So what was going on in Prince's life when he wrote some of his songs?

Name the song and the person or event that inspired the song.

What lyrics from the song backs up your theory?

I've always been curious about this. Some I may already know about.

[Edited 5/8/16 17:23pm]

They are all love songs he wrote to me.

;) and everyone else. Xoxo

Well, "Sign O The Times" is pretty topical.

- death of Rock Hudson

- Space shuttle Challenger explosion

- Star Wars missile defense system

I've always thought "starfish and coffee" was about childhood hunger

I mean come on, when is breakfast and lunch the same thing? Unless the same thing is nothing. Kids make stuff up to cover for their parents. Explains why Prince cried and Lucy almost died (of sadness). Also explains mismatched socks with no mates (poverty) and a worthy cause. Also some of those items aren't even food like she's unfamiliar with what people eat

Prince grew up as a hungry child and so did I.
[Edited 5/8/16 21:09pm]

Cloreen said:

Well, "Sign O The Times" is pretty topical.

- death of Rock Hudson

- Space shuttle Challenger explosion

- Star Wars missile defense system

Although, technically Hudson did not die in France, nor have a girlfriend who died from infection via a needle that i know of...

violectrica said:

I've always thought "starfish and coffee" was about childhood hunger I mean come on, when is breakfast and lunch the same thing? Unless the same thing is nothing. Kids make stuff up to cover for their parents. Explains why Prince cried and Lucy almost died (of sadness). Also explains mismatched socks with no mates (poverty) and a worthy cause. Also some of those items aren't even food like she's unfamiliar with what people eat Prince grew up as a hungry child and so did I. [Edited 5/8/16 21:09pm]

Susannah Melvoin inspired the song by telling Prince about a little girl she went to school with who said she had "starfish and pee pee" for lunch every day. The socks, favorite number, etc... all come from that girl. Prince said the pee pee had to go though... ;-p

Cloreen said:

Well, "Sign O The Times" is pretty topical.

- death of Rock Hudson

- Space shuttle Challenger explosion

- Star Wars missile defense system

Uh, where is Rock Hudson mentioned? Rock Hudson died in Los Angeles not France, and he didnt have a girlfriend who had a heroin addiction.

jtfolden said:

Sorry but that doesn't rule out hunger. I'd still be hungry if my mom put that in my lunchbox

violectrica said:

jtfolden said:

Susannah Melvoin inspired the song by telling Prince about a little girl she went to school with who said she had "starfish and pee pee" for lunch every day. The socks, favorite number, etc... all come from that girl. Prince said the pee pee had to go though... ;-p

Sorry but that doesn't rule out hunger. I'd still be hungry if my mom put that in my lunchbox

It does rule it out actually. It's not that deep of a song. Susannah recently wrote out a long story on her Facebook page about "Starfish and Coffee" and how the whole song was inspired by her school mate. It's amazing how many details Prince actually got into the song.

.

It's a terrific read. And yes, her favorite number was 20, too.

RiotPaisley said:

They are all love songs he wrote to me. and everyone else. Xoxo

You may be right

TrivialPursuit said:

violectrica said:

jtfolden said: Sorry but that doesn't rule out hunger. I'd still be hungry if my mom put that in my lunchbox

It does rule it out actually. It's not that deep of a song. Susannah recently wrote out a long story on her Facebook page about "Starfish and Coffee" and how the whole song was inspired by her school mate. It's amazing how many details Prince actually got into the song.

.

It's a terrific read. And yes, her favorite number was 20, too.

I'm glad he changed the story a little bit.

"Cynthia wore the prettiest dress, and socks of mismatched sets

Sometimes she bobbed for apples in the toilets."

Doesn't have quite the same ring to it.

I like Starfish and Coffee. Something I'd let my young kids listen to. I'm sure they'll like it. It was featured on Seasame Street so forsure it would appeal to kids.

Prince was a great storyteller, even if it was someone else's story.

Peaches said:

I like Starfish and Coffee. Something I'd let my young kids listen to. I'm sure they'll like it. It was featured on Seasame Street so forsure it would appeal to kids.

Prince was a great storyteller, even if it was someone else's story.

Was it on Sesame Street as well? Are are you thinking of Muppets Tonight from 1997?

Peaches said:

My Ex's 1 year old daughter loooooves it!

TrivialPursuit said:

Uh, where is Rock Hudson mentioned? Rock Hudson died in Los Angeles not France, and he didnt have a girlfriend who had a heroin addiction.

.

Come on, is this serious? The song is not a literal reading of news stories. Yes, the song is informed by events in the world, but the song is not a news report giving exact facts.

.

Exactly who do you think the line "In France, a skinny man died of a big disease with a little name" is talking about? It's Rock Hudson. He's a big man, died of a big disease with a little name (AIDS), and on his final days of his life he went for desperation experimental treatment in France. The "his girlfriend..." stuff is Prince creating, you know, a song. Not literal. There is no puple banana nor did the world end the year after 1999. Just lyrics to pop songs. Not exact news stories.

TrivialPursuit said:

Peaches said:

I like Starfish and Coffee. Something I'd let my young kids listen to. I'm sure they'll like it. It was featured on Seasame Street so forsure it would appeal to kids.

Prince was a great storyteller, even if it was someone else's story.

Was it on Sesame Street as well? Are are you thinking of Muppets Tonight from 1997?

My mistake, The Muppets not Sesame Street.

violectrica said:

It's food for the soul
Wasn't that part of the lyric..or printed lyrics?