In the D&P album, Thunder immediately stood out as unique, but its meaning had alluded me for quite a time. I was more than happy to simply leave it as: Prince using sex in order to bring himself closer to God, therefore blurring the line between sex & religion as he had done on my occasion.

BUT
I had recently read that "Thunder" was a song that goes back to the fateful night Prince decided to pull The Black Album (assuming everyone knows the whole story about supposedly seeing God/Satan, fear of his immediate death).

I was comfortable with my own interpretation. Then when I listened to the song last night, lyrics started to jump out, provoking the newly found bit of information which I had dismissed right way.

Certain lyrics possibly "allude" to this night. But I think the music speaks a lot louder (considering that 1/2 the song is instrumental).

Is it just coincidence that during the instrumental break that leads to the song's end, that he has two parts going simulatenously: one part is more guitar-heavy and one is more light/airy/string-oriented... sounds like that duel between good & evil that Prince wrestled with that night.

I'll continue to look into this, listen to the song a few more times and come back to read the replies. It's quite thought-provoking if you ask me

DreamyPopRoyalty said:

i like your thoughts.

I do believe that a duel between good and evil is in the air of, "Thunder."

I am never certain of what Prince means for sure, while listening and contemplating His message, or emotion.

Prince says that Love came to Him and said that only the children born of me will remain...Eve being the first Mother and Adam the first Father...All that I can gather is the notion that some children are born from Adam and other's of the Devil...However, that is a theological debate...which I don't agree with...I personally believe, that it is probable that Adam impersonated the devil, and Fathered all children...

The devil is simply a liar. And because Eve and Adam both disobeyed, we were all born into sin.

The one thing that I always keep in mind when "interpreting" Prince songs is where he is *at* during that time. For instance, through most of Prince's career, he was very much into One, everyone/everything being One, in Union. Many of his songs illustrated a deep understanding of meditation and the Divine Nature within.

So here is my interpretation of Thunder (which may or may not be right)...

Prince said:

If Prince were deeply into meditation during this time, "thunder" could be seen as an allegory for the kundalini or the energy of Light/Love through the chakra centers, which is often felt as a hot energy through the spine up through the cerebral cortex and the third eye. So when Prince sings "Thunder - all thru the night" it could be referring to an all-night meditation in which Prince is describing this energy moving through him all night. "Promise to see Jesus in the morning light" could also refer to the "morning star". In meditation the Christ Consciousness is often seen as a "star".

Prince said:

Again, Prince often used "Love" to signify "God". In fact, in most Prince songs I've found that Love and God are quite interchangeable in almost all instances. So in this verse Prince is saying that no one knows how God came to be, how God began (since birth often signifies a beginning). Prince is saying that he first "realized" God (I'm assuming) while listening to music on the radio. And I love this next verse, because I've found it to be very true in meditative experiences, "Jumped up in my body with an attitude", meaning that the Divine energy just sort of took over without waiting for Prince to be ready, just sort of took control and "kissed me on the mouth and said 'Your leader take me to'" is another line I love. It is like being kissed by the Divine, however, the mouth of God is considered to be the base of the skull, and it is said that those that reach the deepest states of meditation receive spiritual food or manna from God through this area and often do not need any other sustenance. So Prince could be indicating that the Divine Presence just sort of "hammered" him at the base of skull before exploding forth, and demanding who or what Prince is lead by.

Prince said:

Basically Prince was being lead deeper into salvation, into the Christ Consciousness because even then Prince held a deep belief in the Christ and that the Christ was the savior. Prince would know that the only way to be saved would be through Christ, which could in this indicate a knowledge of the Christ Consciousness within the deepest states of meditation, and Prince was being reassured that it was okay to go deeper, that he wasn't alone.

Prince said:

Again Love = God, therefore the energy of God was running all through Prince. The energy was so intense it was vibrating all through him "the bed started shaking". Another description of the Divine presense besides a star is "a flower" of Light. If Prince had this experience without any preparation, without any knowledge of what was going on, it is normal to question it, especially when the beliefs you have held your whole life are suddenly seen as illusion. When one is given a Divine vision such as this, without the preparation for what is to come, it blows your mind. Everything you've believed, everything you've seen, experienced, felt, examined, you suddenly! realize is nothing at all. And so one might question whether this experience is Real, Truth, or whether one is being led astray.

Prince said:

Rain doesn't intend to fall on a window pane, and the window pane doesn't intend to catch the rain, it is spontaneous, it just happens as it happens. It is said that only when one has experienced the Divine nature, can one truly understand what it is to cry, to laugh, to love. The impact upon one who has experienced the Divine nature is often one that either causes the individual to cry, or to laugh, or to do both at the same time. In this verse, Prince is basically saying he discovered who Love is, and realized that "only the children born of me will remain", meaning that everylasting life comes through this realization, and that through this realization one finds that death does not exist. It is along the lines of Jesus saying "He that believs in me shall have everlasting life."

There are a few suggestive lyrics that I'm going to take into account for this as well as the whole instrumental duel between good and evil.

And actually, it gets into more detail in the "Long Ass" version of this song (runs for 10:50). He goes into a keyboard or piano solo for several measures that suggest that he's looking for God's wisdom to help him. Then a little more of this "duel" is detailed. I'll give it another listen later and update you on that.

I didn't go into the chorus so much (I find it pretty suggestive, but haven't broken it down yet).

-"ur leader take me 2": he first talks about his love for music, but its almost like music is his mistress and is what ultimately possesses him
-"this my sweet saviour or the devil in disguise": him contemplating both sides of himself (the good & the bad)
-"bed started shaking" lovemaking, but possibly and/or him having a nightmare that woke him up in the middle of the night (and eventually made him call Susan Rogers to meet him at the studio late that night)... I'm guessing on this one, though.
-"only the children born of me will remain": his albums will be his legacy when he dies, which he fears will be soon.

So that's a little more to consider
Like the replies I've gotten so far, keep 'em coming.

This is my interpretation based only on the lyrics and my limited knowledge of Prince and of the story you mention above.


Thunder

Thunder all through the night
Promise 2 see Jesus in the morning light
Take my hand, it'll be alright
Come on, save your soul 2night
Thunder!

I believe this passage refers to an inner "struggle" to accept Christ. Throughout the King James Version of the Bible, Thunder is said to be God's wrath (so to speak). Prince was awakened or dreaming of this struggle for his soul.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah {x2}

Love - nobody know just how it was born
Love first came 2 me with the radio on
Jumped up in my body with an attitude
Kissed me on the mouth and said, "Your leader take me 2"

Prince questions the true meaning of Love here. His music has previously been his "Love" and had possibly taken him down a road of potential distruction; however on this night he meets a new Love in Christ.

CHORUS:
'Twas like thunder all through the night
And the promise 2 see Jesus in the morning light
Love said - "Take my hand, it'll be alright
Come on, save your soul 2night"

This "newfound" love offers him the opportunity to be saved.

Love's kiss was running all through my veins
The bed started shakin', I don't know who 2 blame
Me or this flower right in front of my eyes
Is this my sweet savior or the devil in disguise?

He wonders if this is a trick. He feels energy all around him which is said to happen when God is in your presence; but he does not know if it is truly God or possibly Satan.

CHORUS
(Oh, all through)

Thunder! (Yeah, yeah)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah (Alright)
(It was truly, truly…)

Like rain falling on a window pane
Tears came 2 my eyes when I asked her name
Made me holler when it finally came
Sayin' - "Only the children born out of me will remain"

Often when people "get saved" they weep uncontrollably he has this experience. He is cleansed of all his sins and is guaranteed eternal life as a "child of God".

CHORUS
(Oh)
(Mornin' light)

Thunder!

We'll be alright (Alright)
(It was truly like thunder)
Don't do it like that, do it like this

Prince is assured that through God he can continue to make music, but must change his ways.

Thunder {repeat}

(It was truly, truly like…)
Thunder all through the night (Thunder, thunder - yeah, yeah, yeah)
Promise 2 see Jesus in the morning light (We'll be alright)
Take my hand, it'll be alright (It's gonna be alright)
Come on, save your soul 2night

Thunder! (Thunder, thunder – yeah, yeah, yeah)

Thunder {repeat till end}

© 1991 Controversy Music - ASCAP