Prince's lyrics were so deep and raw, that is why so many people related to him. Nobody could write lyrics like him, maybe Bob Dylan, but I related more to Prince's. He just expressed how he felt so succinctly through his music. I can tell through his lyrics he was very sensitive, very vulnerable and experienced a lot of pain during his childhood. I don't know if he ever got the love he wanted and needed, at least, not over a long period of time. I would like to think he did.

A songwriter putting their life into a song is not unusual, and Prince was one of many.

However, I think what sets Prince apart is his turn of a phrase, or make a pun. "I can deal with a sucker if he's in your mouth, but I can't deal with insincere" is one of my favorites. Another is "a submarine valiantly, conquers the virgin sea, a child is born - will you marry me?" He basically takes the girl's virginity and knocks her up. But it beats "Future Baby Mama", which is so ghetto and pedestrian. One more: "Lisa, I'm going to give you the brush, and you're going to paint the side of the train".

The list goes on, but it's his turn of phrase that really nails his lyrics as unique.

Everyone sings about fuckin', eatin' pussy, & getting their dick sucked - but only Prince could put out a b-side with lyrics like "we can fuck until the dawn, makin' love 'till cherry's gone" and have a hit on the radio.

TrivialPursuit said:

Everyone sings about fuckin', eatin' pussy, & getting their dick sucked - but only Prince could put out a b-side with lyrics like "we can fuck until the dawn, makin' love 'till cherry's gone" and have a hit on the radio.

I like that each of the 80's albums center around abstract lyrical themes. Purple Rain is about love-as-conflict, 1999 is largely about travel. Sign O the Times is observational, ATWIAD deals heavily in escapism. Batman is about violation and redemption, the Black Album reeks of confinement and desperation.

[Edited 6/15/16 17:39pm]

Shockedelicus said:

I like that each of the 80's albums center around abstract lyrical themes. Purple Rain is about love-as-conflict, 1999 is largely about travel. Sign O the Times is observational, ATWIAD deals heavily in escapism. Batman is about violation and redemption, the Black Album reeks of confinement and desperation.

I like that. 1999 is about detached emotions in favor of physical pleasure. Controversy starts where SOTT continues - political landscape, social issues.

TrivialPursuit said:

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only Prince could put out a b-side with lyrics like "we can fuck until the dawn, makin' love 'till cherry's gone" and have a hit on the radio.

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His best "dirty" song is hands down "I Love U In Me." My God, the tag line of the chorus is, "And she say, ooh, I love you in me." !!! Hell, the title of the song is "I love you in me!"

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Such sweet piano, gospel-influenced backing vocals...and lyrics like, "I promised myself not to come until she does, And she took both hands and a liar I was." I am telling you I have listened to this song a thousand times and I still smile wryly and laugh while it plays. Oh, Prince you were something else.

In the surface he talks in most of his songs about sex and physical pleasure but underneath is just a vehicle to talk about loneliness, alienation, fears and spiritual coinflict, and he did it in such a great way.