It may seem a bit contradictory for me to start this thread, given that my last post in the Darling Nikki thread was about how open-minded we should be when it comes to analysing lyrics. That said, there definitely are some interpretations that are so out-there as to leave 99% of people scratching their heads. This thread is for those.

The two that occur to me to kick off, both of which I've seen on the Org at some point in the past, are the following:

Annie Christian

I remember seeing someone claim this song was not about the anti-christ, or about specific hypocrites who use religion to defend their heinous actions, or whatever other interpretations are in the mix, but rather that it was a blanket attack on Christianity and the church. Had someone else written it, they might have a point, but for anyone with even a cursory understanding of who Prince was and what he was about, it becomes obvious that Annie Christian cannot be an all-round anticlerical and antitheist composition. As far as I know, as a deeply religious man himself, he never wrote any song of that kind.

Dead On It

This one was quite recent. Someone insisted that Dead On It was not at all tongue-in-cheek, but rather a completely serious early attempt by Prince to do rap music. According to this theory, if the lyrics come across as parody then it's purely unintentional. If this were true, Dead On It would be the musical equivalent of everyone's favourite cinematic clusterfuck: The Room.

So, what are some of the wackier analyses you've seen? Tell us all about them. Or, if you feel like defending the interpretations I've put up here, please feel free to do so.

Note: I have no idea which users espoused these theories. My intention is not to make personal jabs at anyone in particular, and as I stated, if someone's willing to provide a reasonable argument in favour of either of the two I've mentioned, I'm game for a discussion.

I was always baffled and a bit shocked when I read numerous people saying that Wasted Kisses was about his son. I mean, really? How tasteless can you get? I actually think they were being serious as well, in spite of the fact that he sings the line "cheap perfume, all over your bergundy stockings"....

MattyJam said:

I was always baffled and a bit shocked when I read numerous people saying that Wasted Kisses was about his son. I mean, really? How tasteless can you get? I actually think they were being serious as well, in spite of the fact that he sings the line "cheap perfume, all over your bergundy stockings"....

I must admit that one always left me a bit . It could be about Mayte or another lover, but I would hope Prince cherished every moment he had with his son, from pregnancy to the agonisingly short time he was on the Earth.

paisleypearl said:

New people to the org don't stand a chance at having any kind of discussion about anything. The old timers here already have all the answers and are deep in mourning I guess and are in bad moods. Too many insults thrown around to risk discussion, it's either agree with the old timers or suffer their nastiness.

paisleypearl said:

New people to the org don't stand a chance at having any kind of discussion about anything. The old timers here already have all the answers and are deep in mourning I guess and are in bad moods. Too many insults thrown around to risk discussion, it's either agree with the old timers or suffer their nastiness.

Bravo, I think we need to be a bit more tolerant of new people and less reverent of the (probably) 5 or 6 people that want to act like Prince's "dad" in Papa and "crucify every dandelion in the yard" and act like they are above everybody else. Who cares how long you have been a fan, it is not somebody's fault if they are 14 and just heard about Purple Rain for the first time. In fact, how lucky are they that they are able to discover a whole world of Prince? It must be hard for some people to type will sitting upon their high horses. I am pretty sure they aren't members of the Revolution posting that garbage.

New fans if you are 12 or 100+ ask us about songs to hear, ask us about which albums to listen to, because if like me Prince fans do not abound in you non-internet world you should be happy to talk about Prince, you should love talking about Prince.

I don't care if you ask if Prince was gay, if he was bald, if he was Michael Jackson, because I know eventually you will be asking something thought provoking.

So without Prince evangelism (if that is a thing) I would reommend as Samuel L Jackson said as Love Daddy said "Cool that sh*t out" ("do the right thing").

If people are going to dereil threads by saying how garbage they are or being grammar nazis, they need to be called out.

A little Positivity needed. And an even better thing is to post on a thread of an obvious newby. If they confuse Cat and Sheila E let them know.

If you are a veteran poster then help out, don't be a bear pooping in your own cave, and let some new blood flow. Lord knows we lost the raison de etre of this org last year, let's be kinder to the new posters who may be artists, musicians, meme makers, comedians, writers and MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL --- Genuine fans

I do not want the first impression of the org to be some ahole who has gone rogue and is slamming anybody that does not know the minutae of Princeology.

Peace.

Oh and a funny story, Cold Ethyl is a song by Alice Cooper about necrophillia. Somebody once told me with a straight face (and a clouded mind) that it was a true event and that Alice Cooper had really gone there (lol)

I liked the Peach and Black podcast story about My Name is Prince where they talked about Jim Crowe (the laws) to Prince and said "Jim Crowe was the guy that Tony M stuck his foot up his ass"
So classic, and an easy mistake to make for Australians who may not have studied the Black civil rights movement at school.

PurpleYoda3121 said:

I absolutely agree with those who urge longtime users to be patient and helpful with newbies (I've been a fan since 2009 so, whilst I'm not brand new, I'm hardly a veteran either), and I'm glad that sentiment's been restated on this thread. If anyone objects to the discussion I've tried to create because they see it as an implicit attack on newer fans, I apologise; that wasn't my intention.

SanMartin said:

I absolutely agree with those who urge longtime users to be patient and helpful with newbies (I've been a fan since 2009 so, whilst I'm not brand new, I'm hardly a veteran either), and I'm glad that sentiment's been restated on this thread. If anyone objects to the discussion I've tried to create because they see it as an implicit attack on newer fans, I apologise; that wasn't my intention.

No SanMartin, I think the way you opened the thread showed that you weren't trying to be negative or attack anybody at all. I don't think it comes across as a cruel thread.

paisleypearl said:

Metaphors as songs are meaningful to me when I interpret them in my own way but not necessarily the "right" way. I think the song is a "better" song when it can hone a personal idea on the way I see life, not the way life "should" be seen. Then if and when I grow as a person the song's meaning can change to a deeper meaning, maybe to something I hadn't thought of or experienced until later. I might be more spiritual than intellectual, someone else vice versa. I wouldn't argue with Prince about his reasons for writing a song and I bet he wouldn't argue wth me about how that song made me feel. Of course I realize too that some of his songs are simpler than others.

This is brilliant and so true. I love how music can take me back to a particular place and time and revive a specific feeling. It may not have anything to do with the writer's intent...but it doesn't make that feeling in me any less.