Handwritten lyrics by Prince for the song ‘Welcome 2 America,’ the title track from his posthumously released 40th studio album, written in pencil and ink on both sides of a yellow 8.5 x 11 sheet of notebook paper, with Prince signing at the conclusion, “P,” and adding a sketch of an American flag with dollar sign stars at the start of the lyrics, which read: “Welcome 2 America, where u can fail at ur job / get fired, rehired and get a seven-hundred billion dollar tip / ‘Come on in, sit right down and fill up ur pockets / Mass media information overload Welcome 2 America / ‘The following message is brought 2 u by Viacom / Distracted by the features of the [eye] Phone / got an application 4 each situation / in other words taken by a pretty face / somebody's watching u! [eye] c u, [eye] c u, Welcome 2.../ Hook up later on the [eye] Pad and we can meet at my place Welcome 2...
Welcome 2 America where everything and nothing that Google says is hip / ‘The sales tax 4 the following items will b raised immediately / Cigarettes, soda, gas / We will not raise ur taxes, read our lips / Welcome 2...the big show where everybody's lookin’ 4 something / when there ain't no place 2 go Welcome 2 / except inside America that's the only place [eye] know / Transformation happens deep within, yes or no? Yes! / Welcome 2 America / One of our greatest exports was a thing called jazz / u think today's music will last? / Dismantle all monopolies...
Welcome 2... hope and change, everything takes 4 ever and truth is the new minority welcome 2 America / Today we'd like 2 discuss America's plan 2 fix the educational system / The pledge of Allegiance will now read as follows / ‘[eye] pledge allegiance 2 the Earth of the United States of the Universe, Welcome 2... / There is no arguing with ‘the Book’ — When am I gonna learn something new? / Who's gonna teach it 2 me? U? / What's that outside my window sill?/ There is no arguing, could it b? Our free will? / U say yes, [eye] say no, let love flow / America can provide many opportunities 4 the young female who wishes 2 work 4 the state 4 her own advancement up from the underclass 2 become one / Welcome 2.../ Go 2 school 2 become a celebrity but don't b late, b famous / and everybody and their Mama got a Sex Tape / Welcome 2 / We snatch bass players not purses keep playing it gets worse / Land of the free, home of the brave oops [eye] mean, land of the free, home of the slave / get down on ur knees, hit me.” In fine condition.
A photographed tape from Prince’s vault at Paisley Park Studios lists ‘Welcome 2 America’ as being recorded on March 15, 2010. It eventually served as the first song and the title track of Prince’s posthumous 2021 album Welcome 2 America, which represents the first full previously unreleased studio album of Prince material. Prince first performed the song live on December 18, 2010, during the opening Madison Square Garden date of the Welcome 2 America Tour. An amazing example of handwritten song lyrics from Prince, whose perceptive thoughts and words ring as true today as they did in 2010.
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