Prince Releases Touching 'Baltimore' Tribute Song

In light of the recent riots in Baltimore following the death of Freddie Gray, several celebs have offered their opinions on the events, including Gossip Girl star Penn Badgley, who tweeted in support of the protestors in his hometown, as well as Hunger Games actress Amandla Stenberg, who openly condemned police brutality and offered up her prayers for the city. Now, a few days after announcing his plans to record a tribute song, Prince has released “Baltimore,” a touching ode in which the singer addresses the deaths of Gray and Michael Brown, the 18-year-old Ferguson, MO resident whose murder at the hands of a police officer last August sparked nationwide protests.

While what's happening in Baltimore is obviously a complex matter that can hardly be addressed within the confines of a single song, “Baltimore” still manages to aptly convey a message of peace, empathy and love. In the mid-tempo, guitar-heavy track, Prince delivers a set of simple yet touching lyrics that poignantly express his sentiments about the civil unrest in the city.

For instance, "Baltimore" opens with the lines, "Nobody got in nobody's way/So I guess you could say it was a good day/Least a little better than the day in Baltimore/Does anybody hear us pray for Michael Brown or Freddie Gray?" He then declares that "Peace is more than the absence of war," and sums up the frustrations of the many protestors who have taken to city streets and spoken out via social media, singing, "Are we gonna see/Another bloody day/We’re tired of crying/And people dying."

On Sunday, Prince and 3RDEYEGIRL's performance at the "Rally 4 Peace" concert in Baltimore will stream live on TIDAL. A percentage of the proceeds will go to Baltimore charities that serve the city's youth. Listen to "Baltimore" below: