To all the fatherless Prince fans - do you have little or no respect for authority?

Sometimes I am kinda like that but I never really thought it was because I had no father.

japanrocks said:

He's talking about father as in faith and figure...not in birth only...the songs not a cut and dry as some may think...

LondonStyle said:

Nice insight. I'd guess it can be applied to either the micro, or macrocosm though.

Prince always rings in some home truths in this kind of track, but he very much a pop-psychologist (pun intended I guess), and sweeping generalisations are the order of the day.

Also, given what has been printed about his family history, he may just be speaking from first hand experience as a 50 year old man looking back.

i tend not to pay attention to the religious meanings behind Prince music since they make no sense to me

so, do any father-less orgers have little respect for authority? i tend to get that way especially around my boss or anyone who tries to tell me what to do

japanrocks said:

Well he's been doing it since the 80's ..it's a much a part of him as heels and sex.....

If you're not paying any attention to the religious meanings in Prince's music than you're not listening very well, because most of his music has some religious references. could that be because you're fatherless?

LondonStyle said:

thank u LondonStyle, imo that is exactly the message he is conveying in that line....and i agree, this song is not cut and dry. I really like it...it makes you think...beyond.

Dayclear said:

u r soooo very right!!!!

Dayclear said:

I have a father and yes I do question authority.

I was raised in a single parent home and I have respect for authority. My mother raised me right and taught me about respect and I do so with everyone. At least with those who deserve respect. Even with my Dad not living with us, (they never married), I'm cool with my Dad and I love and respect him.

LondonStyle said:

and its also about "systems" - family, relationships, corporate, etc etc. and how those systems can mess things up.

I don't think questioning authority is a bad thing. Having no respect for authority is something different.

And, I do believe you are correct the song discusses the disintigration of society and the various "distractions" put in place to quash independent thinking, responsibility, love and faith.


Word.

I am fortunate to have a good relationship with my father...although for men and women that are not...
God as their Father becomes a very important part of Identity.

Of the people I know, the ones I can think of with the least respect for authority, all have fathers. It's a huge, and mistaken generalisation, to say that everyone without a father has no respect for authority.

TheEnglishGent said:

seriously

purplecam said:

Absolutely! This is the order in my family; 1: my daughter, 2: our cats, and than 3: me. Prince, can you please come and make things right..

At least we're very loving!
[Edited 4/21/09 10:14am]

LondonStyle said:

Given that the next line is about a child with no mother, I got the sense that he was being more literal in that line - as in describing his thoughts regarding the specific gender roles served by mothers and fathers within the nuclear family.

The fact that he thinks the father is the source of discipline in the family would be somewhat consistent with his statements in TRC about the mother being subordinated to the father, the father being subordinated to God, etc.

purplecam said:

Tell em Purplecam!! I'm a mother and women can raise boys into men very well thank-you. To say otherwise is insulting.

None whatsoever and u can quote me on that!

NouveauDance said:

in some ways it's kind of a 'when doves cry' for the 50+ set.

purplecam said:

well, if you interpret as suggested, as a religious reference, then no, someone who is irreligious would not have a 'father' and would therefore see little of value in that interpretation of the lyric.

Dayclear said:

so prince is insulting you with these lyrics.

stanleylieber said:

Prince verbally attacks single mothers. Quick, alert the media.

TheEnglishGent said:

as someone who works with juvenile youth, the overwhelming majority of them come from fatherless homes and as fair as i try to be with my "tough love" they still buck my authority because its foreign to them. but what's crazy is that they all want that in their life, just can't bring themselves to acknowledge it. most hardened themselves a long time ago and don't even realize it.

Dayclear said:

that is a retarded thing to say

sometimes a cigar is just a cigar, and sometimes people don't like aspects of prince's lyrics because they don't like them.

what compelling psychological reasons causes a person to like prince's lyrics?

let's investigate.

it would be cool if prince would write a song about how fucked up a person has to be in order to constantly seek the positive in life.

i mean, 1+1+1=3. let's do the math.

Prince's statement means children are better off having loving parents involved in their lives. It's not meant to be controversial. Being a neglected child can have it's negative effects.
[Edited 4/23/09 18:47pm]