I remember when I first heard the song in 2014 and thought is he ready to move on. Maybe I am wrong but that was the feeling I got and I never felt that way before.

That is what I thought about that song and the entire concept portion of the album. I remember feeling very moved by it when it first came out.

i've said it before, i was worried about this song when I first heard it but didn't consider him to be this close to the end. I call these types of songs death songs. Elvis had Way Down, Buddy Holly had It Doesn't Matter Anymore, Johnny Cash had Hurt, Same Cooke had Change is Gonna Come, Jimi Hendrix had Hear My Train a Comin. Artists are in touch with the spirit world and i believe they know when the end is close and it influences their art. Way Back Home is one of Prince's most powerful, sincere works in my mind. He was never one to open up very often and I can only think of a few occacions when he did and the results were devestating each time. I can only imagine that the fabled "Wally" was equally as powerful. What i'm still trying to make sense of is the whole Let's Go Crazy connection, it's bizarre that it is so prophetic and I can't see him going through the touble of planning out dying in an elevator. It's very strange.

One more thing, on the affirmation follow up to Way Back Home, the narrator asks a question and Prince doesn't respond in words, the intimation is that he's speaking with only his mind/soul/spirit and communicating that way. Maybe that is how it is done in the next world. All very moving. Prince, I miss you.

SuperFurryAnimal said:

I figured maybe he was starting to move from being JW into some spirituality. Like the part about all of it being you. I hear that teaching all the time in the spirituality I'm into. So I figured the song was about finding some new spirituality. I don't believe he was suicidal or knew he was going to die either and believe people are looking too hard for answers.

PeteSilas said:

Lianachan said:

Leaving no will? No.

will we ever be able to understand Prince? I don't think so. Not in life and it looks like not in death either.

avajane said:

PeteSilas said:

i've said it before, i was worried about this song when I first heard it but didn't consider him to be this close to the end. I call these types of songs death songs. Elvis had Way Down, Buddy Holly had It Doesn't Matter Anymore, Johnny Cash had Hurt, Same Cooke had Change is Gonna Come, Jimi Hendrix had Hear My Train a Comin. Artists are in touch with the spirit world and i believe they know when the end is close and it influences their art. Way Back Home is one of Prince's most powerful, sincere works in my mind. He was never one to open up very often and I can only think of a few occacions when he did and the results were devestating each time. I can only imagine that the fabled "Wally" was equally as powerful. What i'm still trying to make sense of is the whole Let's Go Crazy connection, it's bizarre that it is so prophetic and I can't see him going through the touble of planning out dying in an elevator. It's very strange.

One more thing, on the affirmation follow up to Way Back Home, the narrator asks a question and Prince doesn't respond in words, the intimation is that he's speaking with only his mind/soul/spirit and communicating that way. Maybe that is how it is done in the next world. All very moving. Prince, I miss you.

There's the claim that in the next realm, people can communicate through telepathy. Way Back Home along with June and the Breakdown seemed to be very honest. I'm proud of him for being brave enough to release these personal songs and I am proud of him for being so open during this last tour. It takes a lot of courage to be that open and I'm glad he reached a point in his life where he was able to do that.

odd that he was giving all of us signs that he wouldn't be among us much longer and we missed them. him being that open and personal should have been a major red flag.

SuperFurryAnimal said:

I figured maybe he was starting to move from being JW into some spirituality. ...

Exactly the same what I thought:

• the album cover (3rd eye & the infinity reflecting in his glasses)
• all the Affirmations (especially nr III, "you were separate from not only others , but even yourself"
• lyrics (see Way Back Home)

lead me to suspect Prince moved toward Buddhism

I love this song. I bought the cd for a drive back from MN. a couple months ago and remember thinking it was "darker" than most of his stuff. I agree with you all, except in when he says all he ever wanted was to b left alone.

"never wanted a typical life

scripted role, huh...trophy wife
All I ever wanted, to b left alone"

He had enough money and could have slipped away years ago if he wanted to be left alone.

I think he lived for the reaction and applause of his live performances from his fans/admirers. At least that's what I hope. If he really wanted to be left alone then I feel awful that his last weeks here were spent performing with lots of crowds, etc. and certainly not alone.

Until the last night it seems....

I cry everytime i hear this song.... i had the same feeling

"Breakdown" is also telling :/

Come on people, the only thing he was ready for was getting back in the studio to make more music.

PeteSilas said:

Lianachan said:

Leaving no will? No.

will we ever be able to understand Prince? I don't think so. Not in life and it looks like not in death either.

I was just starting to understand his relationship with time (he didn't have one), and its effect on his starting concerts sometimes hours "late". But yeah it will take a lot of introspection to understand why he didn't have a will (if he didn't in fact have one- jury is still out)

Some Art Official Age lyrics left me wondering too if he was heading towards buddhism. But i found some quotes from a 1997 interview and I think he was kinda influenced by it since those times. I dont remember well but on the old love4oneanother website there were some buddhist like thoughts too...

Art Official age lyrics with "Non self" thoughts:

"You’ve probably felt for many years in your former life, that you were separate from not only others , but even yourself. Now you can see that was never the case. You are actually everything and anything that you can think of. All of it is you"

"There are no such words as me or mine. Words of this nature were introduced into society as a control mechanism, which systematically divided the subjects, first individually, and then as a collective."

"...Any person or object, what so ever that requires your attention, is something that has veered from its path and preordained destiny of total enlightenment"

1997 ET interview about serving and attachment.

"Ego is one thing, money is one thing, but reverence for life and service to others is the key to getting off this planet."

"Whenever we get too tied down to anything on Earth -- be it a name, a body, a lifestyle -- that's the road to ruin,"

All of this is very buddhist to my ears.

zenless said:

SuperFurryAnimal said:

I figured maybe he was starting to move from being JW into some spirituality. ...

Exactly the same what I thought:

• the album cover (3rd eye & the infinity reflecting in his glasses)
• all the Affirmations (especially nr III, "you were separate from not only others , but even yourself"
• lyrics (see Way Back Home)

lead me to suspect Prince moved toward Buddhism