Why did he write this? I thought that he and his dad had a good relationship after P got famous. So where does this come from? I've never heard of his father being abusive when P was younger anyway. Nice song tho. Just got Come. I'm enjoying it.

I don't suspect that it's entirely autobiographical, but Prince has atleast hinted that he was abused as a child - perhaps by his step-father. For instance, in "The Sacrafice of Victor", he talks about abuse by a man "with a strap in his hand". It's been a while since I listened to that song so I can't remember the exact verse, but you get the point.

I wondered about the (partly) autobiographical aspect of this song, especially as it mirrors the sub-plot of the Purple Rain movie. If the story had appeared only once, it would have been easier to dismiss as simple creativity, but for the same thread to re-appear about 20 years later struck me as interesting.

L
[Edited 7/1/05 4:40am]

doctamario said:

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He has talked about being abused by his real father a lot. He talked about this a lot when he was promoting Rave. He kind of surprised me that he was that open about it.

If you listen to the director's voice over on the PR disc. He said he wrote the script based on things that P said happen in his home when he was a child.

First, in the PR movie, the director BASED stuff he wrote on what Prince told him. So it is not FACTUAL, certainly not as what was portrayed in the movie. It was all SPICED up.

Then to react to the initial post; Prince does not neceseraly needs to use his OWN personal history for every song he writes. He has a fantasy too, as Purple Knight points out.

For instance, 2Morrow's liner notes say that the lyrics are about a band member having the hots for a dancer. Prince just taps into that vein. The lyrics would run somewhat less smoother if you sing; "The guy in the band that has the hots will see U 2Morrow...." , right?

So, it might be smart not to expect everything Prince writes to be a factual acount of his own life; he is influenced by lots around him too.

at the end of the song he says

"Don't abuse children, or else they turn out like me"

So obviously he was mistreated by his father at some point

roddiekay said:

why should it mean that obviously HE was abused?

it could just be like this:



it wouldn't sound so right if he said "don't abuse ur children or else they turn out like my best friend" or whatever, right?

it could be about him and then it could not be

Good points everyone. I notice that there are a few P songs like Papa and Sister that would easily cause the listener to think it's all based on truth, but really they probably are no more true than any other song he's written.

To me, Prince's songs are stories. It is not much interesting to me which stories are true or not. Even though I am crazy about recording info; I love to know when and where he recorded and with who.

HamsterHuey said:

Funny off-topic story about this song (that I was considering starting a post on, but didn't): Where I work, there's a guy with the last name of Papa. Every time I see him, I want to start singing, "Smack! Oooh, papa! Smack, smack! Oooh, papa, papa!" Then point my finger at him with a serious look and say, in a deep Prince-like voice, "Don't abuse children, lest they turn out like me!" He wouldn't know what the hell I was on about. What's even funnier is that he and his wife recently had a child, so he is indeed a papa in more ways than one.

psychodelicide said:

dude don't do that! that would be soo wrong...

I won't but the temptation is there.

HamsterHuey said:

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Look, I am only telling you what Prince said in a few interviews that he did around RAVE. He could be telling lies but, I am not sure why one would lie about child abuse for years. In addition, the director said that the tears you see in PR in that fight in the basement was not written in the script. The tears were real. I think it is obvious that P came from a troubled home and I don't understand why I lot of fans can't believe that.

I Seriously think anyone MALE who is different to their father can relate to this (POWERFUL) song, especially those boys who's dad's are more musculine to them and who's dads like man things over the passion(if i cant love my woman!!!)..... but at the base of it all they are the same (purple rain esk)..... smack smack the slap in the face of your want to be like your papa but his inability to understand u even though u are the same.....
oh the tourment....maybe i need to speak to my phycologist LOL he he

laurarichardson said:

All true, I did not dispute that. I tried to point out that Prince is an artist and in this way has something called artistic freedom. Not everything he releases, be it by song or movie, has to be the exact truth.

I was trying to illustrate to participants of this thread that it is okay to take it [his message] with a grain of salt. This of course does not take away ANY of the points he is trying to make; I am all for that.

laurarichardson said:

Because no one likes to admit their idol is less-than-perfect, and there are people who see being abused as a flaw. Fucked up, but true.
[Edited 7/2/05 19:58pm]

HamsterHuey said:

I feel the same way

thekidsgirl said:

Hey Stacey! Nice to meet ya!

meow85 said:

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Well, it is sad if people think being an abused child is a flaw. The abusers are the ones that are flawed.

laurarichardson said:

Couldn't agree more, but unfortunately some choose to view being abused as something you chose or asked for.