I think it was definitely an important song to him. He seemed to be very emotional when he performed it at the 2013 Montreux Jazz Festival. I think it's quite special and beautiful.

RJOrion said:

[Snip - luv4u]

Perfectly placed at the end of side one of the vinyl, too. I mentally 'flip the record' after it ends, even if I'm listening to the streaming version of the album...

One of my favorite songs. Not just from AOA but from Prince period. It showed he could still make spectacular music as well as he ever did.

Revolution81 said:

I think the lyrics are cheesy and probably the lamest song on the album. Not a patch on “way back home” IMO I do wonder about some of the places he woke up that we “wouldn’t believe” tho, like on the ledge of a tenth floor Vegas hotel balcony or a beach surrounded by mutilated corpse’s

Honest lyrics - not cheesy at all. I think the "places" he's referring to were more like houses of ill repute or serious party houses more than anything else.

*

During his spot on Arsenio Hall in 2014 Arsenio says, "there were so many things we did back then...remember that house? We were sittin' at that house, and it's like, they'd take you in and they'd chain the door, and there's a Pit Bull and uh, they'd give you a drink in a cup, and he (Prince) wouldn't touch nothing..."

Revolution81 said:

LovePaisley said:

Revolution81 said:

I think the lyrics are cheesy and probably the lamest song on the album. Not a patch on “way back home” IMO I do wonder about some of the places he woke up that we “wouldn’t believe” tho, like on the ledge of a tenth floor Vegas hotel balcony or a beach surrounded by mutilated corpse’s

I dunno. Considering that he also mentions a "journal full of notes" that he used to go thru--1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7-- I've always wondered if waking up in places you never would believe might be about waking up in a pile of women? He certainly could've if he wanted to. Makes more sense than blackout drunk. And the scream. I may be in a minority, but I'd call it a screech and I think it ruins the song and possibly even made a perfect song to memorialize him on the radio after 4/21, unplayable. Don't get me wrong, I love his screams--none better-- but not that one. [Edited 7/22/19 15:27pm]

It's a "journal full of numbers" - as in, phone numbers - not notes. Seems he was referring to the many women that he used to juggle.

violetcrush said:

donnyenglish said:

feeluupp said:

[Snip - luv4u]

Umm... A few members messaged me about that snip, as they were shocked why it got snipped...

My exact post about was the song sounded a bit flat.

Have no idea why you snipped that.

Yes I felt his vocal range and the overall sound of the song sounded flat.

violetcrush said:

donnyenglish said:

The song is not about a woman or women. Listen very closely ...

So, what is your interpretation of the “journal full of numbers” lyric??

After about a dozen listens it hit me that the song is about God...he says he used to be material ("I used to want the house with the biggest pool"), he used to drink/party, he used to go through women (the journal full of numbers), but as the subject of the song keeps breaking him down he's given up all those things. At the end the walls he'd built around himself became a door, and the song's subject will catch him when he falls. It perfectly fits with his later-life ideas of leaving his past behind and embracing a more Godly life. Being "broken down" and made better. I think that's why it was so personal to him.

He cried at the end of the song in Montreux (2013). He seemed very sad and one thing he mentioned was he wanted more time here. I feel he was too sad for it to be anything other than a serious chronic or acute illness.I feel he was asking God to "catch him" if he fell during this scary process.

I think he was upset with himself for wasting precious time on superficial as well as harmful pursuits.

Re: the show in Sydney, I think sometimes Prince mentioned attraction to women in his songs/performances as a cover for other, perhaps deeper and more vulnerable feelings. He could not directly tell us that he was very ill as it would have caused a media circus.

I think he was saying good-bye for a couple of years. The album, Art Official Age was a farewell in IMO. Took alot of courage.

renfield said:

I LOVE that track, it's very heartfelt.

violetcrush said:

donnyenglish said:

The song is not about a woman or women. Listen very closely ...

I have always said this ^^^^^

In November 2018 Andy posted:


"Wow... found a gem of a rough recording...Prince and I working out The Breakdown... I'll have to share one of these days..."

ISaidLifeIsJustAGame said:

donnyenglish said:

The song is not about a woman or women. Listen very closely ...

I have always said this ^^^^^

I don't think the "listen very closely" was implying some hidden message. I think it was his way of saying, "listen closely to my cautionary tale so you don't make the same mistakes."

*

"this could be the saddest story ever been told. I used to want the house with the biggest pool. Reminiscing now I just feel like a fool..." and "give me back the time, you can keep the memories.". *

I think he's expressing how, if he could, he would turn back time and change how he behaved - both generally and in relationships - because he does not like thinking about how he behaved.

*

The last verse - "baby baby, see there's a door that you can walk through where there used to be a wall. I don't care, it's cool, as long as you catch me baby (catch me when I fall) if ever there's a fall.."

*

I think he's expressing that he is now able to be vulnerable and open with a woman, as long as she is there to help him through any "breakdown" or "fall" he may have.