Just sitting here at work submerging myself in the moody bliss of The War, and I got to the lines that always give me pause:

"So you say...they got a cure...
HIV, I'm not sure
Every seed...fruit to bear
The great Babylon, I don't care
We know your name is The Beast
All of Gods' child is your feast
When the righteous ones plant the seed
No more kids will mama bleed
The only way to get there is The Truth y'all
Talkin' about The War, me and you."

***

Okay, so I'd like to not interpret that the way that my mind tells me that I should...so I'd love to hear from y'all what you think he's going on about here. Please? Tanks.

it has always sounded to me like the old "AIDS is a punishment from God" thing. but that just seems like too simple of an answer. or at least i've hoped.

SassyBritches said:

It goes a lil deeper then that; the line implies that HIV/AIDS was created by man as a form of genocide. I've said this several times before; and I know SOMEONE out there has to agree with me, but I also believe that this song is Princes' attempt at mass hypnosis (and no...I don't receive messages from aliens through my radio).

NOT

Even if it's talking about HIV being created for genocidal purposes, it's ALSO condemning homosexuality, right?

I'm not sure how else the "Every seed fruit to bear" can be interpreted.

So strange that a couple years later the same man sings, "Safe sex campaign touted by the gun/ With con as the prefix, suffix be the dumb/ What's in the Trojan horse's lubrication?/ Nothin' goes inside my woman 'cept the sun.."

Thanks for replying!

theblueangel said:

It couldn't possibly be that he's saying that if the HIV virus was man-made, that the man/men who created it will reap what they've sown?

And that virus being man-made is not something Prince came up with, IF that's what he believes. It's been a theory of some people for decades now.

theblueangel said:

"Every seed fruit to bear" Many of the people who were initially infected with HIV were Africans (to my knowledge) to some this was perceived as a form of wiping out a race. "Every seed fruit to bare" means that EVERYONE should have the ability to be fruitful and procreate regardless of their race. This is brought together by the next line "The great Babylon, I don't care," the Old civilization of Babylon was one of the first to instill a class system. This all balls down to say no matter what race we are we ALL have a right to procreate and endure. It is not up to man to eliminate a race or a people. In MY OPINION I don't think the lines of this song are remotely homophobic.

VERY interesting topic.

As others have stated on here, I think this has more to do with the belief that the US government created AIDS. Taken within the context of the song, that seems clear.

The War paints a picture of a great conspiracy within the world governments, with Satan at the helm. This is certainly consistent with JW theology, and their interp of the book of Revelations. This is what I get out of this verse, based on what I know about the JW belief system:

"So you say...they got a cure...
HIV, I'm not sure

In this line he is expressing scepticism that the government, which engineered the AIDS virus, is actually working on a cure at all

Every seed...fruit to bear
The great Babylon, I don't care

The government planted the seed of this virus, and now it has gotten out of control. No longer does it just affect gays, blacks and junkies (the groups primarily affected, and those targeted by the government), but those in middle class America as well.

We know your name is The Beast
All of Gods' child is your feast

Prince expresses that he knows that the "Beast" of Revelation (Satan) is in charge of the government, and is not deceived by his claims that he wants to help those with this disease. Satan wants to see God's children destroyed, not cured of disease

When the righteous ones plant the seed
No more kids will mama bleed

Definitely an expression of the JW belief that blood transfusions are a sin. Once Christ returns (according to Prince's logic), people will no longer engage in this practice. This will eventually slow the spread of HIV

The only way to get there is The Truth y'all
Talkin' about The War, me and you."

By coming to Christ, the "truth" about Satan's grand scheme is revealed, and people will no longer participate in the evil government's machinations.

Just my two cents. This song is fairly fascinating, and I would love to discuss these lyrics in more depth.

I think he is doubting what the government says to us. Or maybe he is in thought about it..maybe its an open question,do we have a cure for AIDS...or is it the disease in revelations that kills millions and cannot be cured? he goes into babylon right after it so who knows? I listened to this song again last night. i wonder why he never plays this in concert??? i would give my right arm to hear this
in concert!! the whole song.

You truly are THE JediMaster that's exactly what I meant only written a hell of alot clearer.

Holy shit, y'all...you mean now I don't have to feel like I'm betraying my gay brethren when I listen to this song? Suh-WEET.

I really dig how you broke it down, Jedi...lyrically and musically, this song is FASCINATING.

FanofDaFascist said:

Yes, I agree, this has always been my interpretation of it.

I guess either because Prince is an artist and talks in riddles, or he just plain isn't very good at relaying what point he's making - but that's my interpretation of the song.

I think The War is coming back to the familiar Prince theme of Armageddon (Let's Go Crazy, 1999, Play In The Sunshine, Crystal Ball - and numerous other lines and references).

I think Prince must have been reading up a lot during that period - there was the whole thing when he married Mayte with him doing research into Egypt and stuff, and I presume he went back further than Egypt, and also into modern day technologies - which is all the HIV as population control, microchips and underground cities stuff.

I like the War as a song, and I can definately say that this song is not some fairytale, Prince must have done some reading on these matters.