The track was the last to be recorded for Graffiti Bridge, on 11 February 1990 at the Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota (five days after Move Me). The harmonica is sampled from I Can't Stand It by The Chambers Brothers (from The Time Has Come, 1967, written by Lester Chambers, also released as a single in 1968), which is also sampled on Black M.F. In The House. The Thieves In The House Mix and Temple House Dub also include samples from Batdance and No, as well as Dish & Tell by House Of Venus (released as a single in 1990, written by Eddie de Clerq, Erik van Putten and Gert Van Veen).

-PVault

As much as I love the song and the filmclip, this wasn't a user friendly single to release first up imo.

New Power Generation shouldve been the first pic.

Great time to be alive.
I was in MPLS for a week break and then saw him in concert in Buenos Aires for my first time.

16 THIEVES IN THE TEMPLE (3:19)
Produced, Arranged, Composed and Performed by Prince
Recorded by Michael Koppelman and Tom Garneau
Mixed by Prince at Paisley Park
Published by Controversy Music, administered by WB Music Corp. ASCAP
From GRAFFITI BRIDGE

.

1990 brought about the ambitious GRAFFITI BRIDGE. (THIEVES IN THE TEMPLE was the last song written for the project and arguably its best.) Musically, though, it turned out to be a transitional year for Prince...

– Alan Leeds, 1993

Prince Crosses the Bridge to Glory

GRAFFITI BRIDGE
PRINCE
Paisley Park

By Paul Evans

Along with the sinuous "Thieves in the Temple" and its air of dread, "Graffiti Bridge" is a standout, a "Purple Rain"-like electric hymn, a call for transcendence, a moving quest for "A bridge that leads to a better land than real." Built up from an album's worth of nervy, confident material characterized by a new maturity -- though only as mature, happily, as we'd want Prince to be -- the song's cry for salvation hardly seems escapist or fantastic. Prince -- among other things, one of rock's greatest actors -- comes off as desperately real.

ROLLING STONE, AUGUST 23RD, 1990

callimnate said:

As much as I love the song and the filmclip, this wasn't a user friendly single to release first up imo.

New Power Generation shouldve been the first pic.

I strongly disagree. To me, "New Power Generation" is a weak song that shouldn't have been a single at all. The music is all right, but something about those chanty, self-referential lyrics really bugs me. ("My Name Is Prince" has a similar effect.)

"Thieves in the Temple," on the other hand, has some artful mystique, and the extended version is glorious. Of the album's highlights (which also include "The Question of U" and "Joy in Repetition"), I think it has the most commercial appeal--so I think it was the right choice for lead single.

[Edited 6/6/19 6:29am]

I didn't think much of the album cut of this song, but I loved the extended version. In fact, when I listent to this song I often fast forward to the midway point.

This song just gets better. One of the greats. Certainly better than that stupid movie.

lurker316 said:

I didn't think much of the album cut of this song, but I loved the extended version. In fact, when I listent to this song I often fast forward to the midway point.

Agreed and the same for the video.

The extended version of this song is just CRAZY good. It's Prince just balling out, having the time of his life.

I had the maxi CD and when a woman I was dating stopped returning my calls and email for about 3 months then she starts calling and emailing... turns out she got married... and guess what? It did not work. So I aksed her to send me the mugs I had (she lived 2 hours away) and I sent her the CD... She asked "Why did you send me this?" I said "You lied...." and that was that... she never sent the mugs.

I miss my CD...

OldFriends4Sale said:

I read that the choreographers had been working on this dance for several hours and Prince came in and watched them do it once... then he Nailed it in one take.

OnlyNDaUsa said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

I read that the choreographers had been working on this dance for several hours and Prince came in and watched them do it once... then he Nailed it in one take.

lol I wouldn't doubt it lol do you know who the choreographer is?

Apollo85 said:

The extended version of this song is just CRAZY good. It's Prince just balling out, having the time of his life.

and the extra lyrics that are onlty on the screen! and the whole "Pretty Woman" trying on several outfitst... and that helmet! Hot! (yes I am sure that PW was not the first to do that and that this video was not copying that)

OnlyNDaUsa said:

They're still in there.

Wolfie87 said:

OnlyNDaUsa said:

I read that the choreographers had been working on this dance for several hours and Prince came in and watched them do it once... then he Nailed it in one take.

If this is true. Who then is Prince? This can't be true. He couldn't do that, right? [Edited 6/6/19 14:42pm]

i do not know what you are asking

OnlyNDaUsa said:

Wolfie87 said:

OnlyNDaUsa said: If this is true. Who then is Prince? This can't be true. He couldn't do that, right? [Edited 6/6/19 14:42pm]

i do not know what you are asking

Let me put it this way. If that is true. Are we sure that he was human? That is genius at work, almost eclipsing his musical talent. One take!

Wolfie87 said:

OnlyNDaUsa said:

i do not know what you are asking

Let me put it this way. If that is true. Are we sure that he was human? That is genius at work, almost eclipsing his musical talent. One take!

oh yeah... that was the point of the story... I will try to find it.

i love the simple, undeveloped demo more than the complete song, it sounds more heartfelt, the version in the movie sounds like it was put in to fit the movie. and it's more fleshed out but sometimes the simple version is the better one for me.

OldFriends4Sale said:

Love come quick
Love come in a hurry
There are thieves in the temple tonight

They don't care where they kick
Just as long as they hurt you
There are thieves in the temple tonight

Love if you're there come save me
From all this cold despair
I can hang when you're around
But I'll surely die
If you're not there

Love come quick
Love come in a hurry
There are thieves in the temple tonight

I feel like I'm looking for my soul (Soul)
Like a poor man looking for gold (Gold)
There are thieves in the temple tonight

Voices from the sky say rely on your best friend to pull you through
But even if I wanted to I couldn't really truly 'cause my only friend is you

Come on

There are thieves in the temple tonight

Kicking me in my heart, tearing me all apart
(Tearing me, tearing me, tearing me all apart)
'Cause me and you could have been a work of art
Thieves in the temple

Baby don't you know I'm holding on
The best that I can
Love please help me be
The better man

Better than the thieves in the temple
In the temple tonight

Oh, thieves in the temple (Tonight) tonight
Hurt me

Love come quick
Love come in a hurry
There are thieves in the temple tonight

Thieves in the temple

You said you loved me! (Thieves in the temple)
You said I was your friend! (Thieves in the temple)
You were supposed to take care of me! (Love come quick) {Thieves in the
Temple}
You lie! Love come (Lie!) in a hurry (Lie!)

Thieves in the temple tonight

The track was the last to be recorded for Graffiti Bridge, on 11 February 1990 at the Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota (five days after Move Me). The harmonica is sampled from I Can't Stand It by The Chambers Brothers (from The Time Has Come, 1967, written by Lester Chambers, also released as a single in 1968), which is also sampled on Black M.F. In The House. The Thieves In The House Mix and Temple House Dub also include samples from Batdance and No, as well as Dish & Tell by House Of Venus (released as a single in 1990, written by Eddie de Clerq, Erik van Putten and Gert Van Veen).

-PVault

OldFriends4Sale said:

Prince Crosses the Bridge to Glory

GRAFFITI BRIDGE
PRINCE
Paisley Park

By Paul Evans

Along with the sinuous "Thieves in the Temple" and its air of dread, "Graffiti Bridge" is a standout, a "Purple Rain"-like electric hymn, a call for transcendence, a moving quest for "A bridge that leads to a better land than real." Built up from an album's worth of nervy, confident material characterized by a new maturity -- though only as mature, happily, as we'd want Prince to be -- the song's cry for salvation hardly seems escapist or fantastic. Prince -- among other things, one of rock's greatest actors -- comes off as desperately real.

ROLLING STONE, AUGUST 23RD, 1990

hmmm.., maybe it was just me but nothing he did in those years came across as real(outside of the realness of his talent), in retrospect, knowing all that's come out, I see everything at least a little differently.

tump said:

Inspired. That and "Question Of U" are my favourites on the album.

joy in repetition? I liked all the prince songs on the album, the time/tevin/staples not so much. elephants and flowers, can't stop this feeling i got, etc.., liked it all, still remember listening to it as I did a shit job of putting flyers on cars downtown.

Wolfie87 said:

OnlyNDaUsa said:

I read that the choreographers had been working on this dance for several hours and Prince came in and watched them do it once... then he Nailed it in one take.

If this is true. Who then is Prince? This can't be true. He couldn't do that, right? [Edited 6/6/19 14:42pm]

i doubt those kinds of stories, they said Mj did similarly during the thriller era on vids, in fact, i once heard they did the rehearsal for thriller (mj and company) in a day or two, i don't believe it, it could be true but I just don't believe it. I think Cat glover said something more realistic (could be robin, forgive me if i'm wrong) about daddy pop, how they all had to work real hard for months to make it look that easy, and they never even released a video for daddy pop did they?

scratchtasia said:

callimnate said:

As much as I love the song and the filmclip, this wasn't a user friendly single to release first up imo.

New Power Generation shouldve been the first pic.

I strongly disagree. To me, "New Power Generation" is a weak song that shouldn't have been a single at all. The music is all right, but something about those chanty, self-referential lyrics really bugs me. ("My Name Is Prince" has a similar effect.)

"Thieves in the Temple," on the other hand, has some artful mystique, and the extended version is glorious. Of the album's highlights (which also include "The Question of U" and "Joy in Repetition"), I think it has the most commercial appeal--so I think it was the right choice for lead single.

[Edited 6/6/19 6:29am]

it's a pretty weak song. Thieves, i thought was too, at the time but i love the demo as i mentioned. Prince tooted his own horn in the RS interview about thieves in the temple, explaining how he was still improving and growing by saying he'd never used chords like the opening ones, most people don't care what chords he uses, they just want to enjoy the music.

Many years ago, I volunteered at M. D. Anderson Cancer Hospital, in the pediatric ward. I'd bring my guitar and play whatever the kids wanted to hear.

One young boy named Calvin loved "Thieves in the Temple". I did too, and played it for him every time I was there.

But one time I showed up and Calvin wasn't there. He didn't make it. I was devastated (still am).

I can't hear or play "Thieves in the Temple" without thinking of Calvin. But I bet Prince is playing him a special, personalised version right now. Rock on, Calvin. I think I'll pick up my guitar and play.

RodeoSchro said:

Many years ago, I volunteered at M. D. Anderson Cancer Hospital, in the pediatric ward. I'd bring my guitar and play whatever the kids wanted to hear.

One young boy named Calvin loved "Thieves in the Temple". I did too, and played it for him every time I was there.

But one time I showed up and Calvin wasn't there. He didn't make it. I was devastated (still am).

I can't hear or play "Thieves in the Temple" without thinking of Calvin. But I bet Prince is playing him a special, personalised version right now. Rock on, Calvin. I think I'll pick up my guitar and play.

do it!

PeteSilas said:

RodeoSchro said:

Many years ago, I volunteered at M. D. Anderson Cancer Hospital, in the pediatric ward. I'd bring my guitar and play whatever the kids wanted to hear.

One young boy named Calvin loved "Thieves in the Temple". I did too, and played it for him every time I was there.

But one time I showed up and Calvin wasn't there. He didn't make it. I was devastated (still am).

I can't hear or play "Thieves in the Temple" without thinking of Calvin. But I bet Prince is playing him a special, personalised version right now. Rock on, Calvin. I think I'll pick up my guitar and play.

do it!

Yes! Music effects me that way too. A certain song comes on and I am transported to a particular space and time. I can remember who I was with, where we were, and sometimes even what outfit I was wearing. But that is what music is supposed to do, tug at our hearts.......

You were special for doing that for him.