I'm amazed by the fact that some many of Prince's hardcore fams have not learned to read between the lines of his lyrics. The subject matter of TRC is about God however its moreso dealing with Prince taking control over his life and career and freeing himself from a system that has controlled everyone. The album is a confessional that explains the steps he took to get out of the Warner Bros. Contract, what led to the demise of his relationship with Mayte, how he has become aware of the oppressive capitalist system and how he has freed himself from the way we are taught to think and behave. First the reference she and 5 others is mentioning how Prince banished Mayte and dealings with the Five Major Record Labels from his life. He references his feelings about Mayte by sayin she was easily tempted by the resistor, which encompasses fame, stardom, and all the trappings of celebrity.Mayte could not stomach Prince's decision to try and run his musical career through the underground. She was easily manipulated so Prince had to get her out of his life. It is easy to believe that Mayte attracted to this lifestyle because she jumped into another high profile relationship with Tommy Lee. She Loves Me For Me discusses his appreciation for Mani who loves him for who he is and not what he provides and its a Subtle Jab at Mayte as well.

The Digital Garden is about his new found faith but is moreso about how he manipulated Warner Bros. to get out of his contract. They wanted the albums for the contract he signed in the early 1990's so he gave them sub par albums to fill the rest of the agreement. "They wanted compensation for time spent in the palace so the wise one obliged with an invisible deed." The door to door refrence is a not so much JW door to door since but more in the sense of fighting to wake people up to the exploitation of the capatilist system. Searching for those willing to do the work is referencing those that are willing to tackle this enormse fight of tearing down this powerful force that manipulates us all. The Digital Garden is nothing but a metaphor for the mass media, all forms of entertainment, and internet that consume Americans and many all over the world and blinds them to what is really going on. He discusses these points further on the work where he is talking about his waking up to the real Truth of capatilistic slavery that has convinced everyone that they are dependent and inadequate therefore maintining the status quo and selling products in the process. Living in a system that the Devil designed is used to refrence those in control ie. the ruling class, which he mentions blatently in the song also.

Lastly I want to discuss Family Name. I have read where so many people on this site have stated that this song is anti-semetic and that is terribly inaccurate. He does use Jewish names in this song to reference the way that the Jews who control the mass media and much of the United States have forced the guilt on the holocuast upon everyone yet when we try to mention slavery they portray it like it is not as important. The you might say what you mad about is a direct reference that someone may give to an Af. American person of prominence because their life is going well but Prince's reply is you kept your heritage and were able to overcome the great obstacle that was put in front of you but you portray me as ignorant and insignificant. It is not an indictment to all Jewish people just those in power. If you compare the position of Jews in the U.S. compared to those of other exploited groups, Jews have done extremely well owning large portions of major industry's and influencing the U.S. government to the point where they destroyed what was once Palestine to give the Jews a state on land that did not rightfully belong to Jews as they argued. Those who know the history of that area know that the three major religions started in that environment. The song family name discusses the plight of more than Af. Americans, he refrences native Americans, religious exploitation and in the opening segue the problems that are caused by assimilation.

In closing I just want to state that as a scholar in the fields of Race Relations, World and U.S. History, Prince's points are well thought out. The major problem is that most of the record buying public is not well versed on these issues so it goes over their heads. I think its true what Prince said you get out of the record what you put into it.

Recommended Reading, "A People's History of the United States" by Howard Zinn. An eye opening read that may help you understand the album better.

Peace and LOVE

All I have to say is the Rainbow Children is a wonderful and yes intelligent album. I love it . It's great. I play it all of the time.

Urbanhang22 said:

I'm no scholar, but I will say that Prince got so deep with this album, and I like it! It is truly CONTROVERSIAL in that he is addressing ISSUES; ask your average BIG SHOT about many of the issues we're facing as a country and you will get LIES LIES LIES!

excuse the few typos...in the line JW door to door since that should be sense. And in the Family Name paragraph, it should read guilt of the holocaust.

Great post Urbanhang. I think you make a lot of good points and that is an interesting take on the album. The Rainbow children is a very daring, intelligent album after all and really takes some thought to understand. But in defense of the average guy, Prince didn't make it any easier for us to get with his strange metaphors and his colorful Prince-speak language!

By the way I forgot to add that the title "The Rainbow Children" is used to encompass everyone, not just people with color in their skin. Everyone is manipulated EVERYONE!

Eye must agree

The Rainbow Children is as complex as any great Ingmar Bergman film.Thank you for your dissection/interpretation.

I can't imagine not having TRC in my life.It's a real gem.

Urbanhang22 said:

First of all, thanks for the detailed analysis...most refreshing to hear some real thinking. True, Prince is often slipping hidden meaning between the lines and I always like to hear some good dissection.

I often thought while listening to TRC that the transition between Mayte and Mani was a major theme, especially in She Loves Me for Me but also elsewhere...Mayte + Tommy Lee is a really disturbing sight, if I'm not out of line in saying so.

One thing troubles me though--how often in your essay you pin the evils of the world on capitalism, the system of freedom that has raised everyone's standard of living, the system of the United States that makes us the envy of the world...would you rather the opposite form, Communism/Socialism in which everyone is waiting in line for a roll of toilet paper? Seriously, capitalism isn't the problem. True, the media seems to be a very poor representative of capitalism, but indeed the coming flood of independents like Prince are also proof that the system works--the old media will fail, not because it is too capitalist, but because even capitalism cannot tolerate crap sold as art--the buying public won't stand for it forever and the artist will be paid in the end. A good student of history will see that the most capitalist places on earth are the most civilized.

Best wishes.

peace, urban. it's nice to see well-thought-out comments about this album without getting caught up in subjective views. If only more journalists would be more objective. Do they not teach this in J school anymore?

Another theme that weaves in and out of the songs is that man is not fit 2 rule, hence the musical commentary about capitalism, slavery, men misleading one another and trying 2 tear one another down, and that to love one another with our Creator as the most supreme of all is the answer to a lot of society's issues. Imagine if every corporation was based not on greed, but on God and on the golden principles that everyone would benefit from (to honor and respect one another, be truthful, not take advantage of others, and to be of service instead of greedy). If corporations were formed because they honestly DID want to promote their artists or help mankind in some way, this Earth would be quite different right now. Paradise, anyone?

teller said:

What leads you to that conclusion? It seems to me that saying things like that makes non Americans think Americans are arrogant.

teller said:

Actually I think you are looking at capitalism in it's most positive form. In actuality capitalism is nothing more than slavery. The slaves or in our society middle and working class work themselves to death, make decent wages but not what they are worth, have less time with their families, poorer health, and a poorer quality of life. While those in charge have no work ethic, do not believe in anything that they tell us to believe in and exploit us in order to maintain the top less than 1% of the population. Now I agree that socialism is not a cure however you must look at this slave system for what it is and how it exploits all of us. We are taught to live at our means therefore we will never be able to free ourselves until retirement. The capitalist way of life is only able to sustain because it takes advantage of other societies that have the condition that you mentioned. The U.S. has factories and sweatshops in China, Cambodia, Pakistan, India, S. America, etc. etc. etc. where children and uneducated poor work to produce goods for pennies and we pay upwards of 100% of for what they are worth. In order for our society to sustain we have to take advantage of the other countries. Think about it for a second in some countries large portions of the population have no electricity yet in the U.S. we can run computers, lights, radios, tv's, etc. all night long if we want to. There is something wrong with that and some of the blame is poor leadership in underdeveloped societies, yet most of the blame comes as a result of the exploitation we face at the hands of major corporations. Sadly many individuals in these countries are tired of the exploitation which is understandable, yet the means they use to vent their frustration cost many innocent individuals their lives ie. 9/11. If you haven't realized yet the U.S. Government is a front for Big Business and Corporate America. This idea of patriotism is a facade used to manipulate those of us in the system. That is why Prince is so into the movie the Matrix, outside of the fighting the movie is an excellent metaphor for a capitalist society.


I can recommend various books and reports that you should check out in order to find out more about U.S. policy and this so-called more progressive system.

Urban, I'd like to know what books you recommend about US Policy and such, I'm interested in reading about this.

Chacmool said:

I'm happy to see someone wants to expand their horizons, I highly recommend "A People's History of The United States" by Howard Zinn as a starting point. It chronicles the way American society was shaped and what has caused what we see before us today. The book deals with the Europeans coming to America and closes during the Clinton Administration. The later editions reprinted in the late 90's contain the info on Clinton's first term. Another excellent read is found in Politics and Society, the article Positive Functions of the Undeserving Poor by Herbet J. Gans, which deals with why poverty is a necessity in a captilaist society.

I'm glad you took the time to dissect the album in your mind, to place it in sociological context and especially writing down an analysis for the rest of us, but to me really it's just a sprawiling concept album without a thoroughly conceived or researched theme. He might have put a few connotations here and there but for more ehm... "expanded" sociological criticism laid to an African-American musical form I'd suggest you try the album "Nu Blaxploitation" by Don Byron, which features the poignant lyrics by Sadiq.

Let me see you writing an analysis on "NewPower Soul"though.

Urbanhang22 said:

You're obviously sincere about this, so I cannot criticize your post.

But I must disagree, and would like to toss out Capitalism, The Unknown Ideal, by Ayn Rand, or Basic Economics: A Citizen's Guide to the Economy by Thomas Sowell, or Do the Right Thing: The People's Economist Speaks, by Walter Williams (a black man if that matters to you) for an alternative interpretation of how things really work.

Personally, I'm glad Prince is making money doing his thing. And I hope to do the same. Only in America.