"Strange Relationship."

What are your perspectives on this fantastic song? The music of course is a great song to dance to, yet the lyrix, are abstract in a strange way...

"I just can't stand to see u happy, and more than that, I hate to see u sad." What kind of relationship would bring about these lyrix?

I identify with them, however, what does love have to do with confusion? I guess there are answers that we seek in our lives, that GOD doesn't always want to deliver the answers to. Maybe true understanding is only for those that process love properly...

All I can think of in Prince talk, which is not my talk necessarily, is that He wants to pull out a whip on an innocent angel, and call it love. Is it love? Or is this strange relationship, everything instead?

All I know is that it has a great melody, a funky clav, and a great Linn drum beat. One of P's coolest songs.

There is co-dependancy on her part as well...he tells, "Honey, if you let me I just might do something rash."...and, yet, she stays with him...("Can't live with you, can't live without you.")...

Until he ends it - ("Well, it's all over.") - for the better.


Imo, and I love the music.

Honey said:

Hmmmm, that's what I was wondering...about him, his dependecy on the girl.

I had a relationship like that once...
"...I just can't stand to see U happy..." He was so insecure that he felt like all my happiness had to revolve around him. Anytime I was happy or in a really good mood, he assumed that I was cheating on him, or I was 'up to' something. If I laughed at another's joke, or talked 2 someone, his response was, "U're f**king him, aren't U?!"
We'd bicker & argue, and it was like he couldn't stand to see me happy...

"...More than that I hate to see U sad...": He turned out to be abusive- mostly verbally- and then he'd try to make it up to me with gifts and empty promises.

Look at some more lyrics:
"Honey if U left me I just might do something rash
What's this strange relationship? (ship, ship, ship)

Isn't it a shame this ain't a movie
Then U could rewrite my every line
I'll take all the blame, yo baby I'm sorry
But I didn't like the way U were, so I had 2 make U mine..."



I think this song describes an abusive relationship. Not necessarily one in Prince's life, so please don't start speculating that he has been in an abusive relationship, or trying to figure out who it was....

It just reminds me of a time when I was young & naive.

She's good for his ego, so he does the Push & Pull...

"I just can't stand to see you happy" (Push)

"I hate to see you sad" (Pull)

("I seem to get a kick out of doing you cold.")

I don't know when it was written, but I know it was done by 1985. Maybe it was written for Purple Rain, because it matches The Kid's relationship with Apollonia.

wildgoldenhoney said:

X a million. classic prince song

Strange Relationship is one my top favorite Prince song lyrically. I love the opening line. "I guess U know me well, I don't like winter - But I seem 2 get a kick outta doin' U cold" and the chorus of course. The whole thing just flows well.

One of my all time favourite songs. Its the only song that can make me smile when I'm down. Just perfect - the jewel in a majestic album. (imo)

ship... ship... ship.. - LOVE IT!!

Yeah, it's a love song...because love can conquer jealousy and abandonment, and many things that the average relationship cannot weather. I love it.

I've always wondered if Prince wrote this song about Sheila E., since they've been friends for so long. But only Prince knows for sure.

chocolate1 said:

chocolate1

I believe that the lyrics can be looked upon in many views. One view is the one above from Chocolate1, she interprets it as being abusive.

But I believe the song doesn't have necessarily mean abuse is going on. It is possible to be in a relationship where the both of you love each other, but all the rest of the things of the relationship just don't work. You aren't able to compromise with each other, or both of you are stubborn and too doggone stubborn to admit it. Or it could mean that games are being played (I say something to hurt your feelings because you hurt mine, but then when I actually see you hurt, it hurts me and I feel apologetic about it). Its a crazy type of relationship but I know many people who have experienced it or are in it as I speak.

And for the record, I read a while back that this song was written about Prince's relationship with Wendy's twin sister, whom he was engaged to at the time this was written.

mmm strange relationship... it´s strange song ... lovely as all he did

This definitely sounds like his love/hate relationship with Susanah (sp).
Big Tall Wall is twisted also.
Prince loves her but still wants the perogative to have sex outside there relationship but expected her to remain faithful.
But after Big Tall Wall would come "Adore".

It the same twisted psyche Prince exposes in 'When Doves Cry'.
[ I may have cheated but 'How can you leave me standing alone in a world so cold?']

The same character in the cab in "Lady Cabdriver", in "Vicki Waiting" and other songs

Prefer the superior Dream Factory version.

Haystack said:

i'd say that one is sorta better as well . more stripped down than the sott version, which is almost always better. i especially enjoy the middle-eastern feel and percussions cuz they funky . the only thing i'd keep from the sott version is camille. i think that voice really fit the song well

purplepolitician said:

Why are you always so abusive?
I must say that this is a strange relationship here...

wildgoldenhoney said:

remember that "dedicate a prince song to an orger" thread? i almost dedicated this song to you . it is a pretty song though

purplepolitician said:

Why didn't you?

I think I may have heard it but can't remember what it sounds like...

( But thanks for the thought at least... )

wildgoldenhoney said:

Oh, and... why this song?

wildgoldenhoney said:

cuz we got a "strange relationship", like you said a few posts ago . always -ing, but you were still with your non-prince-song-knowing azz

purplepolitician said:

Verbal abuse added to the list.

wildgoldenhoney said:

put the z's in there to take away from the sting a bit

purplepolitician said:

It still hurts...





































...but I forgive you...

wildgoldenhoney said:

purplepolitician said:

wildgoldenhoney said: