I only wanted to one time to see you laughing/
I only wanted to see you/
Laughing in the purple rain.

Perhaps the “Purple Rain” is some sort of apocalyptical rain at the end of times. So, when Prince says he wants to see his love laughing in the “Purple Rain” he is wishing that his love with her would have lasted forever. But the love didn’t last—so he tells us in the song. Other than that, he is vague on the origin of the phrase.

We do know that the relationship did not work out the way he wanted. She treated him like a “weekend lover”, when he was looking for more. He hints that she might have been seeing other people. Prince wants all of her.

The music in “Purple Rain” is superb. Prince’s songs are always produced super tight. They never sound like they were made in one take. There is a lot of instruments, and experimentation involved and a lot of precision demanded. The first half of the song is fairly simple, but then the rest of the band comes in along with a choir and symphony and that is when you hear the complexity of the album.

As always, Prince’s voice sounds solid, and he is experimental with his voice and vocals. He will squeeze way too many words into one line in a way that only works for him and give off a few weird sounds as he ad-libs. The outro is special. The guitar solo coupled with Prince ad-libbing over “Purple Rain” makes the song.

More Prince.

Purple Rain Lyrics

I never meant to cause you any sorrow,
I never meant to cause you any pain.
I only wanted to one time to see you laughing.
I only wanted to see you
Laughing in the purple rain.

Purple rain, purple rain,
Purple rain, purple rain.
Purple rain, purple rain,
I only wanted to see you
Bathing in the purple rain.

I never wanted to be your weekend lover.
I only wanted to be some kind of friend.
Baby, I could never steal you from another,
It’s such a shame our friendship had to end.

Purple rain, purple rain,
Purple rain, purple rain.
Purple rain, purple rain,
I only wanted to see you
Underneath the purple rain.

Honey, I know, I know
I know times are changing.
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.

Purple rain, purple rain,
Purple rain, purple rain.
If you know what I’m singing about up here
C’mon, raise your hand.

Purple rain, purple rain,
I only want to see you,
Only want to see you
In the purple rain.

written by Prince