I went to see the shows in Atlanta and I feel guilty about it sometimes, because clearly he wasn't feeling good and took some drugs to get "up" for the show and to give the thousands of people there and even more special and magical performance. He OD'd on these drugs a couple of hours after the show and that just seemed to lead to the end, a week later.

.

I know he always wanted to give an amazing performance and I bet he took the painkillers to help him do that, in addition to dealing with hip or leg pain. I know can't change the past, but I just wish he would have held off on those ATL shows. But he was always moving so quickly and didn't want to slow down for anything. :-/

I don't know, I'm kind of inclined to believe that he spent the amount of time on this Earth that he was destined/appointed to spend here. Maybe he just wasn't meant to be here until he was 70/80 years old. Then other times, I struggle with thinking if only this would have happened, if only this person would have done that... can drive you bonkers....so I go back to my original thought: he was only meant to be here for a small season.

who the hell knows, sometimes things seem destined. He was writing songs that told us he knew his time was limited. Bruce Lee similarly said he'd die at 32 and Elvis predicted he'd die at 42. Self fulfilling prophecy or esp? who knows, we don't know all there is to know. I can't help thinking it didn't have to be like this.

Let's not go down this road. Don't feel guilty about the Atlanta shows, cherish the moments and the memories.

Asenath0607 said:

I don't know, I'm kind of inclined to believe that he spent the amount of time on this Earth that he was destined/appointed to spend here. ... I go back to my original thought: he was only meant to be here for a small season.

.

That kind of thinking is illogical.

PeteSilas said:

who the hell knows, sometimes things seem destined. He was writing songs that told us he knew his time was limited. Bruce Lee similarly said he'd die at 32 and Elvis predicted he'd die at 42. Self fulfilling prophecy or esp? who knows, we don't know all there is to know. I can't help thinking it didn't have to be like this.

Wow. I didn't know about Bruce and Elvis's predictions. More info?

.

Back to original thread: Guilt is a wasted emotion (although we all do it). Be glad you were one of the lucky few that got to see him last. IMO he would have worked just as hard no matter what or where. I think he truly loved performing and craved that "out of body" feeling he said he got while on stage.

.

I've known about him sleeping very little since a interview (MTV?) back in the 80's when he said sleeping was a waste of time and he slept very little. It helps me to think he really lived a longer life than it seems as he crammed SOOO much into it.

I'm not so sure the Atlanta shows were the cause in fact of his death. It appears that the main factors were his opoid issue, the pain that triggered it, and his grueling schedule. The Atlanta shows were previously postponed due to health concerns.

It is plausible that had he not gone to Atlanta, he would have gotten some rest and perhaps survived to get to rehab. but who's to say he would have taken that time to rest? Or gotten the actual help he needed, as questions have arisen about the physicians that were contacted?

[Edited 10/18/16 10:14am]

I think it's just as likely he would have been in that elevator a couple of weeks sooner.

It was all in God's hands.

Wlcm2thdwn3 said:

It was all in God's hands.

.

.

I hope god never hands me a bottle of counterfeit opioids...

CAL3 said:

tomcooper2323 said:

I went to see the shows in Atlanta and I feel guilty about it sometimes, because clearly he wasn't feeling good and took some drugs to get "up" for the show and to give the thousands of people there and even more special and magical performance. He OD'd on these drugs a couple of hours after the show and that just seemed to lead to the end, a week later.

.

I know he always wanted to give an amazing performance and I bet he took the painkillers to help him do that, in addition to dealing with hip or leg pain. I know can't change the past, but I just wish he would have held off on those ATL shows. But he was always moving so quickly and didn't want to slow down for anything. :-/

Tom, I was at the last two Atlanta shows, too. I've also felt guilty, thinking perhaps if he rested longer, taken the time he needed to heal, maybe he would still be here. I remember sitting beside a couple in the orchestra section, even asked the lady if she wanted to move closer with me, but she said, 'no'. I moved up as close as I could get because I needed to see him closer. I wanted to see his eyes. I don't know why I felt such a need as I was fairly close in the orchestra anyway, but as I had felt drawn to him in the beginning, I felt drawn to him that night. I'm glad I moved closer to the stage, because the image I carry of him in my mind now is much clearer.

I don't know if he would still be here if he had not given us those concerts in Atlanta. Maybe. Maybe not. We can't play the "what if" game though. I have reminded myself that Prince gave us everything he had that night. He put his entire being in that show and it really showed. Even he said it was the best concert he had done of the Piano and Mic shows. He knew he had given us everything. So what I tell myself is that he did what he loved to do and through that love he gave us a beautiful gift, the memory of that night to hold close and cherish, the memory of those shows. We were blessed to be there that night. We will tell our grandchildren and great grandchildren how we were at his last concerts as we keep alive his memory and play them the music that meant so much to Prince that he put his whole self into it. He gave us love that night. We need to cherish that love and share it with all those around us.

It still hurts, but we were loved and we returned that love and he carried that love we gave him with him into the afterworld.

i was at the 2nd show and wondered about that too. But it seems it was his choice to reschedule the shows, maybe for financial reasons, but surely he could have gotten by financially a few weeks and rested instead. I was suprised how soon he rescheduled the shows and perhaps after a week of resting without feeling all better, he decided the 'energy exchange' with the audience could be beneficial medicine 4 him? theres so much symbolism with the timing of 4/21 and his song lyrics, 57 years = 3 metonic cycles -- i saw 3 moon mirrors in a room on the paisley park tour. A lot of the songs he chose for the setlist that night -- i wonder how far in advance he had chosen them? because a lot of them could hint at a disappearance.

I've thought the same several times...

Was at both shows (front row for the final ATL show). I do wish he had rested instead of trying 2 reschedule so quickly, but N the end, it is an evening I will never 4get (as goes with most Prince live Xperiences). Thank u Prince. I Wish U Heaven.

^^^

I have the audio,

he sure hit some pretty sounding notes vocally..

I have never viewed the Atlanta shows in terms to their contribution to his death. It likely took decisions over months if not years (not taking care of injuries, overscheduling, etc.)that were ultimately his undoing. If anything, I feel grateful that he got to do such engaging and exceptional concerts with the most supportive crowd that I have ever heard for anyone. He seemed to need the love and boy did he ever get it. Did it save him, no. But what a way to go out!

You guys aren't alone.Several that attended have expressed those same feelings.Look at it this way what if none ofu guys showed up prince may of felt hurt.You guys bought happiness to his final days and thats just the truth.So from what many have said about prince that he always went over and over his last show and how to approve upon it.He prob left this earth happy about his fans.Be proud.

Well... there are a LOT of lyrics on Art Official and both HitnRun albums that really clearly point to a 'my days are numbered' mindset.

Genesia said:

benni said:

Better question, if not for whatever was ailing Prince would he still be here? The last thing Prince would want is fans feeling any type of responsibility over his death.

anangellooksdown said:

It is interesting to see where everybody is in their main thoughts and acceptance of what happened. It just hit me now on a deeper level, what it must've been like to see him at the ATL show and then just days later, have what happened happen. It Must've been unbelievably upsetting to some people. I really love the many thoughtful posts here and the calm respect for Prince. Recently I found an old video interview of Prince from the 90s or 2000s ( I can't remember which) where he shows up very tired and says he had been up playing until 5 or 6 that morning. The interviewer says he'd be a cool grandpa still performing at 60, and Prince says half-jokingly, "If I make it to 60." I think the sleep really did a number on him, but he somehow always looked so good and aged terrifically. Obviously now most of us feel there were underlying issues, at the very least at the end, which didn't get addressed in time. I have felt he was feeling his humanness which was the reason for his talking so intimately at the P&M concerts. I felt he had been reaching an acceptance of sorts, while at the same time planning for the future and a detox of the pain medicines. It doesn't have to be black and white. People can have more than one feeling or experience going on at the same time.

.

Yes seeing those last shows are both a curse and a blessing, but made Prince's passing so much more difficult. I hadn't seen him live in probably 10+ years and really felt like I reconnected to him and his music that night and was on a major high for days afterwards and then of course, the emotions swung about as far as they could in the opposite direction. I still can't really process those shows and what they should mean to me...maybe I'll figure it out eventually or maybe there is just no answer that makes sense.

it all depends on perspective, and by any perspective Prince's death is a huge loss. But my first thoughts were how he completed his circle, what better place than Atlanta, Black American capitol of the usa, for him to say goodbye? Prince was not always free from racial ambivalence and he became more and more unambiguously black, the afro, some of the songs like Black Muse and the Atlanta finale, demonstrating a wonderful rapport with his own, it's a fitting if not a happy ending.

NinaB said:

benni said:

Tom, I was at the last two Atlanta shows, too. I've also felt guilty, thinking perhaps if he rested longer, taken the time he needed to heal, maybe he would still be here. I remember sitting beside a couple in the orchestra section, even asked the lady if she wanted to move closer with me, but she said, 'no'. I moved up as close as I could get because I needed to see him closer. I wanted to see his eyes. I don't know why I felt such a need as I was fairly close in the orchestra anyway, but as I had felt drawn to him in the beginning, I felt drawn to him that night. I'm glad I moved closer to the stage, because the image I carry of him in my mind now is much clearer.

I don't know if he would still be here if he had not given us those concerts in Atlanta. Maybe. Maybe not. We can't play the "what if" game though. I have reminded myself that Prince gave us everything he had that night. He put his entire being in that show and it really showed. Even he said it was the best concert he had done of the Piano and Mic shows. He knew he had given us everything. So what I tell myself is that he did what he loved to do and through that love he gave us a beautiful gift, the memory of that night to hold close and cherish, the memory of those shows. We were blessed to be there that night. We will tell our grandchildren and great grandchildren how we were at his last concerts as we keep alive his memory and play them the music that meant so much to Prince that he put his whole self into it. He gave us love that night. We need to cherish that love and share it with all those around us.

It still hurts, but we were loved and we returned that love and he carried that love we gave him with him into the afterworld.

Very touching, thank you.

NinaB said:

benni said:

Tom, I was at the last two Atlanta shows, too. I've also felt guilty, thinking perhaps if he rested longer, taken the time he needed to heal, maybe he would still be here. I remember sitting beside a couple in the orchestra section, even asked the lady if she wanted to move closer with me, but she said, 'no'. I moved up as close as I could get because I needed to see him closer. I wanted to see his eyes. I don't know why I felt such a need as I was fairly close in the orchestra anyway, but as I had felt drawn to him in the beginning, I felt drawn to him that night. I'm glad I moved closer to the stage, because the image I carry of him in my mind now is much clearer.

I don't know if he would still be here if he had not given us those concerts in Atlanta. Maybe. Maybe not. We can't play the "what if" game though. I have reminded myself that Prince gave us everything he had that night. He put his entire being in that show and it really showed. Even he said it was the best concert he had done of the Piano and Mic shows. He knew he had given us everything. So what I tell myself is that he did what he loved to do and through that love he gave us a beautiful gift, the memory of that night to hold close and cherish, the memory of those shows. We were blessed to be there that night. We will tell our grandchildren and great grandchildren how we were at his last concerts as we keep alive his memory and play them the music that meant so much to Prince that he put his whole self into it. He gave us love that night. We need to cherish that love and share it with all those around us.

It still hurts, but we were loved and we returned that love and he carried that love we gave him with him into the afterworld.

Very touching, thank you.

NinaB said:

benni said:

Tom, I was at the last two Atlanta shows, too. I've also felt guilty, thinking perhaps if he rested longer, taken the time he needed to heal, maybe he would still be here. I remember sitting beside a couple in the orchestra section, even asked the lady if she wanted to move closer with me, but she said, 'no'. I moved up as close as I could get because I needed to see him closer. I wanted to see his eyes. I don't know why I felt such a need as I was fairly close in the orchestra anyway, but as I had felt drawn to him in the beginning, I felt drawn to him that night. I'm glad I moved closer to the stage, because the image I carry of him in my mind now is much clearer.

I don't know if he would still be here if he had not given us those concerts in Atlanta. Maybe. Maybe not. We can't play the "what if" game though. I have reminded myself that Prince gave us everything he had that night. He put his entire being in that show and it really showed. Even he said it was the best concert he had done of the Piano and Mic shows. He knew he had given us everything. So what I tell myself is that he did what he loved to do and through that love he gave us a beautiful gift, the memory of that night to hold close and cherish, the memory of those shows. We were blessed to be there that night. We will tell our grandchildren and great grandchildren how we were at his last concerts as we keep alive his memory and play them the music that meant so much to Prince that he put his whole self into it. He gave us love that night. We need to cherish that love and share it with all those around us.

It still hurts, but we were loved and we returned that love and he carried that love we gave him with him into the afterworld.

Very touching, thank you.

benni crushe our heart thanks for sharing that from this concert !!!!!