"America" was culled from an epic group performance involving:
Prince - vocals, assorted instruments
Brown Mark - bass guitar
Wendy Melvoin - guitar
Lisa Coleman - keyboards
Dr. Fink - keyboards
Bobby Z. - drums and percussion.
Prince's staff engineer Susan Rogers recalled to Uncut: "They would jam it for 15, 20, 30 minutes, We were working at the top of a reel of tape of 30 in a second, which gave us roughly 16 minutes; we ran until the tape run out. The band would get a groove going and just play, he might call out changes, and the song would fall from rehearsal."
"America" was cut to 3:40 on the album, though the 12-inch single runs for 21:46.
The video is a 10-minute live version that was shot on October 27, 1985 at Théâtre de Verdure in Nice, France. It was played on MTV during an entire segment dedicated to the single.
This was the third and final single from Around The World In A Day, following "Raspberry Beret" and "Pop Life." The album showed up on April 22, 1985, just 10 months after his blockbuster Purple Rain. Prince had played the album for his distributor, Warner Bros. Records, but wouldn't let them run a promotional campaign - the album simply showed up in record stores, shocking fans.
America
Prince Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Peace!
Aristocrats on a mountain climb
Making money, losing time
Communism is just a word
But if the government turn over
It'll be the only word that's heard
America, America
God shed his grace on thee
America, America
Keep the children free
Little sister making minimum wage
Living in a one-room jungle-monkey cage
Can't get over, she's almost dead
She may not be in the black
But she's happy she ain't in the red
America, America
God shed his grace on thee
America, America
Keep the children free
Freedom
Love
Joy
Peace
Jimmy Nothing never went to school
They made him pledge allegiance
He said it wasn't cool
Nothing made Jimmy proud
Now Jimmy lives on a mushroom cloud
America, America
God shed his grace on thee
America, America
Keep the children free
America, America
God shed his grace on thee
America, America
Keep the children free
Freedom
Love
Joy
Peace
Boom, boom, boom, boom
The bomb go
Boom, boom, boom, boom
The bomb go boom
Teacher, why won't Jimmy pledge allegiance?
The song "America" by Prince & The Revolution is a commentary on social issues in the United States during the 1980s, such as classism, capitalism, and the threat of nuclear war. The opening lines describe the wealthy as "aristocrats on a mountain climb," who prioritize making money over experiencing life. Prince argues that communism is not a feasible alternative, but if the government were to be overthrown, it would be the only option. The repeated lines "America, America, God shed his grace on thee," allude to the national anthem, emphasizing the contrast between the idealized American dream and the lived realities of many citizens. The line "Keep the children free" reinforces the idea that the American government has a responsibility to protect its citizens.
The second verse focuses on the plight of the working-class, with the image of a "little sister" living in poverty and a metaphorical "jungle-monkey cage." The repeated line "Can't get over, she's almost dead" highlights the despair felt by many marginalized Americans, while noting the sister's resilience in being "happy she ain't in the red." The third verse tells the story of a young man named Jimmy who refuses to pledge allegiance to the American flag because he thinks it's uncool. However, his anti-patriotic stance is met with the threat of nuclear war, and he ends up dying in a "mushroom cloud." The song ends with a reference to the sound of a nuclear bomb exploding, emphasizing the ongoing danger of modern warfare.
Overall, "America" critiques the supposed freedoms and opportunities of the United States, highlighting the injustices and inequalities present in American society. Through its use of provocative imagery and storytelling, the song encourages listeners to confront these issues and to strive for a more equitable world.
Line by Line Meaning
Aristocrats on a mountain climb
The rich people seem to be getting richer, as if they're literally climbing a mountain made of money and power.
Making money, losing time
The aristocrats are so busy trying to make more money that they're missing out on other important things in life.
Communism is just a word
Communism is often used as a buzzword or insult, without many people really knowing what it means.
But if the government turn over
If there were a major political revolution or upheaval, communism might become a real possibility.
It'll be the only word that's heard
If communism became a popular idea, it would probably dominate the conversation and media coverage.
Little sister making minimum wage
The singer is talking about a young woman who is barely making enough to get by, even though she's working hard.
Living in a one-room jungle-monkey cage
She's living in poor conditions that resemble a jungle or a monkey's habitat, which is a metaphor for how low her quality of life is.
Can't get over, she's almost dead
She's so worn down and stressed out that it's taking a toll on her physical health.
She may not be in the black
She's not making a profit or putting any money into savings.
But she's happy she ain't in the red
She's grateful that she's not completely broke and has enough to get by.
Jimmy Nothing never went to school
The singer is talking about a person named Jimmy, who didn't have access to education and was basically ignored by the system.
They made him pledge allegiance
Despite this neglect, the government still expected Jimmy to show his loyalty through pledging allegiance to the country.
He said it wasn't cool
Jimmy wasn't into the idea of pledging allegiance because he didn't feel like he had anything to be patriotic about.
Nothing made Jimmy proud
Jimmy didn't have much to be proud of and didn't feel like he belonged in his own country.
Now Jimmy lives on a mushroom cloud
The final line is a metaphor indicating that Jimmy was killed or affected by a nuclear explosion, making it clear that the song is highly critical of American government and society.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Lisa Coleman, Wendy Melvoin, Prince Rogers Nelson, Robert B. Rivkin, Mark Brown, Matthew Robert Fink
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Mark-gg3xg
He has No business being dead, but deserves to be in heaven.
@morrisparrish76
Neither is for us to decide!
@andreathomas2099
Couldn't agree more....but the party that awaits....🕊
@v.b6028
Whenever you heard Prince say "Good God" in any of his performances, you knew go it would go on forever..he was a genius. True musician and artist.
@jamesviola79
Haha... yeah, it was basically the signal for a ten-minute funkathon ;)
@Tarantulisimo
Yes indeed -- you knew he was getting the band ready for a James Brown extended workout
@deebrown4877
💯💯💯🎯🎯🎯
@deebrown4877
@@Tarantulisimo so damn true!!😄😄👍
@deebrown4877
@@jamesviola79 Truth!💯💯
@rtc600
I miss Prince. He’s a prodigy. Who’s still listening to him besides me?