Is this song about his relationship w/ his fans? Just wondering if others may see this. Some examples...

"If I leave my front door open, would you come & visit me"
(ie. inviting fams to Paisley Park-Celebrations & so forth)

"Pack my bags & leave" (passing away)
"If I did would you remember, to feed the dove & clean the cage" (will we keep his legacy alive)

"Whether or not we grow, after the seeds are sown...only time can say" (Again, a legacy issue...was all the music/fam gatherings enough for him to be remembered?)

Other lyrics seem to elude to his legacy & relationship w/ his fams.

The day he Dies I am killing myself! How's THAT for A Message?

I'm not sure it's a message about his fans..but I do love the song.

That was my first thought when I read the lyrics. I related it to Prince, the Celebration and the TRC listening sessions, etc. However, I don't know exactly when it was written, so your guess is as good as mine.

AzureStar said:

Hey! You finally heard the disc.

It could be about anyone in his life - friends, associates, fans. I definitely think fans are a part of it, they seem to be the most fickle & first ones to stab him in the back.

IceNine said:

Sounds like someone wasn't paying attention when I was giving my opinion on it.

It's at my bedside...falling asleep music for my mind.

AzureStar said:

I was joking... I knew that it had put you to sleep earlier today and was just checking to see if it had blanked your memory and made you forget the dealings of the day... leaving your mind ready for re-programming by the "fam" army.

I am glad to see that you are fully intact and have not become a "fam!"

IceNine said:

Uh-huh...you covered yourself quite well there, Ice. Nice one.

AzureStar said:

"...reach up... underneath the pillow... and grab... the knife..."


See, I remember stuff.

:LOL:

I think it's a message to anyone who doesn't share his newfound passion for religion via the Jehovahs Witnesses. The non-believers are the 'swine'.

It's such a great song, though. I try to hear it more in the 'jilted lover' sense that one can also hear it, so I can enjoy it without being pissed off by having my athiest ass called a pig.

Doves,
Mel!ssa

dgtlctzn said:

Yes, I did wonder about this. Are some the "swine?"

It's about him and his fans...

It's about him and the critics...

It's about him and Mayte...

It's about any and all "relationships" he's been in where he's felt unappreciated for what he brings to others...

...and it's a great song...






..."If I leave my front door open...would you come and edit me..."
[This message was edited Thu Jul 18 22:33:36 PDT 2002 by wellbeyond]

wellbeyond said:

Good for you Wellbeyond! I'm glad someone here has read Dante's 10th letter to Can Grande where he breaks down the four levels of allegory!

• Literal (historical)-what story actually says ("Litera gesta docet")
  
• Typological (allegorical)-illustrates truths ("Allegoria quod credas")
  
• Moral (tropological)-conversion of soul, what should be done ("Moralia quod agas")
  
• Anagogical (eschatological)-deals with "4 last things (Heaven, Hell, Death & Judgment)," eternity ("Quo tendas anagogica")

If I had a , I'd edit in the morning...
[This message was edited Thu Jul 18 22:40:55 PDT 2002 by 2the9s]

2the9s said:

edit, edit, edit. :p

HellerHighwater said:

Arghhh!

2the9s said:

2the9s said:

You shall never know what having your approval means to me, 9s...

wellbeyond said:

Why not?

2the9s said:

There is no place for intelligence at this site

Be gone you well-read ones!

This is a direct message to the FICKLE fans.
PEARLS b4 the SWINE is a biblical reference to giving your talents to someone who doesn't respect them.

Here's the real message:

http://www.wired.com/anim...es/pearls/

Vagina said


Good message Vag! HAHAHAHAAA! You made me laugh this time

Vagina said:

Well I think I may aswell Vagina - that day would be So Dark I don't think I could handle it, infact I may have to kill myself before Prince dies so I don't cry..

Whatever.

Some dude claimed that it was about Israel and Palestine, what with the baklava and the "they lift you up and then they knock you down again". In that case, pearls are US support and the swine's Israel.

I didn't buy it at the time, but after having heard TRC, I'm not so sure.

Anyway, Wellbeyond's probly right that it's about a cluster of things going on in his life. A lot of his songs seem to kinda be about his women/his record-company/fams/naysayers/peace on earth/Jesus and God and Jehova.

What I'm wondering, tho, is what the line after the dove-cage means: "never count in front of the children lest they die of old age". Does this have to do with the old "I don't count birthdays"?

As with a lot of Prince's art, there can be many different interpretations. But the title itself and the final line in the song is actually in quotations as it reads "Never cast ur pearls b4 the swine". The fact that Prince put that line in quotation marks is proof that he is quoting the Bible because that line can actually be found in the Bible. So I agree with muleFunk in saying that Pearls B4 The Swine" is definitely a biblical reference that Prince is more than likely directing towards his personal relationships as well as his relationships with fans.

And as far as the fans are concerned, I do think Prince is saying that there are some segments of his fan base that not only disagree with his point of view (which is okay), but then some go on to also make it their duty to disrespect him in any way they can (and that's not cool). So when the bible points out that one should "never cast you're pearls before the swine" it is talking doing things or sharing things with people who do not show appreciation nor respect that which is done.

So I think Prince is expressing in the song that based on his own personal relationships and experiences from dealing with the fans in a much more personal way over the last year or so, he can see for himself what the Bible means when it says "never cast you're pearls before the swine". Each line in the song deals with his perception of how people in his life have treated him in response to his attempts to do things that are "good and righteous".

I can't tell you what Prince meant with this song, since I have never heard it, but I can tell you what the phrase "pearls before swine" means...

It comes from the Bible, Matthew 7:6 "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you."

"Pearls" is God's word or wisdom. This verse warns people not to waste God's wisdom by giving it to people who will in turn, misuse it or use it for their own justification (trying to right their wrong ways) or to people who will try to use it against you.

When I first heard this song, I thought it was in reference to him and Mayte.
But really it could be his relationship with anyone.
His fans, ex friends, anyone.

disdain4theunfunky said:

I would say that's a fair guess. He's mentioned on several occasions that the reason he doesn't appear to age is because he doesn't count birthdays. If you count the years go by, you'll feel them, and age them.

He's looked pretty rough in some recent photos, though. In person as well, I've definitely noticed a change in the last few years. Less make-up and an emotional woman will do a lot to age you in a short amount of time. I say he might as well just count the birthdays and take the gifts. Maybe he wouldn't have to charge for the laminate lanyards if he didn't have to buy everything himself.

Some of prince's songs can mean different things to many people... to me, i feel this song is about a relationship going bad, and that he didnt really want to end, and that he figured maybe someday, time will tell, it may work out, but then he doesnt want to put the pearls before the swine because most likely it wont, and he'll just move on (LIKE A BIRD THAT KEEPS ON SINGING).