The Line is an unreleased song recorded on 22 December 1987 (six days after Dance On, during a stretch of sessions focused on the Lovesexy album). It was written in response to a poem by Ingrid Chavez which Prince had recorded with her earlier in the month, entitled Cross The Line. The Line was included on an early version of the album, compiled on 21 January 1988, but was removed for a February configuration, replaced by I Wish U Heaven.
The song includes a chanted portion used in live shows since early 1987, "People, people. I've got a brand new dance", which mentions Housequake. The track ends with Boni Boyer singing lyrics from Take My Hand, Precious Lord. A scream by Boni Boyer from this track was later used in the opening seconds of Acknowledge Me (credited incorrectly to "Bonni Boyer"), with the liner notes stating that The Line was "2 b released at a later date". The song remains unreleased, however.
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