Ask the Man in the Moon.

Thoughs and Prayers? Positive energy?

purplethunder3121 said:

Ask the Man in the Moon.

I'm the moon!

I honestly have absolutely no idea what moonbeam levels are or are supposed to be, even with our widespread "moon lore."

>

In fact, for the longest time until I read the official published song's title did I finally accept he was singing that--before then I would substitute my own more senible-sounding words in their place. I though that the words were "moving letters," y'know, as in "inspiring correspondence." Instead, Prince got all "hocusey-pocusey" on us with another exibition of Prince-lyric shorthand.

>

Now, given happyshopper's interpretation, also one I hadn't heard of before, I've dug up the following link to try and locate an historic point of origin of that particular fairytale. Is there a specific story example to be found?

https://universeunriddled...-folklore/

happyshopper said:

He’s asking where the levels of moonlight are strongest, because that’s where he wants to die. It’s a sort of fairytale that moonlight is somehow magical.

FrankieCoco1 said:

I've personally always thought of this as a song about someone despondent about the state of the world, in the depths of despair. I view the "moonbeam" part to be representative of light in the darkness...someone looking for some positive energy when things are so bleak. So, perhaps, he's referring to how the moon's light can be somewhat scant at certain times, while other times it is very bright...thus "moonbeam levels". He seems to be stating he'll take every last bit of light he can get...ALL of the Moonbeam Levels, so to speak.

Since the song was originally slated for "1999", in the spot eventually occupied by "Free" on the album, I think this fits. In the title track, he states "...we could all die here 2day/but B4 I let that happen, I'll dance my life away". Similarly, in "Moonbeam Levels", he says he's looking for "a better place 2 die". If his life is going to end, he wants it to be in a place of happiness instead of despair. Ultimately, he comes to the end of the song realizing he really doesn't want to die...so perhaps the "moonbeam levels" did manage to pull him out of the darkness after all. Anyway, that's how I interpret it, but I could be completely wrong.

jedimaster777 said:

Since the song was originally slated for "1999", in the spot eventually occupied by "Free" on the album,

No it wasn't. Common misconception; even one I shared for a long time, since it's similar to "Free" but totally false.

Even though it was recorded during the sessions for 1999, and considered for that album, it was never placed on a configuration of it. - Princevault

I think it's something that Prince just came up with. I think it just popped in his head, it looked cool on paper and he ran with it. Why "Paisley Park?" He'd never mentioned or wore paisley much before Purple Rain. It was all that punk funk shit before.

Why "New Power Generation?" Sounded cool. Why "Lovesexy?" Sounded ethereal, and unique.

"Moonbeam Levels" could be anything to the listener. A vibe, it could be a word for hope, "please send all your moonbeam levels to me, I'm looking for a better place 2 die." As in, there has to be somewhere better to exist when our lives end than this. All the scenarios in the song are moments of searching, looking.

happyshopper said:

He’s asking where the levels of moonlight are strongest, because that’s where he wants to die. It’s a sort of fairytale that moonlight is somehow magical.

Didn't he die during a full moon?

https://prince.org/msg/7/366132

johnpiex said:

happyshopper said:

He’s asking where the levels of moonlight are strongest, because that’s where he wants to die. It’s a sort of fairytale that moonlight is somehow magical.

Didn't he die during a full moon?

Even if he did, it wouldn't have anything to do with the song.

TrivialPursuit said:

I think it's something that Prince just came up with. I think it just popped in his head, it looked cool on paper and he ran with it. Why "Paisley Park?" He'd never mentioned or wore paisley much before Purple Rain. It was all that punk funk shit before.

Why "New Power Generation?" Sounded cool. Why "Lovesexy?" Sounded ethereal, and unique.

"Moonbeam Levels" could be anything to the listener. A vibe, it could be a word for hope, "please send all your moonbeam levels to me, I'm looking for a better place 2 die." As in, there has to be somewhere better to exist when our lives end than this. All the scenarios in the song are moments of searching, looking.

You are probably right.

But New Power Generation...always seemed corny to me. Same goes with the Symbol, dispite the tattoo I got of it before the name change, it's corny too.

johnpiex said:

happyshopper said:

He’s asking where the levels of moonlight are strongest, because that’s where he wants to die. It’s a sort of fairytale that moonlight is somehow magical.

Didn't he die during a full moon?

a day before.

TrivialPursuit said:

jedimaster777 said:

Since the song was originally slated for "1999", in the spot eventually occupied by "Free" on the album,

No it wasn't. Common misconception; even one I shared for a long time, since it's similar to "Free" but totally false.

Even though it was recorded during the sessions for 1999, and considered for that album, it was never placed on a configuration of it. - Princevault

Ah, okay...I stand corrected. Don't remember where I heard that it was supposed to be in the spot where "Free" wound up, but it likely wasn't an official source. Thanks for the info!

jedimaster777 said:

Ah, okay...I stand corrected. Don't remember where I heard that it was supposed to be in the spot where "Free" wound up, but it likely wasn't an official source. Thanks for the info!

I, too, went down that road for years and years. I don't know that I heard it anywhere per se, maybe I just assumed it. But I just didn't know it was never on any version of 1999.

It feels so logical that it would've been on 1999. For some strange reason he let that song just float around for years. I think he was later going to put it on the first configuration of Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic which feels super weird.

Despite all the "Free" hate around here, I love the song. I do think "Moonbeam" is a slightly stronger song. Hell, it should've at least been a b-side for something from 1999.

...

[Edited 6/6/24 15:08pm]

TrivialPursuit said:

jedimaster777 said:

Ah, okay...I stand corrected. Don't remember where I heard that it was supposed to be in the spot where "Free" wound up, but it likely wasn't an official source. Thanks for the info!

I, too, went down that road for years and years. I don't know that I heard it anywhere per se, maybe I just assumed it. But I just didn't know it was never on any version of 1999.

It feels so logical that it would've been on 1999. For some strange reason he let that song just float around for years. I think he was later going to put it on the first configuration of Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic which feels super weird.

Despite all the "Free" hate around here, I love the song. I do think "Moonbeam" is a slightly stronger song. Hell, it should've at least been a b-side for something from 1999.

I agree on both counts. I really like "Free", though I feel ML would have been a better choice for the album. It's really baffling how he didn't include the song on any subsequent album or b-side...it's just a great tune, and I KNOW he saw comments praising that song online when the bootlegs of it began circulating.