I mean, not just one line- but what song has the best lyric overall?

I realy like "Forever in my life", I listened 2 that song all the time when I met my new girlfriend.
"I never imagine that love will rain on me and make me wanna settle down"

I mostly like the irrational lyricisms that seem to be unconsciously flowing out of his mouth like a meandering current. I prefer a good deal of sensualism and I demand some spiritual connection.

The best examples: "Anna Stesia" and "Dorothy Parker".

TRC as a whole comes a long way, though Prince's biblistic references make his spirituality come across a little too brainily.

However, the king in this genre is not Prince, but John Lennon, who wrote "I am the Walrus" and "Across the Universe": "Words are flowing out like endless rain into a papercup, they slither wildly as they slip away across the universe".

Lillianlaughs is right on the dot, John Lennon is the King of this genre, and Prince, is prince indeed.

Being a HUGE fan of both, I always wondered what would John say about Prince, I dreamed many times they got in a studio together!!

Has Prince ever mentionned Lennon as referrence?

.

If I Was Your Girlfriend - Just fabulous, but especially the line 'Would you run to me if somebody hurt you even if that somebody was me?'

for me it has to be 'joy in repetition'
'up on the mic repeating 2 words
over and over again
was this woman he'd never noticed B4 he lost himself in the articulated manner in which she said them
these 2 words a little bit behind the beat
i mean just enough 2 turn U on
4 everytime she said the words
another 1 of his doubts were gone
should he try 2 rap 2 her
should he stand and stare
no1 else was watching her
she didnt seem 2 care
so over and over she said the words
til he could take no more'

A story of sweet torture.

I think absolutely about Annastesia

life can b so nice

- funny, psychedelic, and clever

the ballad of dorothy parker

joy in repetition

- great little stories with several layers

forever in my life

- personal and touching and full of simple beauty

Mmmmmm...The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker...

"Oh, my favorite song," she said
And it was Joni singing, "Help me, I think I'm falling"
(Drring) The phone rang and she said
"Whoever's calling can't be as cute as U"
Right then and there I knew I was through (Dorothy Parker was cool)

it's a feelgood song with feelgood lyrics on a feelgood groove...

well at least that's my humble opinion..

HEAD!!!! C'MON PEOPLE!!! THOSE ARE HIS BEST LYRICS!!! PRINCE AT HIS BEST...NASTY & CONTROVERSIAL!!! when people want hear what all the fuss is about prince i play the dirty mind album...great title!! when people listen to the lyrics in tht album, they define prince!!! that was 1980!! i think that album still speaks for him! if you put GOD on that album, it would rank as one of the top five albums of all time. dont believe me? make your own dirty mind cd and add GOD to it. watch what happens!!

Shut up, already! DAMN!!

micorison requesting radio silence...
[This message was edited Fri May 3 12:49:04 PDT 2002 by micorison]

interesting choices. i think "forever in my life" is definitely up there. i sing this one a lot as i walk down the street... in my own little world..

also:

if i was your girlfriend
strange relationship

prince isn't a conventionally great lyricist, but when his music was working, it was working on all fronts.. the words used to go so fantastically with the music... i think DMSR is a great example of solid, down on it funny party nonsense.. also i like "all the critics love u in new york"- very weird, very abstract words combined with a great deadpan delivery...

also, how about

pop life
anotherloverholenyohead

"its a freeza-burn compared 2 cool"....Days of Wild

Sometimes It Snows In April


"Love, it isn't love, until it's passed."

That line gave me chills the first time I heard it. And it still does.

Raspberry beret

Moonbeam Levels

Understand, this could change at the drop of a hat...but, right now, i absolutely love the lyrics to "The Holy River"
Very uplifting, very spiritual....i'm not an overly spiritual person, but this song makes me feel good whenever i hear it.

Controversy

hmmm... let me think...

in no particular order:

Vicki Waiting (the joke)
Shy (gentle)
Crystal Ball (going astray)
Don't Play Me (self-explanatory)
The Sacrifice of Victor (look above)
Adore (humor and words of love)
The Ballad of Dorothy Parker (a great story)
The Everlasting Now (like Sly references)
Condition of the Heart (nice little stories)
Days of Wild (I like the attitude there)

and many more...

there are so many examples...but what about the beginning of 'supercute'?...
'she arrives on a 747 about 20 to 11...she comes to see him..him as in me...'
or in 'u're gonna c me' when he says 'you're the reason i took a rope baby...and lassoed the moon...'
while i'm on music club stuff in 'sadomasochistic groove' when he says 'when i meet the Maker, He'll ask my tailors name...'
prince has so many good lines...i mean some of the stuff he passes off in just a brief line is so brilliant a lot of people can't even get that much across in a whole song...

anotherloverholenyohead (did i already mention that?) and i could never take the place of your man- great narrative!