DAILY BEAST
Cheat SheetNewsletters
CHEAT SHEET
    POLITICS
    • Biden World
    • Elections
    • Opinion
    • National Security
    • Congress
    • Pay Dirt
    • The New Abnormal
    • Right Richter
    • Trumpland
    MEDIA
    • Daytime Talk
    • Late-Night
    • Fox News
    U.S. NEWS
    • Identities
    • Crime
    • Race
    • LGBT
    • Extremism
    • Coronavirus
    WORLD
    • Russia
    • Europe
    • China
    • Middle East
    SCIENCE
    • Hunt for the Cure
    • Rabbit Hole
    TRAVEL
      ENTERTAINMENT
      • TV
      • Movies
      • Music
      • Comedy
      • Sports
      • Sex
      • TDBs Obsessed
      • The Last Laugh
      HALF-FULL
        CULTURE
        • Power Trip
        • Fashion
        • Books
        • Royalist
        TECH
        • Disinformation
        SCOUTED
        • Face Masks
        • Clothing
        • Technology
        • Bedroom
        • Kitchen
        • Home
        • Fitness
        • The Case For
        • I'm Looking For
        • New Kids On the Block
        COUPONS
        • Adidas Promo Codes
        • DoorDash Promo Codes
        • Hotels.com Coupons
        • Office Depot Coupons
        • Overstock Coupons
        • Macy's Coupons
        • Nike Promo Codes
        • Ulta Coupons
        Products
        NewslettersPodcastsCrosswordsMembership
        FOLLOW US
        GOT A TIP?

        SEARCH

        • Explore Beast Inside
        • My Account
        • Manage Newsletters
        • Subscription Offers
        • Need Help?
        • Log Out
        HOMEPAGE
        Entertainment

        Prince Is Dropping a Song, Guitar Solo for Baltimore

        ‘Enough is enough’

        From Reagan and the Cold War to “Baltimore,” Prince is no stranger to releasing tribute songs in big political moments.

        Asawin Suebsaeng

        Senior Political Reporter

        Updated Apr. 14, 2017 10:48AM ET / Published May. 05, 2015 3:25PM ET 

        Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty

        Prince is getting political, again. This time, he’s releasing a tribute to Baltimore, in response to the death of Freddie Gray.

        The as-yet unreleased track, simply titled “Baltimore,” will address “the unrest in Baltimore and the socio/political issues around the country in the wake of a slew of killings of young black men,” according to Prince’s publicist. On Sunday, Prince is set to play a “Rally 4 Peace” concert at Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore. He is expected to unveil the new song at his upcoming Charm City gig, and other stars are expected to join in.

        Advertisement

        “As a symbolic message of our shared humanity and love for one another, attendees are invited to wear something gray in tribute to all those recently lost in the violence,” a statement read.

        Here are the lyrics:

        Nobody got in nobody’s way So I guess you could say It was a good day At least a little better than the day in Baltimore Does anybody hear us pray? For Michael Brown or Freddie Gray Peace is more than the absence of war Absence of war

        Are we gonna see another bloody day? We’re tired of cryin’ and people dyin’ Let’s take all the guns away Absence of war—you and me Maybe we can finally say Enough is enough, it’s time for love It’s time to hear It’s time to hear The guitar play!

        Advertisement

        “‘Baltimore’ may likely be among Prince’s most powerful socio-political songs,” FOX 9 reporter Iris Perez (one of the first people to hear the song), told The Daily Beast. “It’s very moving.”

        Perez described the new song as a soul/rock number, with a pre-chorus “slightly reminiscent” of Prince’s “The Holy River.”

        This is just the latest example of Prince injecting political or social commentary into his music. “The people I know, they been strugglin’, at least it seems that way,” he sings on “Ol’ Skool Company” from 2010. “Fat cats on Wall Street, they got a bailout. Why somebody else got to wait. 700 billion, but my old neighborhood, ain’t nothin’ changed but the date.” And on his 1981 song “Ronnie, Talk to Russia,” he implores President Reagan to “talk to Russia before it’s too late” and engage in meaningful Cold War diplomacy. (Reagan ended up doing so a few years later.)

        As for “Baltimore,” a release date has yet to be announced. “We’re going to talk to Jay-Z and his people about streaming it on Tidal,” the musician said.

        Advertisement

        Updated 5/6/15: This piece has been updated to include information on the “Rally for Peace.”

        READ THIS LIST

        DAILY BEAST
        • Podcasts
        • Cheat Sheet
        • Politics
        • Crime
        • Entertainment
        • Media
        • Covid-19
        • Half Full
        • U.S. News
        • Scouted
        • Travel
        • Beast Inside
        • Crossword
        • Newsletters
        • Podcasts
        • About
        • Contact
        • Tips
        • Jobs
        • Advertise
        • Help
        • Privacy
        • Code of Ethics & Standards
        • Diversity
        • Terms & Conditions
        • Copyright & Trademark
        • Sitemap
        • Coupons
        © 2021 The Daily Beast Company LLC