What is the first line of the chorus in Illusion, Coma, Pimp & Circumstance? It's driving me nuts!

Well back in the 90s I would've sworm one of those words was "Fuck." But because the chances of that are zero, I'm as puzzled as you!

avah12 said:

LOL I know. That sounds like the only intelligible word in that line but I keep telling myself that can't possibly be it. ...but it sounds like "something something something fuck to something'

jtfolden said:

"She knew which fork 2 use, but she couldn't dance"

Am I reading too much into ICP&C or is it an allegory for Prince's relationship with the music industry over time?

Illusion - the illusion created by the music industry at the start of his career, promises of great things etc...

Coma - the state Prince now feels he was in for a period of time, just riding the crest of a wave and not recognising the loss of his "masters"

Pimp - the realisation that the record companies were basicially pimping his art in the ways that they wanted

Circumstance - a kind of "look at me now" / "who would have thought it" - back in the industry yet retaining independence.

???

I dont have the CD to hand for now but I'm sure you could infer this meaning into some of the lyrics.

What do you all think?

MattUK said:

Haven't studiet the lyrics at all, but i like your theory!
Anyway, the song is HOT.

JulesWindu said:

Yeah, that's it!

Sounds like he was pulling tha funky face when he sang that first line.

One of the things you would expect from the NPG website is lyrics to all his songs. I know you can get them from other fan-sites, but really...

Along with every album/video/single/12inch for sale in the retail section. Hell, even if Warner's get most of the profit, he'd still get a share.

And some decent quality photos - he doesn't like other sites using his image without permission, and yet he doesn't offer it himself!

And a decent biography wouldn't hurt.

She new which foiausfn to use but she couldnt dance. fasuoinf fnbauusbfb sdsuyg g.

i THINK thats how it goes

MattUK said:

When I first actually listened to th elyrics that was my immediate assumption as well....I think given that context the lyrics are great and mean more to me.

I don't think it has anything to do with Warner Bros. I don't understand why every other song is about his old record deal. That fool has got a lot of other shit going on in his life. It's about a rich old woman who uses a youg hip dude for street credit and knowledge, while the youg hip dud uses her for money. Sort of a symbiotic relationship if you will. Why does that simple funny story have to get translated into all of these double meanings. jeesh.


oh yeah...and MR Man isn't about the gov't at all...it's actually about Warner Bros. And If I was the man in your Life is actually about what he would do if he was the record company, how he would run it. Reflection is actually about him being the head of Warner Bros. and giving himself back all of his masters.
[This message was edited Wed Mar 31 7:51:36 2004 by BobGeorge999]

this song totally brings to mind the scene in Under the Cherry Moon when that older lady flashes on the screen in Christopher's daydream - she's saying "chris-toe-fer, chris-toe-fer, when will i see you again" or something like that . . . remember her? he was repulsed that he went that far for the $$ . . . kinda like the lady in ICPC.

I Got:
"She was fun to use, but she couldn't dance. So he hipped her to the funk in exchange for the finace. Who's pimpin who? Nobody gets a second change. This is the story of Illusion, Coma, Pimp and Circumstance."

that's what I get. It could be "Sure was fun to use"

This song reminds me of Digital Underground...go figure.

BobGeorge999 said:

Sounds like a Demi/Ashton scenario.

JulesWindu said:

That's it! Much thanks!