Stumbled across what is billed as a demo of Anna Stesia (could be a rehearsal recording, quality is sketchy). It contains some extra lyrics in the bridge. Here's my rough cut of the lyrics (stuff in brackets is hard to make out):

I wanna take [her] away with me
I'd like 2 feel another free
[I know how to], Dr. Fink
Can he brave this world without me?

Of course, he says, that's not Fink
It's Anna Stesia rocking I think
I can't remember [the other side] of the door
I can't remember what I was [put here] 4

Save me Jesus, I've been a fool
How could I forget that u are the rule?
U are my god, I am your child
From now on, 4 u I shall be wild
I shall be quick, I shall be strong
I'll tell your story no matter how long

He'll [take us back] and hold our hand
and lead us to Lovesexy land
We're just a play in your master plan
Now my lord I understand

Anyone know anything about the source? I don't remember hearing this before.

It's an early version of what the album version was built on - obviously, edits and overdubs took place.

I've got this version on Blast From The Past 6.0.

I don't have any more details than that though.

Yep I think this was talked about before.

TheEnglishGent said:

I've got this version on Blast From The Past 6.0.

I don't have any more details than that though.

Yeah, BFTP 6.0, CD2/Track 3.

I guess I never listened to this version despite it taking up harddrive space. I have to say, corny ass lyrics. Why reference Fink, at all?

Also, the extra bit, "He'll take us back, and hold our hand" felt like a bit too much. Sort of a rap for the sake of it. Self-editing really shines through here.

Some of the instruments heard here were buried in the final mix. It shows how the song was getting there, then the whole album has that blown out/in-the-red mix and mastering to it. Those needles were PEAKIN'! But in this earlier version, it sounds better.

Interesting Prince vault says, "Original full recording featuring more music and lyrics." If it's referring to this version, I suppose I'm reading "completed" into "full." Cuz this is definitely a working version. Semantics, I suppose. I do hope this comes out on a Lovesexy deluxe. It'd be a crime to not have it on there.

EnDoRpHn said:

This is what I hear:


I wanna take [that] away with me
I'd like 2 feel another free
[R U Happy], Dr. Fink?
Can U brave this world without me?

Of course, he says, that's not Fink
It's Anna Stesia rocking I think
I can't remember [the other side] of the door
I can't remember what I was [praying] 4

Save me Jesus, I've been a fool
How could I forget that u are the rule?
U are my god, I am your child
From now on, 4 u I shall be wild
I shall be quick, I shall be strong
I'll tell your story no matter how long

He'll [take us back] and hold our hand
and lead us to Lovesexy land
We're just a play in your master plan
Now my lord I understand

EnDoRpHn said:

Stumbled across what is billed as a demo of Anna Stesia (could be a rehearsal recording, quality is sketchy). It contains some extra lyrics in the bridge. Here's my rough cut of the lyrics (stuff in brackets is hard to make out):

I wanna take [her] away with me
I'd like 2 feel another free
[I know how to], Dr. Fink
Can he brave this world without me?

Of course, he says, that's not Fink
It's Anna Stesia rocking I think
I can't remember [the other side] of the door
I can't remember what I was [put here] 4

Save me Jesus, I've been a fool
How could I forget that u are the rule?
U are my god, I am your child
From now on, 4 u I shall be wild
I shall be quick, I shall be strong
I'll tell your story no matter how long

He'll [take us back] and hold our hand
and lead us to Lovesexy land
We're just a play in your master plan
Now my lord I understand

Anyone know anything about the source? I don't remember hearing this before.

these kinds of things, early rough drafts are interesting but its obv that prince made the right decisions in changing them to what was released. who on earth would think these lyrics are better? lol.

There was another leak after Closer 2 God and Blast 6.0 titled 'Sexy Beginnings' (I believed it was stylized as 'S3xy B3g1nn1ngs' or something along those lines. The "label" was 'Eye No Records' as a response to Eye Records). It was just the Lovesexy related tracks (including the early version of Anna Stesia) and the sound quality is near perfect. From memory I think it's from a better source closer to the master, rather than something that's been cleaned up artificially, but I may be mistaken. It sounds good regardless.

@VaultCurator, you're right, "Cocoa Boys" is the the last song on this tape.

This is the lyrics i have for Anna Stesia (demo) :

"I wanna take Anna away with me
I like 2 feel & never fray
R U hot 4 Dr. Fink?
Can U brave this world without me?
"Of course," he says
"But that's not Fink
It's Anna Stesia rappin', I think
i can't remember but those I adore
I can't remember what I was prayin' 4"

Save me, Jesus
I've been a fool
How could I 4get that U R the rule
U R my God
I am Ur child
From now on
4 U, shall B wild
I shall B quick
I shall B strong
I'll tell Ur story no matter how long
No matter how... no no no...

Please take us back & hold our hand
& lead us 2 Lovesexy land
We're just a play in Ur master plan
Now, my Lord, I understand
I understand"

[Edited 9/17/21 5:37am]

funkbabyandthebabysitters said:

masaba said: