The song, "4ever."

Prince sings "If," in this song.

~If I never get to hold your hand
~If I never get to be your man
~If I never get to kiss your lips
~If I never get to hold your hips
~If you never get to know how much I care
~If I never get to make U laugh
~If we never get to take a bubble bath
~If I never get to see your smile

Of all of Prince's lyrics that we try to read in between the lines about, this one is difficult to understand.

Why would such a powerful man seem so up in the air about a "4ever Love?"

Nope, no curiousity here. I take it as a song addressing someone else's insecurities (presumably a female muse/listener). prince seems to be saying don't YOU worry if we never get to do these things cos he believes in eternity so it's all moot anyway. Or something.

Prince has never made the word, "IF," so relevant in any other lyrix.

Why I wonder.

It's just a natural word to use leading to the "that's OK, cos I got other plans" type of line, and then the progression to the belief that he has "4ever" and "eternity".

It's called songwriting.
[Edited 1/6/10 7:18am]

I think it's because he's not with her and he's just letting her know how he feels. Love the song another one that is muse approved I'm sure.

maybe he wants to fall in love truely , but the right person is not around now, or never was

I guess it's just that repeating "If," seems curious because you don't know who is in control of the Love. Not that someone needs to be, however, Prince says that he swears it's not fair.

I'm kinda believing it's an..."Upload Eternity,"... "Download an old lady with a ball and chain kind of thing.

I give it a 5 on the good emotional feeling scale. But a 9 on the songwriting scale. In fact it makes me feel a brownishOrangeGreen for the Color weirdo's out there.

~If we never get to take a bubble bath. Love this line. I really love this line.

AND...let's not forget "Underneath the white veil walking up the aisle...I just might go crazy I might go wild..." We do not want Prince going crazy now, do we Tame?

Tame said:

Just because Prince is a "powerful" man, that doesn't mean that every woman wants him! That's what he's trying to relay. There are no guarantees in the love game!

Prince has songs where he comes of as MUCH more vulerable and weak than this.

Love this song though. One of my faves on LotusFlow3r.

theRight1 said:

mmm

this song is one of my favs too from lotusflower....

another very loving and emotional song of all time coming from his heart

l really approved of this song so much.....

theRight1 said:

No, by all means we don't.. I have all the Peace and Serenity he needs.

Tame said:

Nice observation Tame, you have such a lovely way of seeing things. I enjoy ur posts. If he's singing 2 a certain someone, she could be making IF's about why she can't be with him, he's trying 2 show her the IF's that are REAL and mean something.. He might be saying he's got 4-ever even IF she doubts it he's gonna wait 4 her...

I think he's talking about not wanting to rush into everything.

"see I don't wanna part with you, not tonight
you're gonna be a part of my past.. listen...I just want forever, forever, eternity is just one kiss away"

I got the idea he was trying to postpone an ending and look foward to doing all of those things

Tame said:

u know tame.....

since this is a very emotional love song right coming from his heart...

when he says 4ever,,,,, u know he means he got forever like he will wait for her like he got all the time in the world...like hes not running away...
so when he means by tht he;ll wait for her whatever she got to do...
whether she doubt in her mind tht he will wait..u get my point tame ?

thts how l look at it....everyone look at it in different way tame...

Tame said:

He wants a forever, true love; he's telling her all the things he's imagined doing with her but first, there's an implication that she's got to make up her mind if she's serious, agreeable and says "yes".

He's acknowledging that he may never find that one "true love." The one woman with whom he'll do all those things and live happily ever. But he's okay with that now because of his faith - which is the 4ever he's talking about. He's saying there are more important things than earthly love.

Maybe they haven't physically been together and since tomorrow is not promised, she or he could die tomorrow. If so, it wouldn't seem fair but they'd still have 4ever. This is what it means to me.
[Edited 1/9/10 20:51pm]

Genesia said:

theRight1 said:

I like both your interpretations, makes sense.

NeferAsetTiti said:

Thank U Nefertiti..."IF I have to wait much longer, I could die from lonliness."

AnaB said:

Yes, and I believe in Lovers taking forever just a minute at a time...yet when U love somebody, you can't wait to rush the opening hug.

prince has his eye on someone but she's out of bounds cuz she dont go to kingdom hall, she wont have a chance unless she joins forces, only then its a possibility she can share his bubblebath etc
he sings about the new world, he believes he's got 4ever. that's alright IF its true but i'd say grab what you can in this life boyo!

PurpleJane said:

what if she does join forces and go to the kingdom hall with him ? how would he know what she will do and wont do ??
what if she is a christian they are just one and the same faith...
if she is out of bounds..... then they should meet half way does tht make sense ???
if he got his eye on someone dont you think he should let tht person know
how would the person know tht he got his eye on her ???

Genesia said:

Like this interpretation

.
[Edited 1/19/10 8:23am]

Tame said:

I've had that feeling once, I decided 2 carry on for I didn't want 2 "die anymore". My wish for u is that u don't wait any longer, longing can be such torture. I wish u happiness and continuation for what u are waiting for 2 come so u no longer have 2 be lonley..

Genesia said:

Yes, that is what the song is saying.

Tame said:

I still say that Prince is more shy than we realize, at least that's the only thing that can think of.

According to the USA Today interview back in 08': "On a love song, his voice takes on yearning as he pines for the feel of a lover's lips and the move of her hips. "That's what happens with years of celibacy," says Prince, survivor of two broken marriages. "It all goes into the music." He pauses. "This time, it has to be the right person.""

this kind of sums up the song