Since about 1980 I've been a big Prince Fan and over the years I've come to appreciate many, many, many of his songs. The lyrics are extremely expressive, descriptive and evocative.

I've come to realize that Prince is not only a great musician but and even greater Poet.
His lyrics are poetry! His lyrics are what draw me to the music.

Yes I know lots of other musicians do the same with their work but he seems to be more consistent and generates greater volume.

He can easily release his lyrics in a book of Poetry and it will be successful.

I’m not sure if others have mentioned this before but I find this ‘poetry’ to be predominate in a lot of the lyrics.

I would actually enjoy studying some of his poems with an articulate english lecturer.

I love Prince's lyrics, they are often sexy, funny and witty,

but the greatest poet ever....?

he might be a great poet but the best ever? I thought the book he put out last year would be filled with poetry but it was barely a glimpse of his poetic writings. bits and pieces of a lot of stuff we have either already seen or read or lyrics of songs we've already known. If he was the best poet ever that book could have been filled with a ton of material.

He's a great lyricist, but not the greatest poet ever.

chocolatehandles said:

He did, more than once. It wasn't.

Oh for God's sake don't encourage him.

there are a lot of poets so how may have u read?

chocolatehandles said:

I'm sorry, I don't mean to take the piss, but REALLY!!!??? My grin for the day is credited to you chocolatehandles.

Very good yes.

Greatest... not by a lightyear.

His music enhances a lot of what he says into 'great' lyrics because they fit so well. But with out the music... as just poetry... a lot would lose thier bite.

But even saying that... like every very good poet... he has his moments of greatness.

Sorry

But I have read his lyrics and without the music to me it's poetry.

I'm glad I won't be bumping into some of you soon.... Plus it's just my opinion and I'm sticking to it.

Prince is great, but that other little genius from Minnesota (Bob Dylan) is better.

Prince is great, but not the greatest.

rmartin70 said:

Ok; I'll change "The Greatest Poet Ever" to "One of the Greatest ...

Plus just like to add that a poem can be a song without a chorus, and if you read the lyrics minus the chorus you can see what I'm talking about..

Bob Dylan called Smokey Robinson the world's greatest living poet, now with that I will agree. Go check out some Smokey.

You wanna read a poem? Go read 'Education for Leisure' by the new poet laureate... then you'll see what a 'good' poet can do.

Prince stopped being a poet many moons ago.

It's my opinion... and I'm sticking to it.

chocolatehandles said:

It's good you think this, but, whilst i dont agree, i look at it like this...

The man can play all those instruments, produce all his music and have it be 90% of the time better than the rest, he's a great dancer, can sing unbelievably, great style, innovator, sexy...and he can even be the best lyricist when he wants! (plus he can ball)

when you look at the bigger picture, it makes it more impressive.

Also, sometimes the words when sung don't strike you, this happened to me with 3121, planet earth...but when i got 21 nights and saw the lyrics to some songs i had forgot from those albums, splashed around pages, i was like, wow...these are great!

So i do get you in certain aspects. Oh, and i think his lyrics on Lotus rank up there with the best, we will be trying to decipher them for a long time.

Oh Lawd!
People need to stop professin Prince is the greatest (this) ever and the greatest (that) ever!
Until u've heard every poet on the face of the earth,
u can't come to that conclusion.

chocolatehandles said:

i love Prince .. but.....
THE GREATEST`? no way

Leonard cohen is the greatest

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[Edited 12/3/09 8:43am]

mzkqueen03 said:

Cue the skin crawling.

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[Edited 12/3/09 8:44am]

mzkqueen03 said:

Let me say this now for everyone here: YOU WILL NEVER HAVE HIM. YOU WILL NEVER BE PRINCE'S, GIRLFRIEND, SOUL MATE, PARTNER, FUCK BUDDY, FRIEND, SISTER, MOTHER, LOVER, OR WIFE.

There, I said it.

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[Edited 12/3/09 8:45am]

mzkqueen03 said:

"uh huh huh uh huh. You said cock."
[Edited 5/12/09 9:18am]

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[Edited 12/3/09 8:45am]

Prince is a great musician and I've been a huge fan of his for over 25 years, but he is not "the greatest poet ever"!!

I can't see how anyone would believe this. If you want truly moving and inspirational lyrics check out Bob Dylan. He is the master and greatest lyricist ever!

Prince is a mighty fine lyricist one of the best

but if you take some time to read and study poetry you will soon realise

he falls short in that department

Great lyricist? Absolutely
Greatest poet? You're reaching with that one

It's cool if ChocolateHandles or anyone else is feeling Prince's words like that.

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[Edited 12/3/09 8:46am]

ernestsewell said: