01 Sign O
Prince Lyrics


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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 and totin' a machine gun

Time
Times

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

Overall Meaning

Prince's "Sign O The Times" is a deeply insightful commentary about the state of the world in the late 1980s. The lyrics speak to the harsh realities of life, from the devastating impact of drug addiction to the constant barrage of tragic news on television. The opening lines of the song detail the death of a man from a drug-related disease, followed by the death of his girlfriend from the same cause. The lyrics go on to describe how the youth of the world are getting caught up in dangerous activities, such as gang violence fueled by drugs.


The second verse of the song takes a broader look at the state of the world, with a focus on how tragic events are constantly happening all around us. It speaks about the senseless violence that plagues society, as well as the inherent contradiction of spending money to send people to space while people on earth are suffering. The lyrics also touch on the pervasive addiction issues that are rampant in society, with one line describing how a woman kills her own baby because she can't afford to feed it.


Line by Line Meaning

In France, a skinny man died of a big disease with a little name
A man died of a disease that may not sound serious but can be fatal.


By chance his girlfriend came across a needle and soon she did the same
The man's girlfriend also died of drug overdose, without any intention.


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
Young boys are getting involved in dangerous and illegal activities just for the sake of entertainment.


Hurricane Annie ripped the ceiling of a church and killed everyone inside
The destructive natural disasters are capable of causing massive casualties within seconds.


You turn on the telly and every other story is tellin' you somebody died
The media covers everything that is irrelevant to people's lives and can be depressing.


A sister killed her baby 'cause she couldn't afford to feed it, and yet we're sending people to the moon
While we are making progress in space exploration, we still have major problems to solve on our own planet, like poverty.


In September, my cousin tried reefer for the very first time, now he's doing horse, it's June, unh
Drug abuse can start with minor drugs and can rapidly escalate to severe ones.


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?
Some people believe that achieving impossible goals is necessary for happiness, while others question the cost involved to achieve them.


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?
People often ignore important issues and prefer to focus on distractions, but the reality of the world is harsh and unpredictable.


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
The world is changing rapidly, and it's important to take action before it's too late, including focusing on things that really matter, like love and family.


Times
Time is a central theme in the song, as it is constantly changing and can be cruel.


Time
Time is mentioned again, emphasizing its critical importance in our lives.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PRINCE ROGERS NELSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@robjones2408

Prince at his most sublime.
The influence of that other talented Gemini, Curtis Mayfield is
evident. At their very best, they were unbeatable.


My one major regret is that I never got to see him play live.


May they rest in peace.



@davidkunst8598

Today,
Mankind is in need.

In dear need indeed,
Like never before!

To me,
Our Purple Poet Prince,
Has put this down in words formidably.

And while listening to his song,
A purple raindrop suddenly poured down my window.


It felt like a sign,

a Sign Of The Times!



All comments from YouTube:

@jessicawilliams1176

I love everything about this song, his voice and the lyrics. Today 7 years ago, we lost one of the most talented and creative singers, dancers, producers, and performers of all time. We love you forever, Prince, and your legacy lives on forever! 👑❤️💜💜🕊️4/21/2023

@gentlehorst

Sandra Bullock was asked which song at Colbert.
She answered anything of Prince. If so my answer would have been this song. Everything in it.

@enricovankeeken1624

@@gentlehorst `he died of h0rse ~~ Isn´t that #ironic 🤣😈´

@StreetnastyEntertainment

💯🙏💜🫡💫

@lizzysimner7715

This is a genius record

@anaisan009

miss him more😢

@leemcbride9273

It's 2021 and this song still resonates. Prince was a genius.

@johnleon2594

GEMINI GENIUS ♊🎹🎸🎶🎵🎼🎤💯♊

@terryjackson5727

Yep

@antonygray6672

Its sign of the Times man! Rock on 🤟

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