I was listening to NewPowerSoul tonight and after all the songs played the cd went to track 49, and started playing "Wasted Kisses". My question is, who or what was the inspiration for this song? There are sirens from police cars, and heart monitors going off in it, what's it all about the words are very sad, does anyone have a idea?

this song is about his child with Mayte that died.

very moving song.

rave777 said:

Really, I didnt know that, why would those be wasted kisses?

Yeah, I heard it was about the baby, but that seems a little cold to me!

I agree with the cold part but Prince did seem to distance himself from Mayte after the death. Maybe he couldn't cope with the loss and was keeping it to himself at bit much.

Yeah, but if he was keeping it to himself why right a song about it like that? does'nt he know how smart his fans are?!

I think people are confusing Wasted Kisses with the song 'Until U're In My Arm Again' which many believe to be about the death of his son, even though there's only one line 'I imagine you sleeping in your bed' which vaguely indicates this. I've never heard it said Wasted Kisses was about that, if anything it is simply an odd analogy about the end of a relationship, the story being told that of the murder of a woman by a pyschotic man.

Come Back, off The Truth, could also be a song referencing their lost child. I always get a shiver with that song... and with the heart monitor switching off and the scream in Wasted Kisses. Extremely emotive.

As far as I can tell:

1. Prince appears to have referenced in a 1997 interview that 'Comeback' was a song about this situation

2. Others have speculated that 'Until U're In My Arms Again' and (perhaps less so) 'Wasted Kisses' might be about the same subject, but with no apparent support from anything Prince has said in interview. Some of the lyrics in 'Wasted Kisses', for example, appear to contradict the song referring to the loss of a child and, as metalorange has pointed out, the lyrics in 'Until U're In My Arms Again' can be interpreted in different ways.

Just like Prince to put his best song at track 49 - basically hidden.

This isn't about his son. Look at the lyrics:

"Cheap perfume all over those burgundy stockings
The ones I tied U up with
I shoulda just left 'em there (Shoulda just left 'em there)
Why'd I waste my kisses on U? "

We can't say for sure, but it'd seem 'Until you're in my arms again' would seem a better candidate.

All of my life I've never wanted anyone like I wanted U
Every night I said a prayer 2 God and His angels
I'm sure they knew
The many tears that I'd have 2 cry
If I ever had 2 leave your side

"Until U're in my arms again
I know this pain will never end
This broken heart will never mend
Until U're in my arms again

Every mornin' when I awaken, I imagine U sleepin' in your bed
Wrong or right the reason U're taken from my embrace
Well, it's never said
Cuz every day that U don't return
Is another day that my heart just yearns and yearns"




With those two tracks, plus 'the one' and 'come on' - even a bad Prince album has some strong stuff.

Wasted Kisses is not about the loss of his child. The lyrics all point to a romantic adult relationship. The only song that is positively known that is about him (aside from the pre-birth Emancipation tracks) is Come Back from The Truth.

Wasted Kisses - track 49 = 7x7. Prince playing with those numbers again!

Wasted kisses is NOT about the death of Prince's son. Just read the lyrics!

Se7en said:

Well, well, romantic you say! Either "Prince" (or the storyteller) gets shot by the (gun toting other) or he shoots the dame himself, so it'S rather wild and passionate imo but well, romantic, semantics
matter of opinion and interpretation

but I agree that it's not about the death of his son and I super-agree with your number comment

There's a baby crying in the background and a ambulance siren, don't sound to romantic to me
[Edited 5/28/07 11:55am]

People have been speculating that this song is about the baby since this song came out. It's a bit of a leap, but not unbelievable: there are a few clues. If it is, then it's just him pouring out his more bitter feelings about the situation.

Raze said:

Well, it's not about the child . . . but I do believe that the song served as an emotional release of some sort. Maybe he blames Mayte for what happened, and his only way to "hurt" her is fictionally (in song)?

Se7en said:

He's always blaming everyone else in songs. Have you noticed that?

Raze said:

He blamed her IRL too...

Raze said:

it's just to make him feel good

My only complaint about the song is why we have to wait so damn long on the cd to hear it?
[Edited 5/28/07 19:16pm]

dualboot said:

It is totally normal for one parent to distance themselves, keep the hurt inside and blame the other. Sometimes all at the same time. Many marriages do not make it through the death of a child. I have seen it first hand. Blaming each other has nothing to do with making themselves "feel better" it is a coping mechanism when there is too much pain to handle.

wlcm2thdwn said:

mommy569 said:

So true.

It has to be a horrible situation for both Prince and Mayte... can you imagine something that hurt so bad... you can barely speak about it, no air in your lungs to even form the words.. then finally you can get thru the day without crying, it just takes all you have to get thru the day... and then you see read something about YOUR situation (not something that reminds you of your situation, YOUR SITUATION)... and all that effort to get thru the day flies out of the window because your back to square one again with your grief.

prodigalfan said:

Sadly I know pretty much exactly how it feels. I had 2 children that were full term stillbirths. (which is why I get crazy when anyone criticizes how a childs death is dealt with)

mommy569 said:

I am so sorry to hear that. I never criticize how anyone deals with grief.
Like someone said... people deal with situations that are too painful... in their own way.
I have extra sympathy for Mayte because she lost her baby and then her husband too.

prodigalfan said:

Thank you. Funny if it were someones next door neighbor, no one would say a single word about how it were dealt with. Since he is a public figure, somehow that gives the world the right to judge what he does, does not do, feels, shows etc.
He gives us amazing music however it is a gift and nothing more. He does not owe it to us nor does he owe us personal appearances or anything else.

mommy569 said:

I hope my post didn't invoke that response? I reread it a couple of times and can't see why (maybe) it did make you crazy? Best friends of mine had a still birth too and I watched that situation closely. Fortunately their bond tightend after the first pain.

dualboot said:

My post was not directed and anyone specific. Seems people (in general) have something to say when someone famous has "_____" to deal with. And yes some marriages grow closer, mine did, but many do not survive. Not only do you blame your partner but worse, you blame yourself, at least I know I did

Raze said:

Thats what song writings all about, a release from something and if you get the release from passing the blame to someone eles then thats what you gotta do

Raze said:

Yes, I noticed a long time ago. He has some possessive, denial and victimish traits.