Prince: My First Social Consciosness

The magical joy of getting an album putting it on the record player and listening to new music over and over again while staring at the album cover. While the music is playing, the soul of the artist seeps in and the lyrics play like a movie. The scenery is set and there is bated breath waiting for the crescendo and denouement.

Music is influential and in my case, it helped shape a career.

In France, a skinny man died of a BIG disease with a little name. By chance his girlfriend came across a needle and soon she did the same.  At home there are 17-year-old boys and their idea of fun Is being in a gang called The Disciples High on crack and totin’ a machine gun

Hurricane Annie ripped the ceiling of a church and killed everyone inside
U turn on the telly and every other story is tellin’ U somebody died A sister killed her baby cuz she couldn’t afford 2 feed it And yet we’re sending people 2 the moon In September, my cousin tried reefer 4 the very first time Now he’s doing horse – it’s June

It’s silly, no? When a rocket ship explodes and everybody still wants 2 fly But some say a man ain’t happy unless a man truly dies Oh why?

Baby make a speech, Star Wars fly Neighbors just shine it on But if a night falls and a bomb falls Will anybody see The Dawn?

Prince Sign of the Times © 1987 Paisley Park Records

 

Is he black or white is he straight or gay?

Mommy, why does everybody have a bomb?

Money don’t matter tonight. It sure didn’t matter yesterday. Just when you think you’ve got more that enough, that’s when it all flies away.

In France a man died of big disease with a little name?

The beautiful ones, they hurt you everytime.

Paint a perfect picture
Bring 2 life a vision in one’s mind
The
beautiful ones always smash the picture
Always, every time

Honey, I know, I know, I know times are changin’
It’s time we all reach out
4 something new, that means U 2
U say U want a leader, but U can’t seem 2 make up your mind
I think U better close it and let me guide U 2 the purple
rain

How could U just leave me standing Alone in a world so cold? (World so cold) Maybe I’m just 2 demanding Maybe I’m just like my father – 2 bold
Maybe U’re just like my mother She’s never satisfied (She’s never satisfied) Why do we scream at each other? This is what it sounds like when doves cry

He used 2 say so strong unafraid 2 die Unafraid of the death that left me hypnotized No, staring at his picture I realized No one could cry the way my Tracy cried

Sometimes it snows in April Sometimes I feel so bad Sometimes, sometimes I wish that life was never ending And all good things, they say, never last

Money don’t matter 2night It sure didn’t matter yesterday Just when U think U’ve got more than enough That’s when it all up and flies away
That’s when U find out that U’re better off Makin’ sure your soul’s alright Cuz money didn’t matter yesterday And it sure don’t matter 2night

Black day, stormy night No love, no hope in sight Don’t cry, He is coming Don’t die without knowing the Cross

Ghettos 2 the left of us Flowers 2 the right There’ll be bread 4 all of us If we can just bear the Cross

So what is the answer 2 the question of U? What do I look 4? What shall I do? Which way do I turn when I’m feeling lost? If I sell my soul, now what will it cost? Must I become naked – no image at all? Shall I remain upright or get down and crawl? All of the questions in my life will be answered When I decide which road 2 choose What is the answer 2 the question of U?