the lyrics considerated, it could very well be ?
(if you believe, i would die for you - jesus did die for us after all..)

or is it just a plain lovesong with a good lyric ?



Artist: Prince Lyrics
Song: I Would Die 4 U Lyrics

I'm not a woman
I'm not a man
I am something that you'll never understand

I'll never beat u
I'll never lie
And if you're evil I'll forgive u by and by

U - I would die 4 u, yeah
Darling if u want me 2
U - I would die 4 u

I'm not your lover
I'm not your friend
I am something that you'll never comprehend

No need 2 worry
No need 2 cry
I'm your messiah and you're the reason why

'Cuz U - I would die 4 u, yeah
Darling if u want me 2
U - I would die 4 u
You're just a sinner I am told
Be your fire when you're cold
Make u happy when you're sad
Make u good when u are bad

I'm not a human
I am a dove
I'm your conscious
I am love
All I really need is 2 know that
U believe

Yeah, I would die 4 u, yeah
Darling if u want me 2
U - I would die 4 u

Yeah, say one more time

U - I would die 4 u
Darling if u want me 2
U - I would die 4 u
2 3 4 U

I would die 4 u
I would die 4 u
U - I would die 4 u
U - I would die 4 u

I think many (most?) listeners have come to this conclusion.

You can read it as a romantic lyric, or a religious - great huh

Purple Rain is definately one of Prince's most spiritual albums (next to Lovesexy, The Rainbow Children and Graffiti Bridge).

What makes Purple Rain so delicious is that you'd hardly know it - the lyrics don't SCREAM it, but when you look at them, they're their (Let's Go Crazy, I Would Die 4 U, and Purple Rain most overtly, but the themes expressed in Computer Blue too).

mmmmhhh....I always assumed the romantic version with the comment that it's more romantic to live for someone.
Therefore I totally missed the religious one. Thanks.

i always thought it was more religious than romantic, though it certainly is romantic - i always thought it was about unconditional love, and how it transcends judgment or ownership of another person.

Some religious quotes from the Purple Rain album:

"Don't let the elevator (devil) bring you down -- hold on! He's coming..."
"I am a dove... I'm your messiah... I'll forgive u by and by..."
"I'm fine... cuz I know that the Lord is coming soon..."

benjamino71 said:

Considering what's spoken in the film by his father to his mother, it seems to have a double meaning, like many of Prince's songs. But without the context of the movie the lyrics lend themselves to an easy interpretation (if you know the story from the Bible) of Prince singing in the third person about Christ. I'll skip the self-explanatory parts.



In Christianity:
Jesus has not been flesh and blood since His days on earth. Since His resurrection He is a Spirit.


In the New Testament the white dove represents the Holy Spirit.


`
[Edited 12/7/04 10:18am]

Snap said:

then what was the 'purple banana'?

Well, if you go back and watch Purple Rain again, there is a line that Prince's father said to his mother after they got into an argument, "I would die for you." I have often thought that was where the song title of the same name came from. After Prince's father attempted suicide, Prince sings "I Would Die 4 U" in the movie. I often thought that it was because Prince was thinking about his father, who was clinging to life in the hospital, and Prince was paying homage to his dad. My

abierman said:

Prince himself said "elevator" means "devil" -- but it would be interesting to know what he means about the "purple banana" ...or maybe not.

The best lyrics are ones that are open to interpretation.

Gives it more breathing room and lets them hold their own.

Prince does the duality of meaning in this way the best I think of many artists out there.

The religious aspect is obviously there, but they work so well because the message isn't beating you over the head.

One of my favorites.

Well, the model of the song's protagonist is that of a martyr or messiah. So, Christ would be the the One out of the Three Who closest resembled the protagonist.

Personally, I think Prince was just using a familiar model (the Messiah) as a metaphor for romantic devotion. But, given his constant claim that his war with Warner Bros. (particularly during that period) was one to use religious imagery, maybe he really was writing about Jesus.

Only Prince and God know for sure.

The Trinity (God the Father,Jesus and The Holy Spirit)

Prince said Lets Go Crazy was about God (Lets Go Crazy) and Satan (The DeElavator).

okay.....but does the purple banana fit in????? (again!)

abierman said:

"Let's go crazy, let's get nuts, let's look for the purple banana 'til they put us in the truck, lets go!" "U better live now,before the grim reaper come knocking on your door. Tell me, r we gonna let the de-elevator bring us down. Oh no, lets go. Dr. 'everything'll be alright'll make everything go wrong, pills & thrills and dafodills will kill. Hang tough, children."

rudeboynpg said:

now say it!

The purple banana is God as in the "Big Banana" the theme points to seeking and finding God and salvation its part of Prince always have always will be like it or not

Dicktroit said:

says Dicktroit.....

Sounds pretty Holy to me
Love that song!

NouveauDance said:

yeah, but I think darling nicki and baby I'm a star are decidedly secular