Prince and the Revolution

Released: October 2, 1985

Songwriter: Prince and the Revolution

Producer: Prince

[Intro]
Yeah
Peace!

[Verse 1]
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

[Chorus]
America, America
God shed his grace on thee
America, America
Keep the children free

[Verse 2]
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

[Chorus]
America, America
God shed his grace on thee
America, America
Keep the children free

[Post-Chorus]
Freedom
Love
Joy
Peace

[Verse 3]
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

[Chorus]
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

[Post-Chorus]
Freedom
Love
Joy
Peace

[Outro]
Boom
Boom
Boom
Boom
The bomb go
Boom
Boom
Boom
Boom
The bomb go boom
Teacher, why won't Jimmy pledge allegiance?

“The Revolution” was originally the live backing band for Prince in the early years of his career. They first appeared in a studio capacity on 1999, but it wasn’t until 1984’s Purple Rain when they were officially credited. The band is noted for its diverse range of musicians, which wasn’t very common in the 1980s and inspired by what Sly Stone did with The Family Stone.

The most famous line-up consisted of Prince on lead vocals, guitar, and piano, Wendy Melvoin on guitar and vocals, Brown Mark on bass guitar and vocals, Lisa Coleman on keyboards, piano, and vocals, Matt “Doctor” Fink on keyboards and vocals, and Bobby Z on drums and percussion. The last albums where the Revolution was credited was 1985’s Around the World In A Day & 1986’s Parade.

more tracks from the album

Around the World in a Day

From the albums

Around the World in a Day (1985)
His Majesty’s Pop Life (2019)

Prince and the Revolution popular songs

AmericaPrince and the Revolution

Prince and the Revolution

Around the World in a Day