I was listening to Movie Star the other day, and there was a reference I didn't quite understand - I thought I'd pan it out a bit, and see if anyone else has any confusion or mis-understanding of any lyrics in Prince songs - maybe we can all help each other out getting those metaphors and references straight (or at least share ideas on what they could mean).

OK, so I'll start: The lyric in Movie Star was the several mentions of "the mix", i.e.

Ooh, the mix, it's about the mix

So is he just talking about the mix of the track, like in the studio? I think what threw me is in Graffiti Bridge, I think Prince says to Jill: "Morris into mix now? What kinda noise is that"

So what's this 'mix' that he's talkin' about in Graffiti Bridge, is it the same 'mix' as in Movie Star?

//

And to make sure you haven't mis-heard something, here are two of the more well-known Prince lyric sites to help:


- http://www.dtt-lyrics.com/ - Has albums, b-sides, out-takes, related artists etc
- http://www.princelyrics.co.uk/ - Albums and a few others, not as many as DTT, but nice design.

MetroArea said:

2 different kindsa "mix" as far as I can tell.

"Movie Star" is about the track mix and the Grafitti Bridge "Mix" is as in involved with each other.

Maybe I am wrong but that is how I see it.

i got one i got one!

joy in repetition...i understand what that phrase means but it don't relate to the song for me..its seems like it should be called love me or something..

SEE:

He like to frequent this club down up on 36th
Pimps and thangs like 2 hang outside and cuss for kicks

Talking 2 no one in particular, they say "the baddest I am tonight"
4 letter words are seldom heard with such dignity and bite.
All the poets and the part time singers always hang inside
live music from a band plays a song called "Soul Psychodelicide".
The song's a year long and had been playing 4 months when he
walked into the place.
No one seemed to care, an introverted this-is-it look on most of their faces.
Up on the mic repeating 2 words, over and over again
was this woman he had never noticed before 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 one of his doubts were gone.

Should he try 2 rap with her? Should he stand and stare?
No one else was watching her, she didn't seem 2 care.
So over and over, she said the words til he could take no more, (no more)
he dragged her from the stage and together they ran through the back door
In the alley over by the curb he said tell me what's your name
she only said the words again and it started to rain (rain, rain, rain)
2 words falling between the drops and the moans of his condition
holding someone is truly believing there's joy in repetition.
There's joy in repetition.
There's joy in repetition.
There's joy in repetition.
There's joy in repetition.
She said love me, love me, what she say?
she say love me, love me.
Joy, why don't u love me baby, joy, why can't u love me baby
joy, come on and love me baby, joy in repetition
Alright, joy in repetition,
Alright, joy in repetition,
Alright, joy in repetition,
Alright, joy, all my wishes add up to one
Love me, joy, Love me, joy, Love me, joy
Love me, Love me, joy, joy, joy in repetition
joy, joy in repetition,
joy, joy (love me) in repetition,
Love me, love, joy, joy, joy in repetition
joy, and I'm gonna say it again, joy, joy, and I'm gonna say it again,
joy, I'd like 2 go way up high and say, Love me, joy
I'll say Love me, joy
Joy, joy in repetition, joy in repetition
There's joy in repetition

What the hell do "Elephants and Flowers," "7," and "Alphabet St" mean?

ChadtheRTF said:

7 - There's been a lot of great stuff written about 7 by fans over the years - basically it relates to the Book of Revelation, that is many lines from the song related directly, or are lifted from (with a little editing) from passages in that book in the Bible.

Elephants & Flowers is pretty self-explanatory, It's a simple celebration of Prince's belief that God made everything from the tiny and fragile (flowers) to the giant and strong (elephants) - He made these and every living thing in between these two extremes.

Alphabet St. I'll leave to someone else.

BlurredEye said:

That's what I thought about Movie Star, thanks

Still not sure on the GB line though - Are you saying that was just Prince's way of asking if Jill & Morris were together?

Just he says "what kind of noise is that?" - I always thought he was deriding the music Morris was playing (his noise), and that Morris was playing some style Prince calls 'mix' - OR is he saying "what kind of noise is that?" to mean "what's up with that?"

SO - "Morris into mix now? What kind of noise is that"

= "You and Morris dating now? What's up with that?"

ChadtheRTF said:

Elephants And Flowers = part of the "everything" that God made.

7 = The book of Revelation.

Alphabet St. = Writing the alphabet with your tongue, while going down, down, down...

Moonwalkbjrain said:

This is the meaning of the song title right here. There was Joy in repeating those 2 words over and over again.

from insatiable...

"I want your love, in my dirty little cage/"

jacknapier said:

isnt it "I want you all alone in my dirty little cage"...cant be bothered to check the lyrics but thats what Ive always heard it as

purpledoveuk said:

I thought so too. Anyway, right before that he says "Like a wildcat, martha, in a celibate rage" ....

I assume he really really really really wants her

LovesexyIsThe1 said:

See, that's why I didn't answer that question - I never knew that! It makes complete sense!

I knew this thread would be a good idea

MetroArea said:

Does he say "Morris into mix now" or "Morris in the mix now"?

jacknapier said:

If you listen to the song he says : "Like a wild cat Martha, in a celebate Rage I want you alone in my dirty little cage" Where in the world did you ger I want your love, in my dirty little cage from??? LOL

Universaluv said:

Oh, I dunno, I always heard the former, but if it's the latter, makes comlete sense.

Will have to give the disc a spin to check, but I think you're right - Hence Jill taking off her underwear as a F.U. to Prince for thinking he still had a right to ask that question, since they were no longer an item.

Damn - see this is why I knew it would be a good idea to ask - All this time I've wondered what it meant, and I guess it's down to just my mis-understanding of what Prince says there!
[Edited 6/2/05 15:25pm]

LovesexyIsThe1 said:

o0o0o..duh! stupid me! thanx 4 clearin that up 4 me

Universaluv said:

LovesexyIsThe1 said:

I feel like Beavis right now ( "wow... cool!" ) . I never realised this.

lovesexy123 said:

Mt friend refuses to believe its not "take it slow babe, have some wine" instead of "....lets unwind"
[Edited 6/2/05 23:24pm]

MetroArea said:

Yep, that's how I understand it.

I MAY have misheard this but ...

And before the beach gets too sandy
We'll call a wet towel WC is handy


WTF???

and ...
Oh, your car got mags that be dippy dippy dope
But the whole damn nation got the same
Honey only flock 2 the bee that's the Pope
Not the President with government lame


L

Levi said:

have wondered about this one too....

I don't have a clue!

jacknapier said:

this could be a reference to anal sex right...?

maybe P is serenading Tevin Campbell here... (see other thread)

MartyMcFly said:

now...thats 2 much

regarding the "18 & Over" lyric:

I think he's talking about when you fuck and it's too dry and gritty. WC usually stands for water closet (freaky european term). Wet towel could be a reference to lube or just a wet towel. Maybe Prince and the woman tried fucking, it was too dry and so they cleaned up in the WC and "Took a trip to electricity" - vibrator. My guess and I apologize for being so blatant.

My question - "like Frank and Beverly without Maze". Is this some television reference

Also, what are "trolley cars that juggle seventeen"?

Awesome thread! Let's keep it going.

paisley4me said:

"Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly" is an R&B group, they've been around forever.

"Trolley cars that juggle 17" Prince's creative way of saying that he's not interested in a loose woman who juggle's multiple lovers (possibly referencing the sexual act of "a train").

Moonwalkbjrain said:

Because the lead character the song describes gets joy out of repeating the phrase "love me". You really should have...

nevermind.

i have one question who in the hell is this martha character p sings to in two of his songs??

Tiffypoo2004 said:

That's a great mystery. Might just be a name he uses. Like Morris Day and "Grace".