Lyric discussion by andyhoustoun 

In Purple Rain Prince is involved in an intense relationship (clearly shown by the way he sings it). The relationship has problems (“I never meant to cause you any sorrow, I never meant to cause you any pain”) but is intense. When he first met her he knew that he would fall in love with her but he persuaded himself that he just wanted to enjoy spending a bit of time with her (“I only wanted to one time to see you laughing”) and Purple Rain is the place where he sees them enjoying their time together (“Bathing in the purple rain”). It’s a beautiful place but it isn’t real. He doesn’t just want sex with her (“I never wanted to be your weekend lover”). He wants more. He tries to convince himself that he just “wanted to be some kind of friend” but deep down he always knew that he wanted more. She’s clearly in a relationship with someone else (“Baby, I could never steal you from another”) and he’s already tried to finish it for that reason (“It's such a shame our friendship had to end”). In the end he lets his heart rule his head (“Honey, I know, I know, I know times are changing and it's time we all reach out for something new, that means you too. You say you want a leader but you can't seem to make up your mind. I think you better close it and let me guide you to the purple rain” (the place which is in his mind, a beautiful place, where they can be together but which he knows deep down isn’t real). Great song.

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