lets face it, the song pretty much takes ya straight to church, or me anyhow...

Just like a Great Romance, perfect intimacy can't be attained swiftly or easily.

This song really makes me think, hard.

........there are mountains in the consciousness 2 be climbed,

fierce rivers 2 be forded,

epic inner battles that must be fought & won.

And suddenly........the direction of your life changes.

so who are doint this all for the chick in the song or what...

myfavorite said:

so who are doint this all for the chick in the song or what...

Bobby beat the hell outta them drums. It was after this record came out that I really started to respect him as a drummer.

That aside, this song is so beautifully arranged. I miss Prince's storytelling--some of his best narratives originate in blues/heartbreak/pain. Anotherlonely, How Come U Don't Call Me, Condition of the Heart, etc.

....

[Edited 11/12/11 5:03am]

bobbyperu said:

Prince may have written this as a work of fiction, but to me it is real.

I feel for you.

NuPwrSoul said:

Bobby beat the hell outta them drums. It was after this record came out that I really started to respect him as a drummer.

Actually it was Prince who played the drums and everything else on this track.

http://www.princevault.co..._Christmas

artist76 said:

artist76 said:

artist76 said:

bobbyperu said:

Prince may have written this as a work of fiction, but to me it is real.

I feel for you.

"cant we have a holiday season Prince song post where no one gets shot?"-Boyz In The Hood

TheBigSky said:

NuPwrSoul said:

Bobby beat the hell outta them drums. It was after this record came out that I really started to respect him as a drummer.

Actually it was Prince who played the drums and everything else on this track.

http://www.princevault.co..._Christmas

Oh wow I stand corrected. That's some nice, almost more melodic than rhythmic drumming going on.

Was the longer version just on the 12 inch?

muirdo said:

Was the longer version just on the 12 inch?

It is also on the Prince 12 inch collection (bootleg). It was the B-side of "I Would Die 4 U."

dannyd5050 said:

I like this song too. But probably because of it's downbeat nature it doesn't get much love on the radio during the holidays. At least I never hear it.

[Edited 11/11/11 12:42pm]

Was driving m'car in the snow last Christmas and much to my surprise and delight, Craig Charles played it on Radio2. I nearly crashed.

It's a smasher

jasontate said:

dannyd5050 said:

I like this song too. But probably because of it's downbeat nature it doesn't get much love on the radio during the holidays. At least I never hear it.

[Edited 11/11/11 12:42pm]

Was driving m'car in the snow last Christmas and much to my surprise and delight, Craig Charles played it on Radio2. I nearly crashed.

It's a smasher

Craig Charles is a bit like that though isn't he, plays the odd choices for prime time radio.

what if it's not fiction

bigd74 said:

jasontate said:

Was driving m'car in the snow last Christmas and much to my surprise and delight, Craig Charles played it on Radio2. I nearly crashed.

It's a smasher

Craig Charles is a bit like that though isn't he, plays the odd choices for prime time radio.

Love a bit 'o' Craigy boy!

Like the way he gets to play some real corkers, he should be on the wireless more often!

jasontate said:

dannyd5050 said:

I like this song too. But probably because of it's downbeat nature it doesn't get much love on the radio during the holidays. At least I never hear it.

[Edited 11/11/11 12:42pm]

Was driving m'car in the snow last Christmas and much to my surprise and delight, Craig Charles played it on Radio2. I nearly crashed.

It's a smasher

I heard it on XM 62 (Heart and Soul) while driving - and had the same reaction.

PEJ said:

what if it's not fiction

It is..he said so

which sucks..not that I want someone to have been truly there and died..but that part of his myth/enigma was this great love of his....

.

[Edited 11/22/11 17:43pm]

rdhull said:

PEJ said:

what if it's not fiction

It is..he said so

which suks..not that I ant someone to have been trule there and died..but that part of his myth/enigma was this great love of his....

word

I like this song...i always felt it had some sort of autobiography about it...or at least it was inspired by a traumatic event....

I love the end on the extended version with the keys from 'Where is Love'? from the musical Oliver Twist

jasontate said:

dannyd5050 said:

I like this song too. But probably because of it's downbeat nature it doesn't get much love on the radio during the holidays. At least I never hear it.

[Edited 11/11/11 12:42pm]

Was driving m'car in the snow last Christmas and much to my surprise and delight, Craig Charles played it on Radio2. I nearly crashed.

It's a smasher

I remember that lol

It was his alternative Xmas tracks

rdhull said:

PEJ said:

what if it's not fiction

It is..he said so

which suks..not that I ant someone to have been trule there and died..but that part of his myth/enigma was this great love of his....

That's the genius of it to me... when was the last time Prince wrote strong narrative fiction into a song?

Much of his recent output just lacks that kind of creativity in story telling, which I miss.

rdhull said:

Remember we played pokeno for money,and ya robbed me blind?

I dont think he has sung a song with as much passion.Thank you for this.

The delivery is so painful and passionate. Prince was in a vibe on this one.

Only Prince would come up with a Xmas song about death! Flipping the script on xmas carols LOL!But its still beautiful--thats the kicker...eff a ding dong xmas bells are ringing! He's saying .."now look yall..my true love that I grew up with died on xmas day ...shit like this happens! Wrote a song about it..wanna hear it? Here it go"... this song is one of the reasons I love Prince and am man enough to say it.

However it is obviously and admittedly a work of fiction. It's cool that he is able to write with such conviction that you sort of believe there was a Lonely Xmas, a Nikki, a Dorothy parker (his version) etc. He is like..a method actor of music in that aspect imo.

Agree! The live version at St Paul gig is brilliant!

this is the ring tone on my cell phone the entire Month of December. :O)

Instrumental version.... very cool.

Genesia said:

kenkamken said:

drinking banana dacquiris 'til blind, conjures an image of being passed out in a pool of vomit, with the blender still going

It is absolutely possible to have a blackout (ie, drink oneself blind) without puking or passing out.

<--- the voice of experience

Efan said:

Whatsinit4me said:

I was just talking 2 some1 about this song last night!

Excuse me if I sound a little complicated but,

2 make it plain and simple, I look at death like this, the day that I die will be actually be my birthday.

I will be born.

I used 2 pray that I could die the same day Jesus had died but then I realized that is not the day.

Anyway, this thread here as made me realize that I can master fear not only by understanding it but also by accepting it myself.

This song makes me realize that the ultimate evil would be the absence of love.

A life outside it would be more evil than a death in it.

The wisdom of life is 2 endure what we must & 2 change what we can.

Later on tonight, when I am really drunk, I am going to reread this post and I am going to raise my glass and say, "Egg-jakkly!"

Cheers.

i wonder if i can get my local oldies station to play this song

NuPwrSoul said:

Bobby beat the hell outta them drums. It was after this record came out that I really started to respect him as a drummer.

That aside, this song is so beautifully arranged. I miss Prince's storytelling--some of his best narratives originate in blues/heartbreak/pain. Anotherlonely, How Come U Don't Call Me, Condition of the Heart, etc.

Dammit. That is so true.