I still have a couple of real questions about this song. This is the first mention lyrically (long before Prince considered it) of "purple rain." What is purple rain?? Then, my second question is what the heck does he mean by "alligator lizards in the air"????
@beachdoc Bunnell explained that alligator lizards in the air were shapes made by passing clouds on a sunny day when he was a kid. But I always assumed that being struck by "purple rain" meant that he had hit some good acid and was literally "tripping" while waiting for a metaphorical "early train". That's the kind of thing that can run through your mind while on L.S.D. It also explains why he may have been having a conversation with himself. One part of him wanting to run away from his current situation..."Aw, come on Joe, you...
@beachdoc Bunnell explained that alligator lizards in the air were shapes made by passing clouds on a sunny day when he was a kid. But I always assumed that being struck by "purple rain" meant that he had hit some good acid and was literally "tripping" while waiting for a metaphorical "early train". That's the kind of thing that can run through your mind while on L.S.D. It also explains why he may have been having a conversation with himself. One part of him wanting to run away from his current situation..."Aw, come on Joe, you can always change your name." But the other more rational part of his mind says that's not really what he wants to do, "Thanks a lot son, just the same." Back in those days various batches of L.S.D. were often given distinct names like "Orange Doubledomes", or "Owsleys", or whatever. I never heard of "Purple Rain" myself, but it sure sounds like a nick name for acid to me, and that's what I've always thought when I hear that lyric.
@beachdoc He is tripping on LSD; my husband says that is what they call sewing needles out there, so perhaps it is both the acid and the flying bugs in the air! Also, purple rain is the name of LSD, I will bet. We used to call it Purple MicroDot back in the early '70s. Hope this helps.
@beachdoc He is tripping on LSD; my husband says that is what they call sewing needles out there, so perhaps it is both the acid and the flying bugs in the air! Also, purple rain is the name of LSD, I will bet. We used to call it Purple MicroDot back in the early '70s. Hope this helps.
I still have a couple of real questions about this song. This is the first mention lyrically (long before Prince considered it) of "purple rain." What is purple rain?? Then, my second question is what the heck does he mean by "alligator lizards in the air"????
@beachdoc he means clouds (shaped like alligators or lizards)
@beachdoc he means clouds (shaped like alligators or lizards)
@beachdoc Bunnell explained that alligator lizards in the air were shapes made by passing clouds on a sunny day when he was a kid. But I always assumed that being struck by "purple rain" meant that he had hit some good acid and was literally "tripping" while waiting for a metaphorical "early train". That's the kind of thing that can run through your mind while on L.S.D. It also explains why he may have been having a conversation with himself. One part of him wanting to run away from his current situation..."Aw, come on Joe, you...
@beachdoc Bunnell explained that alligator lizards in the air were shapes made by passing clouds on a sunny day when he was a kid. But I always assumed that being struck by "purple rain" meant that he had hit some good acid and was literally "tripping" while waiting for a metaphorical "early train". That's the kind of thing that can run through your mind while on L.S.D. It also explains why he may have been having a conversation with himself. One part of him wanting to run away from his current situation..."Aw, come on Joe, you can always change your name." But the other more rational part of his mind says that's not really what he wants to do, "Thanks a lot son, just the same." Back in those days various batches of L.S.D. were often given distinct names like "Orange Doubledomes", or "Owsleys", or whatever. I never heard of "Purple Rain" myself, but it sure sounds like a nick name for acid to me, and that's what I've always thought when I hear that lyric.
@beachdoc He is tripping on LSD; my husband says that is what they call sewing needles out there, so perhaps it is both the acid and the flying bugs in the air! Also, purple rain is the name of LSD, I will bet. We used to call it Purple MicroDot back in the early '70s. Hope this helps.
@beachdoc He is tripping on LSD; my husband says that is what they call sewing needles out there, so perhaps it is both the acid and the flying bugs in the air! Also, purple rain is the name of LSD, I will bet. We used to call it Purple MicroDot back in the early '70s. Hope this helps.