Sign Of The Times
- Prince Lyrics
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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 and totin' a machine gun
Time
Hurricane Annie ripped the ceiling of a church and killed everyone inside
You turn on the telly and every other story is tellin' you somebody died
A sister killed her baby 'cause she couldn't afford to feed it
And yet we're sending people to the moon
In September, my cousin tried reefer for the very first time
Now he's doing horse, it's June, unh
Times
Times
It's silly, no?
When a rocket ship explodes and everybody still wants to fly
But some say a man ain't 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, mm
Times
Is it silly, no?
When a rocket blows and, and everybody still wants to fly
Some say man ain't happy truly until a man truly dies
Oh why, oh why?
Sign o' the times, unh
Time
Time
Sign o' the times mess with your mind
Hurry before it's too late
Let's fall in love, get married, have a baby
We'll call him Nate
If it's a boy
Time
Times
"Sign of the Times" by Prince is a song that offers a thought-provoking commentary on the sociopolitical and cultural climate of the 1980s. The song opens with vivid imagery of a "skinny man" who died of a "big disease with a little name." It is later revealed that he and his girlfriend died of drug addiction, a powerful allegory for the drug epidemic that was sweeping America at the time. Prince paints a picture of a society that is rife with violence and despair, as the song continues to describe the gang violence and drug abuse that existed in America's inner cities.
The song also touches on the ways in which technology and space exploration have distracted us from the problems that exist here on Earth. Prince sings about sending people to the moon, while there are teenagers in gangs high on crack and toting around machine guns. The juxtaposition of these two images highlights the irony of society's priorities. The chorus of the song emphasizes the importance of recognizing the signs of the times and taking action to address these pressing issues.
Overall, "Sign of the Times" is a powerful and poignant song that offers a sobering commentary on the state of society in the 1980s, while also providing a call to action to recognize and address these issues before it's too late.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh yeah!
An expression of excitement or enthusiasm
In France, a skinny man died of a big disease with a little name
Refers to the AIDS epidemic and how a deadly disease can come in a small package
By chance his girlfriend came across a needle and soon she did the same
Describes how the use of drugs can quickly lead to addiction and death
At home there are seventeen-year-old boys and their idea of fun
Highlights the problem of youth delinquency and gang violence
Is being in a gang called 'The Disciples'
A specific example of the dangerous gangs youth tend to join
High on crack and totin' a machine gun
Describes the weapons and drugs that gang members are often associated with
Hurricane Annie ripped the ceiling of a church and killed everyone inside
A reference to the devastating effects of natural disasters
You turn on the telly and every other story is tellin' you somebody died
A commentary on how the media often focuses on reporting negative news that can be overwhelming
A sister killed her baby 'cause she couldn't afford to feed it
The socioeconomic struggles people face that can lead to tragic consequences
And yet we're sending people to the moon
Questioning priorities as a society and how we allocate our resources
In September, my cousin tried reefer for the very first time
A specific experience of drug experimentation among young people
Now he's doing horse, it's June, unh
Shows how quickly drug use can escalate and become a serious problem
It's silly, no?
Rhetorically asking if something is ridiculous or absurd
When a rocket ship explodes and everybody still wants to fly
A metaphor for how people tend to ignore the risks and consequences of their actions
But some say a man ain't happy unless a man truly dies
A commentary on the unhealthy pursuit of pleasure and how it can lead to self-destruction
Oh why?
Expressing confusion and frustration about societal issues
Baby make a speech, Star Wars fly
A nonsensical line that could possibly allude to the unrealistic expectations we have for technology and entertainment
Neighbors just shine it on
A commentary on how people tend to ignore the problems around them and not take action
But if a night falls and a bomb falls
Highlighting the constant threat of war and violence
Will anybody see the dawn?
Questioning if humanity will survive the destructive path we're on
Sign o' the times mess with your mind
An acknowledgment of how overwhelming and confusing the world can be
Hurry before it's too late
Urging people to take action before it's too late to make a difference
Let's fall in love, get married, have a baby
An optimistic sentiment amidst troubling times
We'll call him Nate
A specific example of hope for the future and starting a family in a time of chaos
If it's a boy
Planning ahead for a positive future
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Prince Rogers Nelson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind