3 of the Best Opening Lines in Prince Songs

Prince was a showman. The complete package. Not only could he sing but he could dance, play the guitar, and wow. He also played dozens of instruments and would sequester himself in a studio for hours or days on end until he got the perfect moment on a track. But amongst all this genius and all these moving parts was the fact that Prince was a damn good lyricist, too.

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Here below, we wanted to explore three example of that. A trio of tracks that boast brilliant opening lines. Indeed, these are three of the best opening lines found in Prince songs.

[RELATED: Behind the Meaning of “Purple Rain” by Prince]

“Let’s Go Crazy” from Purple Rain (1984)

The opening song on Prince’s iconic breakout LP Purple Rain, this song sets the stage for not only an epic record but for a way to think about life itself. Prince speaks to us before he sings. He reminds us why we’re here, together, and what we have to do to stay sane. What it takes, ironically, is to go a little crazy. Do it before it does you. That’s the way through this maze of a game of life. Indeed, Prince offers,

Dearly beloved
We are gathered here today
To get through this thing called life

Electric word life
It means forever and that’s a mighty long time
But I’m here to tell you
There’s something else
The afterworld

“Darling Nikki” from Purple Rain (1984)

Want to write a song that catches people’s ears? Well, if you really do, then take a few notes from Prince, who is as eye- and ear-catching as perhaps there ever was. Case in point, this sexual song from Purple Rain. Not only are the lyrics provocative, but the music video (and scene from the movie based on the album) is impossible to look away from. But it all begins with the opening lyrics, which Prince sings,

I knew a girl named Nikki
I guess you could say she was a sex fiend
I met her in a hotel lobby
Masturbating with a magazine
She said, “How’d you like to waste some time?”
And I could not resist when I saw little Nikki grind

“I Would Die 4 U” from Purple Rain (1984)

Another from the iconic Purple Rain, this song shows Prince explaining his capacity for devotion. He’s barely human, he tells us. He’s something else that we’ve never seen before. He’s special, capable of so much. And yet, he would still put your life over his. He would, dear love, die for you. He sings,

I’m not a woman, I’m not a man
I am something that you’ll never understand
I’ll never beat you, I’ll never lie
And if you’re evil, I’ll forgive you by and by ’cause

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