Hi again!

And, despite the previous topic I've started, I'd like to remark that Prince has also written very interesting lyrics. Can we share our favourite ones? Here's my choice, in chronological order:

- Raspberry Beret (1995). The ideal lyric for the perfect Prince pop song. Deliciously intrascendent.

- Sometimes It Snows In April (1986). What can I say?

- Sign O' The Times (1987). Prince looks beyong his belly button (does this expression exist in English?), and beyond the ones of his many girlfriends, and he doesn't like what he sees. The sentence "sign of the times mess with your mind, hurry before it's too late", probably my favourite Prince quote.

- Don't Talk To Strangers (1996). Few people can imagine Prince being so tender. Beautiful.

- Lion Of Judah (2007). Enthusiasm. His god is alive and, therefore, he'll defeat all his enemies. May I say "gospel-pop"?

Although Prince can be a good lyricist I think lyrics are his weak point, he underestimates how important they are for songs and especially in his recent music the lyrics have been lacking any kind of easy accesable theme that people can relate to and are pretty self indulgent (Never be another like me anybody?)

Saying that though, he has come up with a lot of quirky and clever lyrics in the past, my favourite being "The pants were wet, they came off but she didn't see the movie cause she hadn't read the book first"

Come On

Or could it be your girlfriend who ain't never been straight. When i ask you if your hungry you say I already ate. That one always has me like WHAT

I agree with the reference to the Ballad of Dorothy Parker. I always thought that was one of his most clever songs. Just my interpretation of the lyrics below:

(Dorothy was a waitress on the promenade; She worked the night shift; Dishwater blonde, tall and fine; She got a lot of tips) Dorothy was a prostitute (street waitress) who very pretty and got paid well for her services.

(Well, earlier I'd been talkin' stuff; In a violent room; Fighting with lovers past; I needed someone with a quicker wit than mine; Dorothy was fast) He had been arguing with his lover and was restless because of the negative energy.

(Well, I ordered; "Yeah, let me get a fruit cocktail, I ain't 2 hungry"; Dorothy laughed; She said "Sounds like a real man 2 me"; Kinda cute, U wanna take a bath?; (do you wanna, do you wanna, bath) He doesn't want the full menu (hence the reference to fruit cocktail) because he is in a relationship, he just needs to pass the time with someone other than the lover he is arguing with. Dorothy finds it amusing and gives him props for wanting to remain faithful. So, she offers him an alternative to the usual service.

(I said "Cool, but I'm leaving my pants on";"Cuz I'm kind of going with someone"; She said "Sounds like a real man 2 me"; "Mind if I turn on the radio?"; "Oh, my favorite song" she said; And it was Joni singing "Help me I think I'm falling"; (Ring) The phone rang and she said; "Whoever's calling can't be as cute as U"; Right then I knew I was through (Dorothy Parker was cool) At first he reiterates his position, but the way Dorothy reacted and the fact that her favorite song was Joni Mitchell's "Help Me" made him rethink his stance.

(My pants where wet, they came off; But she didn't see the movie; Cuz she hadn't read the book first; Instead she pretended she was blind; An affliction brought on by a witch's curse) Dorothy was a bit of a tease at this point, but she held her end of the bargain. She didn't sleep with him; there was a bath and nothing more.

(Dorothy made me laugh (ha ha); I felt much better so I went back; 2 the violent room (tell us what U did); Let me tell U what I did) Dorothy made him laugh and put him in better spirits.

(I took another bubble bath with my pants on; All the fighting stopped; Next time I'll do it sooner) His lover was not expecting his first action to be to get in a bath with his clothes on so the fighting probably stopped because of her surprise. He took note that this was a good way to stop the arguement.

(This is the ballad of Dorothy Parker) And this is one of Prince's greatest songs.

I must say that I do miss this kind of "color" in his later music. I like those songs that make you play them over and over again to try to analyze the meaning.

PurpleChi said:

I agree with the reference to the Ballad of Dorothy Parker. I always thought that was one of his most clever songs. Just my interpretation of the lyrics below:

(Dorothy was a waitress on the promenade; She worked the night shift; Dishwater blonde, tall and fine; She got a lot of tips) Dorothy was a prostitute (street waitress) who very pretty and got paid well for her services.

(Well, earlier I'd been talkin' stuff; In a violent room; Fighting with lovers past; I needed someone with a quicker wit than mine; Dorothy was fast) He had been arguing with his lover and was restless because of the negative energy.

(Well, I ordered; "Yeah, let me get a fruit cocktail, I ain't 2 hungry"; Dorothy laughed; She said "Sounds like a real man 2 me"; Kinda cute, U wanna take a bath?; (do you wanna, do you wanna, bath) He doesn't want the full menu (hence the reference to fruit cocktail) because he is in a relationship, he just needs to pass the time with someone other than the lover he is arguing with. Dorothy finds it amusing and gives him props for wanting to remain faithful. So, she offers him an alternative to the usual service.

(I said "Cool, but I'm leaving my pants on";"Cuz I'm kind of going with someone"; She said "Sounds like a real man 2 me"; "Mind if I turn on the radio?"; "Oh, my favorite song" she said; And it was Joni singing "Help me I think I'm falling"; (Ring) The phone rang and she said; "Whoever's calling can't be as cute as U"; Right then I knew I was through (Dorothy Parker was cool) At first he reiterates his position, but the way Dorothy reacted and the fact that her favorite song was Joni Mitchell's "Help Me" made him rethink his stance.

(My pants where wet, they came off; But she didn't see the movie; Cuz she hadn't read the book first; Instead she pretended she was blind; An affliction brought on by a witch's curse) Dorothy was a bit of a tease at this point, but she held her end of the bargain. She didn't sleep with him; there was a bath and nothing more.

(Dorothy made me laugh (ha ha); I felt much better so I went back; 2 the violent room (tell us what U did); Let me tell U what I did) Dorothy made him laugh and put him in better spirits.

(I took another bubble bath with my pants on; All the fighting stopped; Next time I'll do it sooner) His lover was not expecting his first action to be to get in a bath with his clothes on so the fighting probably stopped because of her surprise. He took note that this was a good way to stop the arguement.

(This is the ballad of Dorothy Parker) And this is one of Prince's greatest songs.

I must say that I do miss this kind of "color" in his later music. I like those songs that make you play them over and over again to try to analyze the meaning.

Hmmm...this is some very unusual interpretation...ur mind has gone crazy i think..

PurpleChi said:

I agree with the reference to the Ballad of Dorothy Parker. I always thought that was one of his most clever songs. Just my interpretation of the lyrics below:

(Dorothy was a waitress on the promenade; She worked the night shift; Dishwater blonde, tall and fine; She got a lot of tips) Dorothy was a prostitute (street waitress) who very pretty and got paid well for her services.

(Well, earlier I'd been talkin' stuff; In a violent room; Fighting with lovers past; I needed someone with a quicker wit than mine; Dorothy was fast) He had been arguing with his lover and was restless because of the negative energy.

(Well, I ordered; "Yeah, let me get a fruit cocktail, I ain't 2 hungry"; Dorothy laughed; She said "Sounds like a real man 2 me"; Kinda cute, U wanna take a bath?; (do you wanna, do you wanna, bath) He doesn't want the full menu (hence the reference to fruit cocktail) because he is in a relationship, he just needs to pass the time with someone other than the lover he is arguing with. Dorothy finds it amusing and gives him props for wanting to remain faithful. So, she offers him an alternative to the usual service.

(I said "Cool, but I'm leaving my pants on";"Cuz I'm kind of going with someone"; She said "Sounds like a real man 2 me"; "Mind if I turn on the radio?"; "Oh, my favorite song" she said; And it was Joni singing "Help me I think I'm falling"; (Ring) The phone rang and she said; "Whoever's calling can't be as cute as U"; Right then I knew I was through (Dorothy Parker was cool) At first he reiterates his position, but the way Dorothy reacted and the fact that her favorite song was Joni Mitchell's "Help Me" made him rethink his stance.

(My pants where wet, they came off; But she didn't see the movie; Cuz she hadn't read the book first; Instead she pretended she was blind; An affliction brought on by a witch's curse) Dorothy was a bit of a tease at this point, but she held her end of the bargain. She didn't sleep with him; there was a bath and nothing more.

(Dorothy made me laugh (ha ha); I felt much better so I went back; 2 the violent room (tell us what U did); Let me tell U what I did) Dorothy made him laugh and put him in better spirits.

(I took another bubble bath with my pants on; All the fighting stopped; Next time I'll do it sooner) His lover was not expecting his first action to be to get in a bath with his clothes on so the fighting probably stopped because of her surprise. He took note that this was a good way to stop the arguement.

(This is the ballad of Dorothy Parker) And this is one of Prince's greatest songs.

I must say that I do miss this kind of "color" in his later music. I like those songs that make you play them over and over again to try to analyze the meaning.

Interesting post. When he said that he took another bath with his pants on, I'm kinda taking it to mean that he's just fooling around, kissing, being affectionate. Because in the earlier verse when he said he was keeping his pants on because he's kinda going with someone, made me think that they were not going to have sex just kiss and such. So for that reason, I think the last part you quoted was reffering to going home and being affectionate towards his woman and maybe she's suprised by his relaxed sexual approach. I could be wrong. But hey, it's fun to speculate!

famous said:

Interesting post. When he said that he took another bath with his pants on, I'm kinda taking it to mean that he's just fooling around, kissing, being affectionate. Because in the earlier verse when he said he was keeping his pants on because he's kinda going with someone, made me think that they were not going to have sex just kiss and such. So for that reason, I think the last part you quoted was reffering to going home and being affectionate towards his woman and maybe she's suprised by his relaxed sexual approach. I could be wrong. But hey, it's fun to speculate!

Hmm...that is a thought. Never saw it like that. Wow, Prince does makes you ponder:-) .

PurpleChi said:

famous said:

Interesting post. When he said that he took another bath with his pants on, I'm kinda taking it to mean that he's just fooling around, kissing, being affectionate. Because in the earlier verse when he said he was keeping his pants on because he's kinda going with someone, made me think that they were not going to have sex just kiss and such. So for that reason, I think the last part you quoted was reffering to going home and being affectionate towards his woman and maybe she's suprised by his relaxed sexual approach. I could be wrong. But hey, it's fun to speculate!

Hmm...that is a thought. Never saw it like that. Wow, Prince does makes you ponder:-) .

Thank you for your post. You really made me think today. I love intelligent people. ... Do you want to continue pondering with me? I could talk to you all day

And Chi, when you posted this :

Well, I ordered; "Yeah, let me get a fruit cocktail, I ain't 2 hungry"; Dorothy laughed; She said "Sounds like a real man 2 me"; Kinda cute, U wanna take a bath?; (do you wanna, do you wanna, bath) He doesn't want the full menu (hence the reference to fruit cocktail) because he is in a relationship, he just needs to pass the time with someone other than the lover he is arguing with. Dorothy finds it amusing and gives him props for wanting to remain faithful. So, she offers him an alternative to the usual service.

I had some ideas about what a fruit cocktail was. So here is my theory: She has offered him services. The full dinner would most likely be intercourse. So the fruit cocktail is just a snack because he isn't too hungry ( read horny ) . Likely, she could have jacked him off, or gave fellatio. I think this because a prostitute would offer head or sex. He didn't want the latter. Sounds like a real man to her because he has self control and a real man knows what he wants. When it's asked if he wants to take a bath, meaning sex, he decided to take one fully clothed. When we are fully clothed and still being affectionate, we are most likely kissing, groping and the such. Or it can be exactly what you said.

famous said:

PurpleChi said:

famous said:

And Chi, when you posted this :

Well, I ordered; "Yeah, let me get a fruit cocktail, I ain't 2 hungry"; Dorothy laughed; She said "Sounds like a real man 2 me"; Kinda cute, U wanna take a bath?; (do you wanna, do you wanna, bath) He doesn't want the full menu (hence the reference to fruit cocktail) because he is in a relationship, he just needs to pass the time with someone other than the lover he is arguing with. Dorothy finds it amusing and gives him props for wanting to remain faithful. So, she offers him an alternative to the usual service.

I had some ideas about what a fruit cocktail was. So here is my theory: She has offered him services. The full dinner would most likely be intercourse. So the fruit cocktail is just a snack because he isn't too hungry ( read horny ) . Likely, she could have jacked him off, or gave fellatio. I think this because a prostitute would offer head or sex. He didn't want the latter. Sounds like a real man to her because he has self control and a real man knows what he wants. When it's asked if he wants to take a bath, meaning sex, he decided to take one fully clothed. When we are fully clothed and still being affectionate, we are most likely kissing, groping and the such. Or it can be exactly what you said.

Oh no I don't think it's like I said at all. The funny thing about music is that we interpret it based on our own view points and personal experiences. And the great thing about a forum like this is that we can share those interpretations with others and see what everyone gets out of it. I can see your perspective and it actually makes me look at that song a little differently now. Thanks for your post as well. I really do like threads where Prince's music is the focus. It really takes a village to unravel that kind of genius.

Amen to that !

I like the lyrics to Strange Relationship and his spiritual songs: AnnaStesia (Have you ever been so lonely that you felt like you were the only one in this world?), Thunder, The Cross (Black day, stormy night, no love, no hope in sight...), Thieves in the Temple.

silly me....i thought he just wanted a fruit cocktail

interesting interpretation.

best prince lyrical songs:

1. IIWYGF

2. The ballad of dorothy parker

3. When Doves Cry
4. INNTTPOYM

5. Joy in repititon

6. And God Created Woman

7. Purple rain

8. Lady Cab Driver

nice thread....

I think choosing song lyrics as a whole are 1. too many and 2. subjective in music taste. So I picked out a couple of lines from a few early albums that always resonate as interesting, thoughtful or funny.

We live in a world overrun by tourists... Tourists -- 89 flowers on their back....Half of the staff of their brain is on vacation

So when u call up that shrink in Beverly Hills....
Ask him how much of your mind, baby

Before the night is through ..U will see my point of view
Even if I have 2 scream and shout!

Condition of the heart ..isn't that
A shame that sometimes money
Buys U everything and nothing

The rain sounds so cool when it hits the barn roof
And the horses wonder who U are

Tell me, what's that underneath your hair'
Is there anybody living there..

Whenever I feel like givin' up
Whenever my sunshine turns 2 rain
Whenever my hopes and dreams are aimed in the wrong direction
She's always there tellin' me how much she cares
She's always in my hair

mayrain said:

Come On

Or could it be your girlfriend who ain't never been straight. When i ask you if your hungry you say I already ate. That one always has me like WHAT

OK....i get it now...tx!...

"Until the end of time..."