I think it's sort of a Joni tribute, since he'd commented on her health condition recently.
Something about it feels like a Joni Mitchell track to me.

I'm probably way off base, tho.

Still, I like this one.

terrig said:

3rdeyedude said:

This song did not make my final edit of the album. Just too boring and seems to go nowhere. The Richie Havens line is beyond cheesy.

I dont want you to think I'm dissing your comment...but your comment pretty accurately demonstrates the generational divide

?? not sure what you mean, sorry.......because I edited the album or because of Richie Havens?

June is the absolute highlight of the album and together with Hardrocklover. They both don't really fit on the album, most songs are a bit of a mess to my ears, but I could easily image these tracks featured on a cohesive concept album. The spaciousness of June is amazing.

Rzeplica said:

Great song.. To me, it sounds like Prince reciting other peoples Facebook & Twitter posts. I know I've seen the "Sometimes I feel like I was born too late" thing before.

it was discussed in the movie " Shame"

terrig said:

...is Heaven

On repetaed listens I'm in love with this song. It's got a heartbreaking quality and if you really hear the lyrics, its so self aware....and while its too short, the abrubt ending starts to make sense after awhile....

makes complete sense to me. it's beautiful and personal and i love it.

MIRvmn said:

It has grown on me a little bit but I still find it abit boring

Glad you think that too. It doesn't seem finished either, almost like he just threw it on there.

Although i think the album is utter crap, this one little gem indeed stands out on this album. Not in his complete catalogue, but still is good to hear the man can be quiet sometimes. And not that stupid Million $ Show kid who's nearly 60yo.

( need to look for the lyrics of the whole album though, and have a closer look to what nonsense Prince has to say in 2015 )

[Edited 9/17/15 1:11am]

Maybe because he's closer to 60 than 20, but I wish Prince's latest offerings had more moments of introspect like June: the song has high production value due to the fact that the soundscape is dotted with few elements which somehow still fill up the soundspace. The chord changes parallel the lyrical content, making for the perfect mix of quality production and thought-provoking lyrics.

After hearing this a second time, it reminded me of 2003 (?), when we received our ONA box sets from the NPG Music Club and found the solo piano disc as part of the set. I took the disc home and listened to it that same night and enjoyed that listening experience.

-From a long-time orger who rarely comes to the org.

When Prince says "sometimes feel like I was born too late; should have been born on the Woodstock stage", I see most are associating this line with his birth, but I believe he is speaking of his rise to success, ie. 1984, when his legacy was truly born.

"June' is 's NEW AGE sound that he created on the number#1 AOA album! It's crisp.hypnotizing,haunting & honest. Eye have a sneaky feeling he created on his B-day this year.

"JUNE" & the HOT remade CLASSIC '1000 X's & 0's' R complete bona-fide "MasterPieces"!!!!

BTW: Has anyone seen --.------ @ the "Park" lately? :hmm2

[Edited 9/17/15 21:58pm]

leadline said:

Best song on the album, by a mile, perhaps the only one that will be remembered.

Lovely, dreamy, calming...the perfect closer and antidote to the noise attacks on my ears that pass for songs on this album. I overlooked this song on first listen, but then it just hit me...wow. Love his voice on this one.

very good song. someone could post the lyrics

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

boring as hell...whats classic about it? No real melody, no real singing....one of the many low point on this record.

IMHO "June" is the one and only track I'll remember and treasure from an otherwise deeply unpleasant album. It's almost like he's included this gem as a confession, like saying "never mind what you've just heard, I myself know it's a mistake". The confessional mood of this final track is so melancholic, so naked, it's so rare for Prince to be this transparent. The synth solos are classic P, just goregous, remind me of The Grand Progression...

The "pasta", I believe, symbolises a loner who cooks basic food for himself. A metaphor for a life without flavour...

But for me the real treat is when he sings:

"Sometimes I feel like I was born too late

Should have been born on the Woodstock stage.

I'm just here waiting, waiting, waiting...."

I interpret this as Prince acknowledging his current lack of inspiration. I believe he's saying "I'm stuck on a creative loop, not old enough to fade out, yet no longer able to create sparks".The beauty of it is... all he has to do is be honest in his fragility and the genius emerges. Why this is so rare for him at an age of wisdom, and instead he often choses to brag and brag, is a mystery.

The narrative arch is also beautiful: the song begins with a tangible scenario (it's June, pasta for one), the narrator engages in some nostalgic reverie that grows from a falied relationship into a sense of disappointment at life gone by, and is finally brought back to reality by the initial scenario (the pasta is burning), which by now is itself a metaphor of that life burning out.

Thank God for "June", it is a small flicker of hope that he can still deliver, even after the very harsh, screechy and IMHO pointless listen of HitnRun.

Finally, a slow song. Although it's way too short, its my favorite on the HnR, along side HardRockLover. This is a classic Prince slow song, and one of his classic slow songs. Very hypnotic, romantic, thoughtful, and sexy. I'm hoping for more songs like this one are in Prince's future. Time to make love now that I got a background song. Love this one.

It's a strange song even for a Prince song, but neo soul is always weird like that. And yes, this is a "neo soul" song. Even for it's sad subject matter, it's romantic sad, and hypnotic, too. Without any lyrics, I would listen to this song while writing. I think he and Tycho would make great music together.

terrig said:

...is Heaven

On repetaed listens I'm in love with this song. It's got a heartbreaking quality and if you really hear the lyrics, its so self aware....and while its too short, the abrubt ending starts to make sense after awhile....

hyperpessimist said:

IMHO "June" is the one and only track I'll remember and treasure from an otherwise deeply unpleasant album. It's almost like he's included this gem as a confession, like saying "never mind what you've just heard, I myself know it's a mistake". The confessional mood of this final track is so melancholic, so naked, it's so rare for Prince to be this transparent. The synth solos are classic P, just goregous, remind me of The Grand Progression...

The "pasta", I believe, symbolises a loner who cooks basic food for himself. A metaphor for a life without flavour...

But for me the real treat is when he sings:

"Sometimes I feel like I was born too late

Should have been born on the Woodstock stage.

I'm just here waiting, waiting, waiting...."

I interpret this as Prince acknowledging his current lack of inspiration. I believe he's saying "I'm stuck on a creative loop, not old enough to fade out, yet no longer able to create sparks".The beauty of it is... all he has to do is be honest in his fragility and the genius emerges. Why this is so rare for him at an age of wisdom, and instead he often choses to brag and brag, is a mystery.

The narrative arch is also beautiful: the song begins with a tangible scenario (it's June, pasta for one), the narrator engages in some nostalgic reverie that grows from a falied relationship into a sense of disappointment at life gone by, and is finally brought back to reality by the initial scenario (the pasta is burning), which by now is itself a metaphor of that life burning out.

Thank God for "June", it is a small flicker of hope that he can still deliver, even after the very harsh, screechy and IMHO pointless listen of HitnRun.

Great post! Thanks for your analyses and interpretation. Always a pleasure seeing a song from another person's perspective that makes sense : )

egansmind said:

thedance said:

Yes. Heaven indeed.

June & 1000 Hugs & Kisses... wow those are both indeed amazing songs..

Agree totally

Best 2 tracks on the album by far

I agree

As requested, the lyrics according to the booklet:

Pasta simmers on the stove in June

Makes no sense yet but it will soon.

Conversation starters come way too hard.

Nobody wants to be the martyr

playing the wrong cards.

Why did you come to this planet

Why did you come to this life?

How can you be everybody's dream and still be somebody's wife?

Tell me what did you have for lunch today?

That's right, how would I know?

You're off somewhere being free while I starve in the lonesome cold.

Our bodies got used to each other

Now they're used to the sound of Riche Havens voice on the vinyl spinning round and round.

Sometimes I feel like I was born way too late.

Should have been born on the Woddstock stage.

But I'm just here waiting and waiting and waiting.

Somebody famous had a birthday today, but all I saw was a full moon.

What's that - something burning on the stove.

It must be the pasta. Yea, it's June.