The Sacrifice of Victor
Prince and the New Power Generation Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(We sacrifice)
Npg in mass attack, Sonny, please
(We sacrifice)
Church if you will, please turn to the book of Victor
We like to start at the top if you don't mind
(We sacrifice)
(Gon' say it, preacher)
I was born on a blood stained table
Cord wrapped around my neck
Epileptic 'til the age of seven
I was sure Heaven marked the deck
(We sacrifice)
I know joy lives 'round the corner
Joy for sale down on the corner (we sacrifice)
One day I'll visit her I'm gonna
Out on my block I'm just a loner (we sacrifice)
When she tell me everything (tell me)
That's when the angels sing (sacrifice)
That's when the victory is sho 'nuff (sho 'nuff down with the sacrifice)
(We sacrifice)
Help me (gon' say it, preacher)
Mama held up her baby for protection
From a man with a strap in his hand
Ask the victor 'bout pain and rejection
You think he don't when he do understand
(We sacrifice)
I know joy lives 'round the corner
Joy for sale down on the corner (we sacrifice)
One day I'll visit her I'm gonna
Out on my block I'm just a loner (we sacrifice)
When she tell me everything (tell me)
That's when the angels sing (sacrifice)
That's when the victory is sho 'nuff (sho 'nuff down with the sacrifice)
(We sacrifice)
Help me
(S-A-C-R-I-F-I-C-E)
(We sacrifice)
(Gon' say it preacher)
(Sac-sacrifice)
(We sacrifice)
(We sacrifice) Sacrifice, if you turn the page
(Gon' say it, preacher)
1967 in a bus marked "public schools"
Rode me and a group of unsuspecting political tools
Our parents wondered what it was like to have another color near
So they put their babies together to eliminate the fear
We sacrifice, yes we did
Fighting one another (we sacrifice)
(Gon' say it preacher)
All because of color
The angel of hate, she taught me how to kick her
If she called me anything but Victor (you mean like nigger?)
If the only thing that tells me is father time
Then sacrifice is the mother sublime, we love it
Listen mother, we sacrifice
(Gon' say it preacher)
(We sacrifice)
Well, well, well, well
(What is sacrifice?)
Hold yo' text, deacon
Never understood my old friends laughing
They got high when everything else got wrong (pass the booze up here)
Dr. King was killed and the streets they started burnin'
When the smoke was cleared, their high was gone
Education got important, so important to Victor
A little more important than ripple and weed
Bernadette's a lady, and she told me (what she say?)
"Whatever you do son, a little discipline is what you need
Is what you need, you need to sacrifice"
(We sacrifice)
I know joy lives 'round the corner
Joy for sale down on the corner (we sacrifice)
One day I'll visit her I'm gonna
Out on my block I'm just a loner (we sacrifice)
When she tell me everything (tell me)
That's when the angels sing (sacrifice)
That's when the victory is sho 'nuff (sho 'nuff down with the sacrifice)
(We sacrifice)
(What is sacrifice?)
(We sacrifice)
(S-A-C-R-I-F-I-C-E)
(We sacrifice) (joy around the corner)
Hey Wendy, how come we? (We sacrifice)
'Scuse me y'all (we sacrifice)
We don't don't mean to take up yo' time (joy around the corner)
But we got something
Heavy on our minds (we sacrifice)
Yes, we do (we sacrifice)
Sometimes, you gotta leave the one you love
Somebody, anybody, everybody wave your hand
Around the corner, there's another sacrifice (joy around the corner)
But you got to do the best you can y'all (we sacrifice)
Say you got to go through it (go through it)
You got to go through it all (go through it all)
High glory, yeah
Sell it, don't tell it, don't tell me and I said (joy around the corner)
Now lay it nice at my feet
Lord I might get tired
But I, I've got to keep on (we sacrifice)
Walkin' down this road, (we sacrifice)
Keep on walkin' down this road (joy around the corner)
When I reach my destination (we sacrifice)
My name will be Victor
Amen
The Sacrifice of Victor by Prince and the New Power Generation speaks about the concept of sacrifice and the painful experiences that lead to growth and change. The lyrics in the song are centered around victory seen through pain and suffering. The song begins with a church reference, as if asking for permission to speak, and then proceeds to mention a bloody and painful birth. The singer of the song talks about his epileptic condition until the age of seven, and he then reiterates the idea of joy being available at the end of a dark tunnel by describing the street corner, where joy is for sale.
The second verse delves into the pain of physical abuse experienced by the singer, and how he was protected by his mother. The chorus follows, linking again to the idea that there is joy around the corner, but to get there, the sacrifice is needed. The verse following the chorus talks about the racial tension and sacrifice he and his community experienced while in a school bus, linking together social justice and trust. The third verse discusses the growing pain and sense of loss his friends felt when faced with the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. but how he slowly came to embrace education and discipline. He believes that discipline and a focus on education are necessary for him to triumph over his past.
Line by Line Meaning
What is sacrifice?
Questioning the meaning of sacrifice
(We sacrifice)
Affirming that they are indeed sacrificing
Npg in mass attack, Sonny, please
Addressing Sonny and requesting support
Church if you will, please turn to the book of Victor
Asking to turn to the book of Victor during a church service
We like to start at the top if you don't mind
Preferring to start at the beginning of the book
(Gon' say it, preacher)
Encouragement to the preacher to begin reading
I was born on a blood stained table
Narrating the circumstances of Prince's birth
Cord wrapped around my neck
Detailing a complication during birth
Epileptic 'til the age of seven
Revealing a health condition suffered by Prince
I was sure Heaven marked the deck
Believing that his health condition was destined by Heaven
I know joy lives 'round the corner
Expressing positive hope for the future
Joy for sale down on the corner (we sacrifice)
Referencing the idea that happiness can be found
One day I'll visit her I'm gonna
Talking about a future plan
Out on my block I'm just a loner (we sacrifice)
Feeling isolated in his current situation
When she tell me everything (tell me)
Anticipating good news from a conversation
That's when the angels sing (sacrifice)
Referring to a positive outcome
That's when the victory is sho 'nuff (sho 'nuff down with the sacrifice)
Celebrating a victorious outcome
Mama held up her baby for protection
Recounting a moment of protection from a mother
From a man with a strap in his hand
Describing a threatening situation
Ask the victor 'bout pain and rejection
Suggesting that Victor has experienced pain and rejection
You think he don't when he do understand
Explaining Victor's understanding of hardship
(S-A-C-R-I-F-I-C-E)
Spelling out the word 'Sacrifice'
(we sacrifice)
Continuing to affirm their sacrifice
1967 in a bus marked "public schools"
Referencing a historical event in segregation
Rode me and a group of unsuspecting political tools
Describing himself as a part of a political movement
Our parents wondered what it was like to have another color near
Discussing interracial interactions
So they put their babies together to eliminate the fear
Integrating children to reduce racial prejudices
Fighting one another (we sacrifice)
Acknowledging division and conflict
The angel of hate, she taught me how to kick her
Overcoming hate and teaching oneself to fight it
If she called me anything but Victor (you mean like nigger?)
Refusing to be addressed with derogatory terms
If the only thing that tells me is father time
If time is the only thing that tells him
Then sacrifice is the mother sublime, we love it
Suggesting that sacrifice is valuable
Listen mother, we sacrifice
Addressing the listener to explain sacrifice
Never understood my old friends laughing
Not understanding a former peer's behavior
They got high when everything else got wrong (pass the booze up here)
Using drugs and alcohol as an escape
Dr. King was killed and the streets they started burnin'
Referencing the aftermath of Dr. King's assassination
When the smoke was cleared, their high was gone
The temporary effects of drugs or alcohol
Education got important, so important to Victor
Prioritizing education
A little more important than ripple and weed
Valuing education more than leisure activities
Bernadette's a lady, and she told me (what she say?)
Introducing Bernadette's advice
"Whatever you do son, a little discipline is what you need
Quoting Bernadette's advice involving discipline
Is what you need, you need to sacrifice"
Echoing Bernadette's advice to sacrifice
When I reach my destination (we sacrifice)
Referring to a hopeful future while still affirming their sacrifice
My name will be Victor
Resolving to achieve success
(What is sacrifice?)
Repeating the question of the song
(S-A-C-R-I-F-I-C-E)
Repeating the spelling of the word 'Sacrifice'
Hey Wendy, how come we?
Asking a question
'Scuse me y'all
Apologizing for the interruption
We don't don't mean to take up yo' time
Apologizing for the potential inconvenience
But we got something heavy on our minds
Explaining the importance of the topic
Somebody, anybody, everybody wave your hand
Asking for participation
Around the corner, there's another sacrifice (joy around the corner)
Hinting at a next challenge
But you got to do the best you can
Encouraging perseverance
Say you got to go through it (go through it)
Acknowledging the challenge
You got to go through it all (go through it all)
Completing the idea of persistence
High glory, yeah
Expressing joy or elation
Sell it, don't tell it, don't tell me and I said (joy around the corner)
Suggesting that the future is bright
Now lay it nice at my feet
Finishing the performance with a call to admire
Lord I might get tired
Admitting the possibility of exhaustion
But I, I've got to keep on (we sacrifice)
Acknowledging fatigue, but affirming their sacrifice
Walkin' down this road, (we sacrifice)
Continuing the journey despite difficulties
Keep on walkin' down this road (joy around the corner)
Maintaining a hopeful attitude
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Prince Rogers Nelson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind