Day 90: “Sign O’ The Times” – Prince

!!!ITALIANO!!!

Prince is one of those artists that there would be too much to say about. Only considering his musical production, he released 35 studio albums between 1978 and 2010 (and I am not sure I counted right) and almost all the tracks were composed and arranged by himself. Not bad considering that he is also a producer, an actor, a diretctor and screenwriter.

Among Prince’s most beautiful records we have Sign O’ The Times, which is also written Sign “☮” the Times, published in 1987. It starts with today’s song, which is built up on an electronic drums and bass background. In this live version the guitar is much more distorted than it is in the studio version, where it is more funky. I personally love its lyrics as well.

Lyrics

Oh yeah
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 seventeen-year-old boys
And their idea of fun
Is being in a gang called the disciples
High on crack, totin a machine gun

Time, time

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
Sister killed her baby cuz she could afford 2 feed it
And were sending people 2 the moon
In september my cousin tried reefer 4 the very first time
Now he’s doing horse, it’s june

Times, times

Its silly, no?
When a rocket ship explodes
And everybody still wants 2 fly
Some say a man aint happy
Unless a man truly dies
Oh why
Time, time

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
Time, times

Its silly, no?
When a rocket blows
And everybody still wants 2 fly
Some say a man aint happy, truly
Until a man truly dies
Oh why, oh why, sign o the times

Time, time

Sign o the times mess with your mind
Hurry before it’s 2 late
Lets fall in love, get married, have a baby
Well call him nate… if it’s a boy

Time, time