I think he is referring to Annie Christian from Controversy. She is portrayed as the Antichrist in the song and represents the Metaphorical ills of the world. He is representing Annie as a Hurricane doing harm to the house of God, typical actions of the Antichrist.

[Edited 8/29/17 12:03pm]

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

I think he is referring to Annie Christian from Controversy. She is portrayed as the Antichrist in the song and represents the Metaphorical ills of the world. He is representing Annie as a Hurricane doing harm to the house of God, typical actions of the Antichrist.

[Edited 8/29/17 12:03pm]

Dead on it!

Exactly my first thoughts back in March 1987 when I heard the lyrics.

Funny this whole time I thought there must have been a mid 80's hurricane tragedy he was referring to.

I guess not!

NorthC said:

Nonsense. He used the name Annie simply because it fit with the melody of the song; it could just as easily have been hurricane Harry, but hurricanes traditionally have female names. Some people really read too much into things. [Edited 8/29/17 13:38pm]

Maybe So...But until She's crucified...I'll live my life in taxicabs. LOL

NorthC said:

With a lady as a driver, I suppose...

Screaming "this is for Yosemite Sam and the toursists at Disneyland"

...The North C. we need a good laugh these daze!

rickyprynce said:

NorthC said:

With a lady as a driver, I suppose...

Screaming "this is for Yosemite Sam and the toursists at Disneyland"

...The North C. we need a good laugh these daze!

Thank U

NorthC said:

Nonsense. He used the name Annie simply because it fit with the melody of the song; it could just as easily have been hurricane Harry, but hurricanes traditionally have female names. Some people really read too much into things. [Edited 8/29/17 13:38pm]

Implying Prince didn't even put any thought whatsoever into his music

kevinpnb said:

laurarichardson said:

I always had more of an issue with the 'we'll call him Nate' line - I always thought that was such a dummy lyric, like Prince couldn't think of a better line.

Interesting as here in the Southern Hemisphere, we get cyclones and they often get feminine names like Drena and Ava (Usually English and some Polynesian ones), but we also alternate with male names like Bola. There is no real sex division with naming Cyclones, as long as it's alphabetical so you will know Drena was the 4th or 30th cyclone of the season.

.

I am assuming back in the day was 2005 with Hurricane Katrina, then 1993 we had Andrew and in 1961 we had Huriicane Hattie. Now of course we have Hurricane Harvey, which has dumped our average annual rainfall (1300mm - 51 inches) in Houston in a few days.

[Edited 8/29/17 17:18pm]

67Cadillac said:

I always had more of an issue with the 'we'll call him Nate' line - I always thought that was such a dummy lyric, like Prince couldn't think of a better line.

Nate rules!!! One of his best lyrics ever.

67Cadillac said:

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

I think he is referring to Annie Christian from Controversy. She is portrayed as the Antichrist in the song and represents the Metaphorical ills of the world. He is representing Annie as a Hurricane doing harm to the house of God, typical actions of the Antichrist.

[Edited 8/29/17 12:03pm]

Exactly. I totally disagree with those who think this explanation is just reading too much into it, though I have felt that way about other questions. Both Annies are so specific in their destruction to the church/Christians that to think that Prince was completely unaware of this connection is preposterous.

NorthC said:

Nonsense. He used the name Annie simply because it fit with the melody of the song; it could just as easily have been hurricane Harry [Edited 8/29/17 13:38pm]

.

Exactly.

67Cadillac said:

I always had more of an issue with the 'we'll call him Nate' line - I always thought that was such a dummy lyric, like Prince couldn't think of a better line.

that was a cool line...

ufoclub said:

To be real, I think he was referring to a hurricane disaster, but I thought Annie was a real one. Yes back then all hurricanes were female names.

I was curious, so I looked it up, and hurricanes have had male names, too, since about 1980.

.

I'm sure most hurricanes that make landfall cause damage to churches, but I was wondering how many people have died while seeking refuge in a church during a storm, and found this, which raised my eyebrows:

1969: Hurricane Camille was a Category 5 killer storm

.

One of the most enduring myths of Camille was the death of 23 residents of the Richelieu Apartments in Pass Christian who were said to be having a “hurricane party.” Recent research suggests that eight people died in the building when 30-foot storm waves obliterated it. But there was no party. The attention given to the tale has obscured the overwhelming tragedy of the Williams family. While the father, Paul Williams, survived after being swept out of Trinity Church where his family had taken refuge, his wife and all 12 of his children drowned.

kevinpnb said:

Hurricanes don't traditionally have female names. The names alternate between male and female.

since 1979 but I think

crimesofparis said:

ufoclub said:

To be real, I think he was referring to a hurricane disaster, but I thought Annie was a real one. Yes back then all hurricanes were female names.

I was curious, so I looked it up, and hurricanes have had male names, too, since about 1980.

.

I'm sure most hurricanes that make landfall cause damage to churches, but I was wondering how many people have died while seeking refuge in a church during a storm, and found this, which raised my eyebrows:

1969: Hurricane Camille was a Category 5 killer storm

.

One of the most enduring myths of Camille was the death of 23 residents of the Richelieu Apartments in Pass Christian who were said to be having a “hurricane party.” Recent research suggests that eight people died in the building when 30-foot storm waves obliterated it. But there was no party. The attention given to the tale has obscured the overwhelming tragedy of the Williams family. While the father, Paul Williams, survived after being swept out of Trinity Church where his family had taken refuge, his wife and all 12 of his children drowned.

You're right about the male names, I was going on my own subjective memory as a kid... but I don't remember Hurricane Jerry or Bret... lol. But they are listed. And I was a Texan all through the 70's and 80's.

BartVanHemelen said:

NorthC said:

Nonsense. He used the name Annie simply because it fit with the melody of the song; it could just as easily have been hurricane Harry [Edited 8/29/17 13:38pm]

.

Exactly.

Now that I see wet blanket Bart agreeing with you I know I'm right

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

NorthC said:

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Now that I see wet blanket Bart agreeing with you I know I'm right

It's very rare for Mr. B to agree with anyone on anything, so this was a nice change. However, you're not right and I'm not wrong and I'm not right and you're not wrong. Neither of us can know what was going through Prince's head when he wrote the song, so your interpretation is just as valid as mine.

At least mine is creative!

NorthC said:

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Now that I see wet blanket Bart agreeing with you I know I'm right

It's very rare for Mr. B to agree with anyone on anything, so this was a nice change. However, you're not right and I'm not wrong and I'm not right and you're not wrong. Neither of us can know what was going through Prince's head when he wrote the song, so your interpretation is just as valid as mine.

At least mine is creative!