Arrogance Lyrics
Artist: Prince (Buy Prince CDs)
Album: Symbol (Explicit)


What makes him wanna see his name in lights? (A double A double arrogance)
(u got it)
...it was the same thing that made Eve take the 1st bite
Pimprag, tootsie pop, and a cane

(Don't make me get up) (There he is, get him) (Don't make me get up)
Like a flame she came and I was no longer cold
That's a little shady, for this lady was only 16 years old.


O.k. what's up with this little ditty?

What's a Pimprag, tootsie pop and a cane? And why are these items so important?

Is Prince suggesting that the desire for fame is evil in nature or that Eve was fooled into thinking that with a bite of the apple she and Adam would be just as magnificent as God?

And lastly, the lady who came who is he referring to, if anyone? She was only 16.

Fun track, I like it

1: The song is boring

2: Why are you posting obviously answered questions. You really don't know what a tootsie pop, and a cane are? REALLY?

Me thinks someone is just bored with posting THESE lyrics. Oh, by the way:

http://prince.org/msg/7/323838

I like your post sweething. I like it when we dive into Prince's mind and talk about the lyrics.

Arrogance...What makes a man wanna rule the world? See his name in lights?

Confidence and arrogance are just a hair apart it seems. I believe that Eve took a bite ought of curiosity, not arrogance.

Maybe Prince was a little sad in the early 80's or something and somebody of sixteen came and cheered him up a bit.

You don't know what a pimprag is?

ernestsewell said:

1. Yeah its not great, its seems like a segway, but curious.

2. I suspect a pimp rag is a doo-rag; a tootsie pop is candy and a cane is what he walks around with as evidenced by recent pictures in Paris.

But what do they have to do with anything?

I'm more interested in the deeper meaning of the song. If there is one.

It seems odd that initially he sings about a male's Arrogant desires and behavior. But with each ending he draws a conclusion that touches on religion.

Then at the end of the song he talks about an encouter with a woman, which comes out of nowhere?

Just trying to make sense of it.

Tame said:

Thanks for the response. I agree that confidence and arrogance are often mistaken for one and the same, totally.

Why do you think he says "...it was the same thing that made Eve take the 1st bite" he apparently likens it to arrogance -- maybe arrogance in disobeying God and thinking that she knew better?

The song seems a little disjointed?

Dayclear said:

I think its a doo-rag, but I'm not sure. I'd never heard the expression before. What intel do you have on its origin?

And is he referring to a tootsie pop as in "lasts along time" or candy?

Maybe its just filler on an album?

Why indeed did Eve take that bite? We know a snake suggested it, but what made her do it? And, is her motivation for biting that apple man's same motivation for his arrogance? I really think Adam was chilling and had no problem leaving that tree alone. Why couldnt she? You can say because men wrote the story and that may be true but this exact scenario plays out over and over? What the deal is?

JonnyApplesauce said:

Uh, oh.

Good point. At the risk of stating generalizations....

I've heard it said that "woman always want more"...(maybe your just like my mother, she's never satisfied)

Is it adventure? Doesn't everyone want to be "more" -- bigger, better, faster, prettier, smarter? Have better stories to tell?

sweething said:

Uh oh for sure.
Glad you said it. Yes I think most of us want to improve, I dont know that we view improvement the same though. Theres a Chris Rock bit about that 'never satisfied' part that kind of sums it up. Ultimately, it isnt necessary to betray anyone to get better. Least of all oneself. The clever plan never works.

JonnyApplesauce said:

Ah, yes I agree with the betrayal part. I do not believe Eve thought she was betraying Adam or God. I think she mostly was intrigued and she was tricked by the serpant.

sweething said:

I can't speak for what Prince's philosophy is about his lyrics...I can only feel how I feel when listening to them and trying to identify with Prince.

I am someone that believes that Adam and Eve were written to fall so that humanity could be here showing the extreme opposite of obedience...and the perfect example of 4giveness.

We can't know love in it's perfection without learning the furthest from perfect love.

wasn't Mayte 16 when they first met?

then he waited until she was 18 to move her to MPLS?

damn

wasn't Mayte 16 when they first met?

then he waited until she was 18 to move her to MPLS?

damn

love that song though for some reason