Prince - Welcome 2 America Album Lyrics

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Welcome 2 America

Welcome

Welcome to America
Where you can fail at your job, get fired, rehired
And get a seven hundred billion dollar tip
Come on in, sit right down
And fill up your pockets, yeah
Mass media, information overload
Welcome to America
(The following message is brought to you by Viacom)
Distracted by the features of the iPhone
(Got an application for each of situation)
In other words, taken by a pretty face
Somebody's watching you (I see you, I see you)
Welcome to America
Hook up later at the iPad
And we can meet at my place (welcome to America)

Welcome (welcome to America)
To America

Where everything and nothing that Google says is hip
(The sales tax for the following items)
(Will be raised immediately, cigarettes)
We will not raise your taxes
Read our lips

Welcome to America (America)
Welcome to the big show (to America)
Everybody's looking for something
When there ain't no place to go (welcome to America)
Except inside America (America)
That's the only place I know (to America)
Transformation happens deep within, yes or no?
Yes

Welcome to America
One of our greatest exports was a thing called jazz
You think today's music will last?
(Dismantle all monopolies)
(Dismantle all monopolies)
Welcome to America

Welcome
Hope and change, everything takes forever
And truth is a new minority (truth)
Oh, welcome to America
Welcome to America

Today we'd like to discuss America's plan to fix the educational system
The pledge of allegiance will now read as follows
I pledge allegiance to the earth of the United States of the Universe
Welcome to America

There is no arguing with the book (when am I gonna learn something new?)
There is no arguing with the book (who's gonna teach it to me, you?)
There is no arguing with the book (what's that outside my windowsill)
There is no (could it be?) Arguing (our free will?)

You say yes, I say no, yet love flows

America can provide many opportunities
For the young female who wishes to work (for the state)
For her own advancement up from the underclass to become one

Welcome to America
Go to school to become a celebrity
(F-A-M-O-U-S) but don't be late
And everybody and they mama got a sex tape

Welcome to America
We snatch bass players, not purses
Keep playing, it gets worse

Land of the free, home of the brave
Oops, I mean
Land of the free, home of the slave
Get down on your knees, hit me

Welcome to America
Welcome to the big show
Everybody's looking for something
When there ain't no place to go (that's it y'all)
Except inside America
That's the only place I know (Chinese)
Transformation happens deep within, yes or no? (Or get down on your knees)

---

Running Game (Son Of A Slave Master)

How many gats in the slacks be showin'?
Betcha that the man downtown be knowin'
Wacks turn to beef when the gangsters meet
Son of a slave master keeping it goin'
Goin', goin'
Goin', goin', goin', goin'

How much do you want for that real dope beat?
Another A&R man, lyin' through their teeth
Son of a slave master, meet and greet
There goes the publishing and
You're back on the street
Back on the street

25 thousands like selling it free
Seems like a lot next to poverty
How much you really want for all them beats?
Son of a slave master keeping it goin', goin', goin'

All the gates of Henry
Uncovered Your past
Checkered like a NASCAR flag, vroom
Moving to fast
Betcha if you had Your way
You'd turn back the hourglass
What an A-S-S

Son of a slave master keeping it goin', goin', goin'

Don't come to the party
Unless you bring somebody
Somebody that wants to dance
Somebody that wants to make sweet romance
We still got...
Mad love for ya
Even though, even though
Really don't know ya

Black on black crime
Abel and Cain
You would think high yellow would be a shade
21st Century
It's still about greed and fame
Eye'm about, Eye'm about to go insane
About to go insane
Somebody call 9-1-1
Then leave his name, leave his name

Son of a, son of a, son of a
Son of a slave master
Son of a, son of a
Son of a slave master
Still runnin' game
Yeah, she's still runnin' game, you'all
Yes she is, runnin' game
Oh, still runnin' game, you'all
Runnin' game, runnin' game
Runnin' game, runnin' game

---

Born 2 Die

Here she comes
She's a bad girl
She gets you high
Born to die, born to die
Born to die, born to die
Born to die, born to die

She sells everything, from A to Z
Anything just to keep her free from the
From the hustle of the streets (oh yeah)
She left the church a long time ago
Said they couldn't teach what they did not know
That's when she lost her virginity
And now she's pimpin' every bottle
From New York to L.A (L.A)
Ask her why she'd do that thing
She says it's always been that way (always been that way)
Jump back Jack, you might be next if they try to cut mama's cake
(What the deal, Daddy?)
And ask her what the deal is, this is what she said

Born to die, born to die
If you ain't livin' right, you know you're
Born to die, better watch out
Get ya, get ya, so high, so high
You know, everybody's getting (so high)
I gotta get my hustle on

She runs six streets in Oakland
Clear down to the 'Frisco bay (ooh)
Why she concerned, crime does pay
Ask her when, she'd say "From the first day"
Once you bend the knees to get back to the truth
Of who we are, before we go astray (who we are, before we go astray)
Ask her what the deal is (what the deal, daddy?)
This is what she'll say

Born to die, born to die
If you ain't livin' right, you're surely
Born to die, (get ya, get ya)
Look out
Get ya, get ya, so high, so high
They said nothing good happens after midnight
(Get ya, get ya, so high)
Bye, bye

(Oh, yeah)
(Ooh)
(Born to die)
(Get ya, get ya)
(Ooh)

So, so high (so high)
So, so high (so)
So, so high (so)
High
(Get ya, get ya so high, so high)
(Get ya, get ya so high)
(Get ya, get ya so high, so high)

Born to die

"Man, what happened?"
"Girl, she fell from the third story window"
"What?"
"Yes, oh my God"
"I think she 'gon be cool though
But oh my goodness girl look at her"
"Oh no"
"They putting her on the gurney right now
I hope she 'gon be alright"
"Does anybody know what happened"
"Girl, she fell
She fell"

---

1000 Light Years from Here

Ah, ooh-ooh

We can live underwater
It ain't hard when you've never been a part (been a part)
Of the country on dry land
We used to be smarter (smarter)
We taught 'em what they know and now we got to show 'em
What it means to be American (American)

Good life (good life)
Liberty, innovation (innovation)
Every child, no matter what color, gettin' an education
Now life in the hood is nothin' but fear
1000 light-years away from here

1000 light-years from here (oh)
1000 light-years from here (I'm talkin' about a peaceful resolution)
1000 light-years from here
1000 light-years away from here
1000 light-years from here (come on)
1000 light-years from here (we need a spiritual resolution)
1000 light-years from here

You can dream in color (you can dream in color)
When you let go of the proverbial
"You got to crawl before you walk"
(I told you so)
Listen to me now, brother (listen to me)
Like the motion of the stars above (we are a star)
So you might as well come on
Let's go (let's slide, stop talkin')
Hey
Baby dreamin' about a new world order, ah
But it's just a nightmare if you still got borders, oh
Wouldn't you rather have me near
Or 1000 light-years away from here?

1000 light-years from here (come on)
1000 light-years from here (and a peaceful resolution)
1000 light-years from here

Why would God make heaven so far away? (So far away)
With a whole world of his children cryin' to him every day
Maybe it's time we all stop the rain (stop the rain)
I'm just saying

Ah-ah-ah, ooh-ooh
Ah-ah-ah, ooh-ooh
Ah-ah-ah, ooh-ooh

If it's a good cryin', I'm tired of tears
Then close your eyes and open your ears
Listen to the music, listen to the song
Listen to your heart, is that so wrong?
Stop lookin' in the mirror, there's nothin' to fear
Your salvation is near
1000 light-years away from here

1000 light-years from here (it's here, it's here)
1000 light-years from here (if you want to be)
1000 light-years from here (c'mon hey)
1000 light-years away from here (hey, hey)

1000 light-years from here (so what you need to do, y'all)
1000 light-years from here (is start lookin' outside yourself)
1000 light-years from here (just, just, just clap your hands)
1000 light-years away from here
1000 light-years from here (i don't understand)
1000 light-years from here (but they keep sellin' lies)
1000 light-years from here (you keep people buyin')
1000 light-years away from here
1000 light-years from here (gonna can live forever)
1000 light-years from here (without even tryin')
1000 light-years from here (no more dyin')
No more

1000 light-years from here (woo)
1000 light-years from here (oh, oh)
1000 light-years from here

1000 light-years from here
1000 light-years from here
1000 light-years from here
1000 light-years away from here

1000 light-years from here
1000 light-years from here
1000 light-years from here
1000 light-years away from here

1000 light-years from here (so far)
1000 light-years from here (so far away)
1000 light-years from here
1000 light-years away from here
So far away from here
Oh, take me there

---

Hot Summer

Oh, hot summer
Hot summer, yeah
Oh, hot summer

Hot summer, yeah
Hot summer, yeah
Oh, as long as you're my
Oh, as long as you're my

Anybody close enough to hear
Knows what we've been listening to all year
These are the days my people told me to fear
But as long as I got your ear
I think it's gonna be

Hot summer (hot summer, yeah)
Just wait and see
Hot summer (hot summer, yeah)
Shoo-be-do-we
Hot summer
(Oh, as long as you're my)
As long as you're my company

See the people gathered all around
Dancing to a futuristical sound
Some of them are teachers, some are clowns
All deserve a hug and a pound
'Cause it's gonna be

Hot summer (hot summer, yeah)
Just wait and see
Hot summer (hot summer, yeah)
Shoo-be-do-we
Hot summer
(Oh, as long as you're my)
As long as you're my company

Hot summer
Hot summer
Hot summer
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Oh, hot summer
Let me see you shake your hair now
Hot summer
Hey

Everybody's got a favorite friend (favorite friend)
They got your back no matter what 'til the end (oh yeah)
Ain't got no breaks but got a whole lot of bend
Every broken heart can mend
You better believe it
Why is life always a mystery? (mystery)
It will be whatever it will be (it will be)
It all depends on what you think you see
You, I don't know, but me

I think it's gonna be
Hot summer
Hot summer
Hot summer
Hot summer
Hot summer
Hot summer

I think it's gonna be
Hot summer
Hot summer
Hot summer
Just wait and see
Hot summer
Hot summer

Hot summer
(Hot summer, yeah)
Hot summer (hot summer, yeah)
Hot summer
(Oh, as long as you're my)
(Oh, as long as you're my)
(Oh, hot summer)
Hot summer
Hot summer
Hot summer

---

Stand Up and B Strong

You might be right, you might be wrong
You might just think your life has gone on for too long
Your knees get weak, yes they do, your heart grows cold
And you're tired of doing everything that you're told

It's almost dawn
Stand up and be strong
Find a brand new song, before they're gone
Stand up and be strong

If you live in the hills (if you live in the hills)
Listen, take too many pills (oh too many pills)
'Cause you've lost the thrill against your own will
Stand up and be strong, yes sir

Stand up and be strong
Stand up and be strong
It won't take long, you can't go wrong
Stand up and be strong
It's almost on
Stand up and be strong
Sing a brand new song before they're gone
Stand up and be strong

When the war is too long
And your rights are all wrong
When they lie to your face, put 'em in their place
Stand up and be strong
In the times of unrest (yes)
And you're all depressed (you're all depressed)
If you're life's a mess, remember you're blessed (remember you're blessed)
Stand up and be strong (oh-oh)
C'mon

Stand up
Stand up
Stand up
(C'mon, c'mon)
Stand up

Stand up and be strong
Stand up and be strong (stand up and be strong)
(You got to live to live your life, yeah)
It won't take long, you can't go wrong
Stand up and be strong
(Stand up, stand up, stand up, stand up)
It's almost on (it's almost on)
Stand up and be strong (you, you, you, you)
Sing a brand new song, before they're gone
Stand up and be strong
(Stand up, stand up, stand up, stand up, stand up)
(Oh yeah)

Stand up
stand up

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Check the Record

Let's check the record, see what it says
Seem like your girlfriend was in my bed (in my bed)
She called me first, no rendezvous
This sounds like drama, now, watcha gon' do?

The record
Check the record now
The record

She tried to tell me (I tried to tell you)
As though I cared
She said you miss her and now she's scared
You can mislead 'em
Even though she's young
She wants her freedom
She wants to run

It's about, it's about
The record
Let's check the record now
Check, check
The record

We take her places
She meets new faces
Out of the choir
She plays with fire
She'll never be you mama
If she stay with you
This sounds like drama (drama, watcha gon' do?)
But watcha gon' do? (Watcha gon' do?)
If it makes her happy
Can it be that bad? (Can it be that bad?)
Like Sheryl said
"It might be the most favorite mistake I've ever had"

Let's check the record, see what it said
Seem like your girlfriend was in my bed (was she in my bed?)
I don't think so
I don't think so
You know what?
You better check, check, check
The record
It's about, it's about
The record now

Ooh, yeah

The record
The record now
The record

---

Same Page, Different Book

Ah, ah
Checkin' one, two, uh

I hitched a train (mhm)
Between here & Saint Paul (Paul)
Had no idea (no)
That I'd sleep in a pig stall (dirty, dirty)
Once I got home (oh)
The dirt that covered me
Nothing like the disappointment
That you would never see

Same page, but a different book
So much more in common if you'd only look
There's only one God (one God)
Whatever name He took
Only matters when it comes to war
What are we, what are we
What are we fighting for?

Breathe, let it
Breathe

New kids on the block
Tryin' to make their beds (mmm)
Here comes another rock (here come your)
Upside their heads (oops)
There goes the missile
Headed for the hood (oh Lord)
Trigger another car bomb (boom)
Did nobody no good

We're on the same page, but a different book
So much more in common if you'd only look (if you'd only look)
There's only one God (one God)
Whatever name He took (what-what-whatever)
Only matters when it comes to war
What are we, what are we
What are we fighting for?

All right, listen ya'll
We're about to let this thing just groove
Mmm, move
C'mon now

Chapter, verse, which came first?
Thinkin' too slow while they snatch ya purse (woo)
Faith, law, good deeds, practicing what you preach
Between you and me, TV ain't reality
That's right, I said it, it's said
Buy this, cop that, all up in ya head
24-hour news, that ain't right, huh
Them suckas gotcha daydreaming at midnight, ha

Galatians chapter three says
The law was as good as dead
Having faith in the life, death and resurrection
Of the second Adam instead
Would bring us all salvation
If there's works in the faith we choose
But if you're all alone, throwing stones
Who do you think's gonna lose?
Who do you think's gonna lose?

Same page (oh), but a different book (haha)
So much more in common if you'd only look (hey, hey only look, y'all)
One God (one God)
(Yes it is)
Whatever name He took (tell 'em)
Only matters when it comes to war
What are we, what are we
What are we fighting for?

Same page, different book
Same page, different book
Same page, different book
Only matters when it comes to war
What are we, what are we
What are we fighting for?

Same page, different book
Watch out for the sinister minister
They're out there y'all, uh
Same page, different book (look out)
You're better off chillin' 'til the world ends, uh
What are we, what are we
What are we fighting for?

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When She Comes (Original Version)

When she comes
She never closes her eyes
No, no, no
She can see stars shoot (see stars shoot)
All over her sky
Over and over and over
Over and over

When she comes
She never, ever
Holds her sighs
No, no, no
She can be so free (she can be so free)
Occasionally, she cries
Oh but please don't ask me why, ooh

I wanna turn you 'round
I want to hear those sounds
You know which sounds
Like a tornado ('round and 'round like a tornado)
A tornado (up and down, up and down)
Touching down

Ooh
When she comes, she comes, she comes
Where am i?

Ooh, oh, whoa

Ooh
Ooh
Ah
Ooh, ooh, ooh

When she comes
She walks around like she's all this and all that
Like her ish don't stank
Y'all know what I'm talkin' 'bout
I think you do
Some people might think it's rude
But she's more comfortable in the nude
At first I thought she was a friend (first I thought she was a friend)
But now she's the first and last thing I ever want to do
Shooting stars every day and night
'Cause when my woman comes
She comes, she comes
She comes

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1010 (Rin Tin Tin)

Call to all the women, call to the men
What could be stranger than the times we're in?
Earthquake, flood, y'all better hurry kin
Ask the Lone Ranger
Rin Tin Tin

Flowin' just like water
Through the sands of time
To the marrow of the bone
And the eye of the mind
Like drink if you're thirsty
And sight if you're blind
We got to let the funk unwind
Oh

Sons of God and the daughters of men
Enmity between us since the fall began
What about genetics do we not understand?
Maybe we should listen to the band, the band

Rin Tin Tin

Earthquake, flood, y'all better hurry kin
Ask the Lone Ranger, Rin Tin Tin

Analog people, in a digital world
To much information just make your hair curl
Nothing left to value if it's all the same kind
It's time to let the funk unwind
Ooh

Rin Tin Tin
Rin Tin Tin
Rin Tin Tin
Rin Tin Tin

(Best to be like water)
Whether you're a boss or a sucker just looking for stock (Water)
(Best to be like water)
You're still a second hand on your master's clock (water)
Oh it's best to be like water
There's no vibration in rock
Meet me in between the atoms
(Beethoven and Bach)

Faith in the noblemen to lead you Through the wilderness
of lies That he taught you now has brought you
To the truth about time
There's no such thing

What could be stranger? Rin Tin Tin
Ask the Lone Ranger, Rin Tin Tin
better, better, better hurry kin (better hurry kin)
Rin Tin Tin
We need to let the funk unwind

Here come the jury
Talkin' 'bout good and bad
Laughter in their eyes (laughter in their eyes)
From the power they had
Check, check the watches
Can somebody please (somebody please) tell me the real time? (man, what time is it?)
They got to let the funk unwind
Ooh yeah-yeah

Rin Tin Tin
Rin Tin Tin
Rin Tin Tin
Rin Tin Tin

---

Yes

You know... it takes a mighty good woman
mighty good woman
to help a man get up
Over
Doing ye with ye girls in the ye girl
Doing ye with ye girls in the ye girl
Doing ye with ye girls in the ye girl
Doing ye with ye girls in the ye girl
What you order you order a fish-fil-a girl
At 2am on the way to the ballet girl
You drive me crazy you drive me like valet girl (ye)
I been smoking I'm baking a souffle girl
And I been sippin' I'm tippin' off of rose girl
way I curve hoes you woulda thought I'm Jose girl
Doing ye with ye girls in the ye girl
Doing ye with
Ehssance, like the f*cking renaissance
Hey girl
Little birdie told me that you f*cking cray girl
Okay girl
Don't play girl
Pick up the pace girl
Moving in a way you can't even fake girl
All waist girl
All lace girl
Been a while since I looked at your face girl
What's that song say
Bust it down all the baddies in the cut play
Schezwan the way you make my mouth so wet
Now undress
Let's burn cess girl
Sticky icky green what you gonna get girl
Looking at your chest
Love you for the head girl
Goddamn girl
Walk straight love it when you upgrade girl
Long hair looking like some gold waves girl
All white looking like some all saint girl
Up north chilling picking up some f*cking weight girl
Balling like I'm Jordan bout to fade away girl
What you order you order a fish-fil-a girl
At 2am on the way to the ballet girl
You drive me crazy you drive me like valet girl (ye)
I been smoking I'm baking a souffle girl
And I been sippin' I'm tippin' off of rose girl
Way I curve hoes you woulda thought I'm Jose girl
Way I curve hoes you woulda thought I'm Jose girl

---

One Day We Will All B Free

You go to bed, just to learn
It was all a dream
Day after day, just a yearning
For something in between

Kneeling down beside your bed
Praying for a sign
And everything your mother said
Was just a waste of time

But one day, one day, we'll all be free

You go to church, just to be sold
Why you deserve to die
It's just like having your fortune told
But never asking why
More like having one of God's creations
Tied up on a leash, oh, ah
Makes you wonder who controls the nations
If we never have peace

One day, one day, we'll all be free

You go to school, just to learn
About what never existed
But if your history only burns
It's better to resist it
Keeping it Franklin
Benjamin Banneker
Was never born a slave
And ah, if George Washington never told no lie
Maybe we'd all be saved

One day, one day, we'll all be free

One day, one day, we'll all be free
One day, one day, we'll all be free
One day, one day, we'll all be free

One day, one day, we'll all be free
(One day, one day, we will all be free)
Oh, yes we will, yes we will

One day, one glorious day, we will all be free
(One day, one day, we'll all be free)
I'm talking 'bout you (one day, one day, we'll all be free)
I'm talking 'bout me
One day, one day, we'll all be, all be free
(One day, one day, we will all be)