream' society and how it tends to make a stronger man look toward his roots. A weaker man would just stray off into the abyss. That is why I am not critical of Prince not associated himself with Black people in his early years. S... who would have time to do anything while creating so much beautiful music. I have much respect for the man because when he was "on top" and "had it made" he looked them in the eye and publicly told them that he ain't no slave (We were never slaves ... just enslaved people [KRSONE]). He sacrificed the ownership of the lifes work of art on principle and I respect that. That is how I live my life. I work in a corporate environment and all who work with me know two things:

I do my work and do it well
My family comes first and they need to schedule everything around my family responsibilities.

I know that statement does not seem to compare to the significance of what Prince did but with respect to my life decisions like that were just as monumental. And by watching people like Prince who risk everything for what they believe in it inspired me to do the same. Now I am very successful and I have my own company.

Half of the discussions on this site are about the music he makes now and essentially it's non-POP appeal. They should all wish they could be half the person he is for not being lured by the 'POP-LIFE' and the 'devil' into selling out his soul and music.

And don't nobody cry for Prince w/respect to finances. He has been brilliant from the start as far as the business end of the music industry. As we all know he was offered a deal at something like 16 and refused. On top of creative control, I am sure that deal gave him the little scraps of points that first time artist traditionally get. He held out for years until the right deal came which I am sure put a lot of money in his pocket and set precedence for albums to come.

coldbloodedque said:

Preach, preacha! And, thanks.

ian said:

which is why the documentary that kevin smith shot at paisley after "the rainbow children" was played for the crowd will never see the light of day.

prince can't handle criticism. anyone that is critical of him is treated the same. whether it's a fan who has something intelligent to say that might make prince see their side, or whether it's CJ (billy jack bitch.)

prince treats everyone the same who is critical of anything he does. doesn't like warner being critical of what he turns in for them to promote an release as a warner bros record? write slave on your face and change your name to o+> and become a punchline for every comedian out there.

don't like mayte having a voice (one would have to assume that after a while, she too became critical of the decisions he began making), well, divorce her.

am i the only one who was thrilled to see her happy on those vh1 specials about tommy lee? i didn't care who she was with... i just thought it was great to finally see that smile back on her face... and know she was strong enough to get out of that relationship...

don't like websites or fanzines that are critical of your work? sue them! put them out of business, or get them off the internet if they won't become part of "the collective."

i could go with more examples, but the people i'm speaking to on this site aren't dumb. they know already.

do i have a problem with "moors in spain"? "family name"? "when will we b paid"? no. i could really give a shit about his thoughts on race relations.

even if (big if here folks) prince was suddenly pro-black, well... he doesn't mind that well over half of the strongest part of his fanbase are white, and that just like it says in his song "cut me, cut you, all the blood is red"... he could rewrite the song and call it "money"... "open ur wallets, all of u, all the money i want 2 put me #1 at the bank is green." if prince took it a step further and said "i don't want any fans unless they are black... he may as well close paisley and go buy a trailer home. look at the charts and see who folks (again, of all races) are supporting these days. prince needs those of us who are in our 30s-40s (again, of all races) and have an income. if he denounced all non-blacks, don't you think just a few blacks would be upset about that too and stop supporting him?

so, what i was about to say before... i could care less if he's ranting about race, or whatever. if the music kicks ass and has a great guitar solo, then cool. i'm not going to go around humming the lyrics to "family name" like i would with "shockadelica" or "she's always in my hair". i'm also not going to go around humming the lyrics to "nigga what, nigga who" by jay-z. it's just not me.

i care about the music. the lyrics have become no longer important in his releases because he no longer writes great lyrics like he use to... a lot of people on this site (and others) said "the rainbow children" would be great if it didn't have the religious, misogynist, and racist b.s. throughout the album...

what does prince do? he puts out several fairly instrumental albums, and folks whine "no more instrumentals!"

he can't win.

Those who are offended or annoyed by these lyrics are simply showing their intolerance and ingnorance
why don't you talk about arabs traders who sold black slaves? And Im not annoyed or offended, Im just sorry for Prince he should open serious books instead of falling into ridicule

coldbloodedque said:

C -

First and foremost, you're right - Stanley Jordan is the man. (smile)

But bruh, I think ya CAN do both. And I think more artists should do both FROM JUMP!

If Prince decided to do one and not the other, then yeah, that's his choice. But Donny Hathaway, Roberta Flack, Nina Simone, Gil Scott-Heron and even some of the current artists you probably dig like Public Enemy, Dead Prez, Erykah Badu, they do both as well.

I don't mind a good redemption story though. I mean if KRS-ONE can go from "listen to my 9mm go bang" to Edutainment, then hey... there's hope for everyone, right?

Even in the advent is what is being called the NEO-SOUL movement, my greatest criticism of many of these "artists" is that in search of the almighty dollar, they don't even like to use the word, "Black."

GOD bless Angie Stone though.

I don't doubt that there are messages out there that cross racial lines. They should be promoted and hailed as words that have the power to bring us all together.

But there are also TRUTHS out there about police brutality, employment/housing/education opportunity that don't cross any racial line. They actually tend to stay on one side. If you are an artist, and you'd like your work to be some Sign of the Times, I'd hope that this is ALWAYS important to you.

Hey Guys,
This is a great topic. I was wondering though how many of us really have a historical understanding of the lyrics of this song? For those who don't but would like to know more I recommend you read "Golden Age of the Moors" by Dr.Ivan Van Sertima. Dr. Sertima is a professor at Rutgers University in New Jersey. Hope this helps.
Don