I KNOW! Here we go again about this song! Haha,

But I have been studying the universe and many things related to it recently; and I stumbled upon "The Orion Arm" within the milky way galaxy.

I have found a greater appreciation and LOVE for what many of you call: Whack, cringe worthy, crap, and FILLER....Haha. Maybe it's the 'Disney and nostalgic' feeling it brings, but it's a song that I listen to often. I find it to be one of his BEST BALLADS EVER. (Haha, JK. I know I would have lost some of you there, if I haven't already. lol) Granted it would have worked better as a B-Side and 'I Love U In Me' would have worked better on the album..IMO.

Nevertheless.....

The lyrics uses many metaphors of stars, constellations, sleepless moons, Worlds apart, etc. NOW while I study "The 'Orion Arm' It makes much more sense, and is really a beautiful song with meaningful DEEP lyrics. (Something I really can appreciate!)

At first, I could not get pass the 'Arms Of Orion'. Because I had no clue what that was. LOL. I could not see any connection to 'Orion'. I thought it was a BIG fat guy who bullied guys at school, but had a soft spot for everybody. Hahaha. That shows what the mind can automatically assume. lol.

NOW there's a deeper meaning to it, which is simply beautiful to me. NOW the flow is very Disney, and happy, which turns many people off. But, I dig it. Especially when you take time to study "The Orion Arm" as it relates to moons, constellations, and stars.

WITH that being said; have any of you found metaphors in Prince's song that gave a deeper appreciation to the song? EVEN if the production is bland or weak?

'Boom' is another song (Which I'm on the verge of saying is one of MY favorite Prince Songs EVER..lol). When you look at boom, There's another complex gem with interesting lyrics. "What if another universe complete with sun and moon..entire galaxies and what's worst you and I too soon, find each other expanded beyond this dirty room..etc"

Songs like this, with universe and galaxy mentions always wins in my book, EVEN if everything that was said does not really make COMPLETE sense, the use of metaphors in Prince's lyrics are what makes me appreciate his music much more.

What about you? Did you know about The Orion Arm? DID it change your perspective? And what roles do metaphors, allegories, and lyrical suggestion play in his music FOR YOU? Or does the guitar, bass, strings, drunks, or SIMPLE FUNK etc..make the lyrics unmentionable? lol

Thanks in advance and sorry for the tangent!

[Edited 2/3/12 10:08am]

[Edited 2/3/12 11:37am]

vvluvfunk said:

Great post thanks for putting that out there, nice analogy about it, really deep and yes prince does that a lot. boom is one of my favorites too!! Arms of prison gets soo much hate here! I posted a batman(album) post awhile ago and it works perfect for slow dancing, it's a truly great song beautiful vocal on both parts,especially sheena especially where she goes god only knows where u are tonight, it's beautiful. Thanks man!

Thank you for reading and commenting! Prince does that a lot, and it makes me admire his lyricism. I love how he plays on words like that! Boom is JUST FANANTASTIC!

It really does, I never understood the HATE for it, it's a beautiful duet with him and Shenna! Her voice sounds pitch perfect, and it just FLOWS!

I agree totally!..Very good for slow dancing and just 'Chilling'/Haha

Thank you for your comment! You're very welcome!

I like the song

jester u ain't ever gonna turn me on to a song by describing it as disney. lol

on the subject of lyrical metaphors, the ladder is beautiful, as is moonbeam levels. but i also love stuff like lovesexy, race cars burning rubber in his pants, walking down halls and swivelling in love seats. which showed that even at his most spiritual and evangelical he always had a great tongue in cheek, nudge nudge wink wink say no more, sense of humour.

ur welcome jester;];] it was worth reading make more long posts!

robertgeorgeakabob said:

jester u ain't ever gonna turn me on to a song by describing it as disney. lol

on the subject of lyrical metaphors, the ladder is beautiful, as is moonbeam levels. but i also love stuff like lovesexy, race cars burning rubber in his pants, walking down halls and swivelling in love seats. which showed that even at his most spiritual and evangelical he always had a great tongue in cheek, nudge nudge wink wink say no more, sense of humour.

But some people love Disney! Hahaha... JK. Yeah, well I love the lyricism that he portrays! The ladder always encourages me! Beautiful! LOVESEXY is one of my favorite albums and concepts!! So many weird things going on...lol I never understood what "Race cars burning rubber in my pants..." though? Maybe you can help me explain it? Haha. I knew what swiveling in his Love seat meant.. I think? I kind of take it as a sexual Kamasutra position? I really don't know. Haha. Well thank you so very much for your comment, help me out about the rubber in my pants though? Did he mean condoms that burn makes him want to run? haha I don't know? LOL

luv4u said:

I like the song

It's Rocking ain't IT!

kenkamken said:

I would love to sail the Sea of Tranquility. Even though there really isn't such a place, the moon doesn't have any seas, it makes for beautiful imagery. I mean it is a real place, but you couldn't literally sail on it, unless maybe with a space ship, ah never mind [Edited 2/4/12 0:05am]

Hahaha, that's what happens when you try to dissect and understand Prince and Shenna's song. LOL. The moon does not have seas, but it's a way to describe something beautiful..lol

vvluvfunk said:

ur welcome jester;];] it was worth reading make more long posts!

Aww Thank you! I tend to go off a bit, but if my posts are worth the read...

SEE YOU! I'll keep you in mind!

EyeJester7 said:

robertgeorgeakabob said:

jester u ain't ever gonna turn me on to a song by describing it as disney. lol

on the subject of lyrical metaphors, the ladder is beautiful, as is moonbeam levels. but i also love stuff like lovesexy, race cars burning rubber in his pants, walking down halls and swivelling in love seats. which showed that even at his most spiritual and evangelical he always had a great tongue in cheek, nudge nudge wink wink say no more, sense of humour.

But some people love Disney! Hahaha... JK. Yeah, well I love the lyricism that he portrays! The ladder always encourages me! Beautiful! LOVESEXY is one of my favorite albums and concepts!! So many weird things going on...lol I never understood what "Race cars burning rubber in my pants..." though? Maybe you can help me explain it? Haha. I knew what swiveling in his Love seat meant.. I think? I kind of take it as a sexual Kamasutra position? I really don't know. Haha. Well thank you so very much for your comment, help me out about the rubber in my pants though? Did he mean condoms that burn makes him want to run? haha I don't know? LOL

hmmm where to begin. racecars burning rubber in his pants to me is a metaphor for his rampant libido. imagine racecars revving so fast that their tyres melt (or burn rubber). that's what's happening in his pants!

swivelling in the love seat i think is just a general metaphor for sexual penetration (as is walking down the halls). the interesting thing about lovesexy as a whole is that it's littered with sexual metaphors, which then in turn become a metaphor for his new found religious zeal and fervour. truly the work of a genius.

hope i helped

I've spent many hours trying to read into his lyrics on songs such at Boom (favority Lotus Flow3r song!!) and currently Dorothy Parker.. (I went as far as reading the real Dorothy Parker poetry and watch a movie about her to get a better sense of who she is. Very interesting lady!!) I'm still trying to figure that one out.. I've done this to countless other songs. The man has this amazing way with connecting words and feelings together and paint a picture. away of relating things to one an other.. Its beautiful!!!

to me his music a door way to understanding Prince. But, most of my motivation to understand his music is to understanding myself... I wish I could do what he can do ....

EyeJester7 said:

But I have been studying the universe and many things related to it recently

robertgeorgeakabob said:

EyeJester7 said:

But some people love Disney! Hahaha... JK. Yeah, well I love the lyricism that he portrays! The ladder always encourages me! Beautiful! LOVESEXY is one of my favorite albums and concepts!! So many weird things going on...lol I never understood what "Race cars burning rubber in my pants..." though? Maybe you can help me explain it? Haha. I knew what swiveling in his Love seat meant.. I think? I kind of take it as a sexual Kamasutra position? I really don't know. Haha. Well thank you so very much for your comment, help me out about the rubber in my pants though? Did he mean condoms that burn makes him want to run? haha I don't know? LOL

hmmm where to begin. racecars burning rubber in his pants to me is a metaphor for his rampant libido. imagine racecars revving so fast that their tyres melt (or burn rubber). that's what's happening in his pants!

swivelling in the love seat i think is just a general metaphor for sexual penetration (as is walking down the halls). the interesting thing about lovesexy as a whole is that it's littered with sexual metaphors, which then in turn become a metaphor for his new found religious zeal and fervour. truly the work of a genius.

hope i helped

WOW! Genius!

What a perfect way to describe it! I'm all about metaphors, but this one just never made sense to me before, now I understand it. Race car tires, is something that was in the back of mind, I just never knew how to connect the two until now His libido runs so fast that's it's burning! AHH! Thank you very much that has helped me! Haha. I get the 'Love Seat' I love the way he says that. It's hilarious! LOL. The whole light voice to extremely DEEP and Dark one is clever. "You want me to walk right down your halls!" Haha. You're very right they're many of them on 'Lovesexy' 'Alphabet Street' makes more sense every day. 'Glam Slam' one of my favorite Jams..Everywhere as you said, many spiritual zeal and enthusiasm just met with SEX! lol

Recently I was listening to 'Oui Can Luv' and there is a sexual metaphor too. When Andy Says " I can put my things in the middle of your house" I want too, How does that feel? Haha..I mean he has so many doesn't he? "He Licks Her Up & Down Round & Round"-ELIXER! Haha ]

Thank you; you did more than help! Much appreciated!

Number23 said:

EyeJester7 said:

But I have been studying the universe and many things related to it recently

Judging by your signature, you seem to not favor the study and interest of all things in the universe? LOL.

I don't pay money to go to the moon, because you're right..there is MUCH desperation here, however...It's cool to study and learn more about things! But..... Back to you!

victory4humanity said:

I've spent many hours trying to read into his lyrics on songs such at Boom (favority Lotus Flow3r song!!) and currently Dorothy Parker.. (I went as far as reading the real Dorothy Parker poetry and watch a movie about her to get a better sense of who she is. Very interesting lady!!) I'm still trying to figure that one out.. I've done this to countless other songs. The man has this amazing way with connecting words and feelings together and paint a picture. away of relating things to one an other.. Its beautiful!!!

to me his music a door way to understanding Prince. But, most of my motivation to understand his music is to understanding myself... I wish I could do what he can do ....

BOOM! IS one of my favorites by Prince! I remember doing the same for 'The Ballad Of Dorthy Parker'. I learned a lot form her too, it is told that Prince did not even know who she was until after he recorded the song? Haha...It's told he heard about her in a dream? Weird?....lol. I think many people really underrate him as a lyricist. He really has a beautiful way of arranging words together. Eye can see the inspiration of Joni Mitchell. YET, he makes it his own. His music allows my mind to grasps exactly what he is saying; regardless how disturbed and weird it was. Very beautiful!

I TOTALLY AGREE! Thinking about his first album and song 'For You'. It kind of tells us: "This is for you, with love and sincerity from my deepest care, my life with you I share..." I kind of feel if anyone wants to understand anything about Prince, you have to listen to at least 7 of his songs from each era. LOL. Or at least 3, because he's the most personal there sometimes. In interviews he rarely speaks about his personal life, IF it all. But his music, there is a lot to hear. I am sure he uses metaphors to substitute many personal struggles to convey meaning. Thank you for your comment! We all can channel issues through expression, I'm sure you can as well!

With all the hate on the ORG for this song here's a post of LOVE-EVOL for TAoO. ...just to balance things out more proper.

It's my favorite track off of Batman. This album was the soundtrack for the summer of '89 for me.

I grew up with it, it's kinda corny but I love it nonetheless, and the lyrics are cool in my book.

I think it was where it belonged on an album that was supposed to be a hit (quite a weird and experimental album to sell 5M copies actually), definitely the most commercial song on it but that was fair enough. Therefore, I appreciated discovering the very intimate "I Love U In Me" being "hidden" as a b-side. Intimately hidden, for fans mostly.

EyeJester7 said:

victory4humanity said:

I've spent many hours trying to read into his lyrics on songs such at Boom (favority Lotus Flow3r song!!) and currently Dorothy Parker.. (I went as far as reading the real Dorothy Parker poetry and watch a movie about her to get a better sense of who she is. Very interesting lady!!) I'm still trying to figure that one out.. I've done this to countless other songs. The man has this amazing way with connecting words and feelings together and paint a picture. away of relating things to one an other.. Its beautiful!!!

to me his music a door way to understanding Prince. But, most of my motivation to understand his music is to understanding myself... I wish I could do what he can do ....

BOOM! IS one of my favorites by Prince! I remember doing the same for 'The Ballad Of Dorthy Parker'. I learned a lot form her too, it is told that Prince did not even know who she was until after he recorded the song? Haha...It's told he heard about her in a dream? Weird?....lol. I think many people really underrate him as a lyricist. He really has a beautiful way of arranging words together. Eye can see the inspiration of Joni Mitchell. YET, he makes it his own. His music allows my mind to grasps exactly what he is saying; regardless how disturbed and weird it was. Very beautiful!

I TOTALLY AGREE! Thinking about his first album and song 'For You'. It kind of tells us: "This is for you, with love and sincerity from my deepest care, my life with you I share..." I kind of feel if anyone wants to understand anything about Prince, you have to listen to at least 7 of his songs from each era. LOL. Or at least 3, because he's the most personal there sometimes. In interviews he rarely speaks about his personal life, IF it all. But his music, there is a lot to hear. I am sure he uses metaphors to substitute many personal struggles to convey meaning. Thank you for your comment! We all can channel issues through expression, I'm sure you can as well!

Hi EyeJester7 - have you ever tried listening to prince on headphones in the dark?

That for me really connects me to his music.

For a completely different experience do this with Around The World In A Day - songs like Condition of the Heart and The Ladder take on a whole different meaning.

When you listen properly without any other distraction you realise the 'detail' that goes into ALL Prince's music. The guy doesn't just throw music together...

Also, for me this why I will ALWAYS prefer the original album versions to anything else I listen to.

Hope this makes sense!

PS I also think that the reference to Arms of Orion being like a Disney song is a HUGE compliment. There are some great Disney songs!

I'd always assumed it was the arms of the constellation orion being referenced in the song (since there are two of them), not the Orion arm (singular) of the galaxy. Well, I say assumed, I'd never actually thought much about it. I actually like AOO, it's super-commercial like a prelude to Diamonds & Pearls, and should've done better had it had a promo video etc. I can see why you'd say it's Disney, it would work brilliant in a Disney or family musical movie/stage show.

BUT I'm afraid it's not deep at all. The lyrics are trite and typical love song guff (which is why it works on a Disney/commercial level), though I agree the theme is cute, "drowning" in the Sea of Tranquility, I'll give Prince that line. Imagine a uber-cheesy Sci-Fi themed video with Prince and Sheena as long lost galactic lovers!

NouveauDance said:

I'd always assumed it was the arms of the constellation orion being referenced in the song (since there are two of them), not the Orion arm (singular) of the galaxy. Well, I say assumed, I'd never actually thought much about it. I actually like AOO, it's super-commercial like a prelude to Diamonds & Pearls, and should've done better had it had a promo video etc. I can see why you'd say it's Disney, it would work brilliant in a Disney or family musical movie/stage show.

BUT I'm afraid it's not deep at all. The lyrics are trite and typical love song guff (which is why it works on a Disney/commercial level), though I agree the theme is cute, "drowning" in the Sea of Tranquility, I'll give Prince that line. Imagine a uber-cheesy Sci-Fi themed video with Prince and Sheena as long lost galactic lovers!

I think the song is deep - the song suggests that the lovers, though worlds apart, perhaps physically or spiritually, are actually held together by Orion - Prince personifies 'Orion'.

Also it can be seen in a philosophical light - One of Prince's main themes in his music is the seperateness of men and women - yet in this song he is saying 'hey we are all bound together under the stars' - he romantises them as a form of protection to us all.

The use of the word 'arms' conjurs images of protection and security and love and physical affection - yet the galaxy doesn't care about us at all - and of course the use of the phrase 'sleepless night' - plays in to that imagery - where we imagine turbulence and restlessness.

As usual Prince is turning the use of words on their head. What does he mean? What does he mean by 'worlds apart'? It could be physical, emotional, spiritual - really though when people use the phrase 'world apart' it's a throw away comment about someone that they are in conflict with as there is no more a dramatic phrase than world apart - as in 'We will never see eye to eye on anything because we are world apart'.

What is great, in my opinion about this song is that it leaves you thinking. You're not sure if this couple are going to work through their differences. Prince is fatalistic one minute but yet saying 'Hey, in some way we will always be together...' And that is Prince all over..

robertgeorgeakabob said:

NouveauDance said:

Imagine a uber-cheesy Sci-Fi themed video with Prince and Sheena as long lost galactic lovers!

Don't you want to see Prince do a Barbarella, stripping off a pink spacesuit at zero gravity?!?!

Actually, that was mental pitch for a video to 'Space', like Kylie's 'Put Yourself In My Place' video, only with more genderfuck.

[Edited 2/7/12 5:49am]