'If you set your mind free baby, maybe you'd understand'

Which liberated mind can enlighten me on the meaning of the lyrics.

pray4rain said:

The lyrics are about a special needs girl,(artistic) If you set your mind free maybe you'll understand, She was beautiful in her own way, and that makes her beautiful to him and should be to us.

jazzy328is said:

(Autistic)
Autism is a disease where the child is lost in his or her own world and doesnt respond to others just goes along happy in thier own mind so to speak. but the song is about a girl with autism.

whatitaint said:

That's an interesting take on the song.
Did Prince ever directly say the song was about an autistic child?

I've always loved this song because it dealt with how we look at people who are diffrent from ourselves ...
From childhood we pick on people like CynthaRose who view the world in ways we do not understand ...Perhaps if we were to look at her joy in life we could appreciate things better ...
Star fish and coffee mapel surup and Jammm
Ps Yes Prince did at least once answer the question of what the song was about but I forgot where and when ...
[This message was edited Wed Oct 23 5:34:16 PDT 2002 by Zandi]

i always wondered about the 'mates' in her lunchbox.In England 'Mates' are a brand of condom.No matter what i'm told i'll always get that imagery in my head!

Zandi said:

cheers bud!

Thecherryloon said:

Mates to the different colored socks silly!

yamomma said:

That's an American term.I've not heard that before.

Thecherryloon said:

What do you call the match to your socks?

yamomma said:

sometimes this site fills me with joy!

whatitaint said:

I just wanted to clarify that autisim isn't a disease. Autism is a very rare developmental disorder.

Additionally, Cynthia Rose doesn't strike me as an autistic child. I mean, just because she wasn't like the rest of the people in the class that doesn't necessarily say that she was a child with special needs. She could just be original in what she wears/eats... Although with Prince, who really knows for sure.

About the 'mates in her lunchbox,' I tought these were "Lunchables." You know, the ones by Kraft that kids eat for lunch... the are also called lunch mates. Does anyone know these?

it's not exactly an american term (sock mates LOL) but the lyrics say "with diffrent color socks" "sometimes I wonder if the mates were in her lunch box" it took me a while to figure out what in the world he was talking about there but finally I realized that he ment the other 2 socks were in her lunch box. it's called a pair of socks here in america, and a pair indicates 2 or a couple, a couple can indicate 2 people who are together,(even 2 friends right?) and in that sense they sometimes call eachother there mate...more of an European term really...I don't call any one a mate but I know folx who do

Shorty said:

good explaination mate!

I always thought of condoms too, the song doesn't really make a whole lot of sense other than being "different" why shouldn't Cinth' have condoms with her tangerine?

Good thread, it's always good to hear different takes on the meaning of lyrics.

I always call the other sock the missing one! I am not convinced about sock mates.

I am laughing so hard at this thread!!! Cherryloon, don't worry, I also have the mates 'condoms' thought 2! I guess it must b a British thing!
I never knew that he had actually said what the song was about...very interesting. I wonder what made him write about it.. By the way I don't think lunchables were around at the time he wrote this song.

Great song. So many colors, visual interpretations. So glad theres no video

Thanks for the replies, some nice new angles to it!

Who's miss Cathleen, Kevin, Lucy and Cynthia Rose?

Why is her favourite number 20?

'Cynthia had a happy face, just like the one she'd draw
On every wall in every school But it's all right, it's 4 a worthy cause'

What could this mean?

Thecherryloon said:

She was wearing different color socks and he was wondering if the other two were in her lunchbox IE: the mates

pray4rain said:

Being as eccentric as she was, it probably rubbed off on others and allowed them to walk their own way too and to look at others without being so negative, but trying to open up and embrace others that are different. As she grew and went to different schools she probably had that same effect on people. That is a positive thing or a worthy cause.

I've always thought Starfish & Coffee was about a girl who came from a poor family without the means to provide 3 square meals a day. The mismatched socks implies (to me) that she didn't have (proper) parental guidance. In spite of her circumstances, Cynthia Rose kept a positive attitude and had a great imagination. I think the reason they were so surprised when they opened her lunchbox is because it was empty.

I could be way off on this. But it reminds me of a poor family with 10 children that attended the same elementary school I did. Their parents depended on welfare and handouts. The children were different from the average student and often teased and made fun of. I hope they were able to do better than their parents.

'Cynthia had a happy face, just like the one she'd draw
On every wall in every school But it's all right, it's 4 a worthy cause' You go Cynthia...

What a Wonderful Song. Excellent number 20. I take it it's just a lucky number but then I'll be talking bout Lene Lovitch. Numerology? 20 broken down 2+0=2 broken down 1+1 number1! I think Prince is into Numerology and Lucky numbers. Superstition cause well 7 means Luck for him and his Birthday and all. If you ever do his cards you will see he Always has good readings. Always.
[This message was edited Wed Oct 23 21:10:18 PDT 2002 by Natasha]

Jagjams said:

Ever seen Prince on the Muppets?

MJ

'nuff said.

Shorty said:

Awww but of course!

Last year on the NPG website, Questions and answer section, someone asked Prince if the song was about a girl with autism and his answer was yes.

This post has really made my night, I have a smile on my face that brings healing, thanks gang. (condoms), (Poor)
etc. I think we have a lot of Autistic people right here on the Org. All of us were ordinary compared to Cinthia Rose. Keep singing. LOL

jazzy328is said:

I remember the question being:

Q: Is the song "Starfish and Coffee about a mentally challenged or autistic girl?

A: Mentally "alternative"

Thecherryloon said:

I believe that this line is:

'...tomates where in her lunch box'

as in tomatoes!