In 2002… Read Full Bio ↴Anna Stesia is the fourth track on Prince's tenth album Lovesexy
In 2002, a live version was included as the seventeenth and final track on the second disc of Prince's first live release One Nite Alone... Live! (along with When You Were Mine, from the same show).
While specific recording dates are not known, initial tracking took place in December 1987 or January 1988, at Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, MN, USA during final sessions for the Lovesexy album.
The song was played at the end of the first half of each Lovesexy Tour show, acting as a response to and rebirth from the darker music of the show, before an intermission preceded the more positive material in the second half.
Anna Stesia
Prince Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That you felt like you were the
Only one in this world?
Have you ever wanted to play
With someone so much you'd take
Any one boy or girl?
Talk to me, ravish me
Liberate my mind
Tell me what you think of me
Praise me, craze me
Out this space and time
Between white and black, night and day
Black night seemed like the only way
So I danced
Music late, nothing great (Music late, nothing great)
No way to differentiate (No way to differentiate)
I took a chance
Gregory looks just like a ghost
And then a beautiful girl the most
Wets her lips to say
"We could live for a little while
If you could just learn to smile
You and I could fly away, fly away"
Anna Stesia come to me
Talk to me, ravish me
Liberate my mind
Tell me what you think of me
Praise me, craze me
Out this space and time
Maybe, maybe, maybe I could learn to love
I mean the right way, I mean the only way
Perhaps you could show me, baby (show me, baby)
Anna Stesia come to me
Talk to me, ravish me
Liberate my mind
Maybe, maybe, maybe I could learn to love
If I was just closer to somethin' (closer)
Closer to your higher self
I don't know
Closer to heaven (Maybe) closer to God (closer to God)
Save me Jesus, I've been a fool
How could I forget that you are the rule
You are my God, I am Your child
From now on, for you I shall be wild
I shall be quick I shall be strong
I'll tell Your story, no matter how long (no matter how, no matter)
We're just a play in Your master plan
Now, my Lord I understand
(I understand)
Love is God, God is love, girls and boys love God above
The lyrics of Prince's song Anna Stesia are about loneliness and the search for something or someone to fill that emptiness. The song begins with the singer questioning whether anyone has ever felt so alone that they believed they were the sole inhabitant of the world. The following lines express the desire for companionship, even with someone who may not be the ideal match.
The refrain of the song is a call to Anna Stesia, who is likely a personification of the idea of the perfect partner or muse. The singer asks for her to "ravish" and "liberate" his mind, and to tell him what she thinks of him. These lines suggest that the singer seeks validation and inspiration from Anna Stesia.
The song's tone changes with the lines "Save me Jesus, I've been a fool/ How could I forget that you are the rule." Here, the singer juxtaposes their search for love and validation with the idea of placing God as the ultimate guide. The final line of the song, "Love is God, God is love, girls and boys love God above," reconciles these seemingly disparate themes, suggesting that one can find meaning and fulfillment in both earthly and divine love.
Line by Line Meaning
Have you ever been so lonely
That you felt like you were the
Only one in this world?
Have you ever felt so alone that you believed that you were the only person inhabiting this world?
Have you ever wanted to play
With someone so much you'd take
Any one boy or girl?
Have you ever wanted to play with someone so badly that you would take anyone - regardless of their gender?
Anna Stesia come to me
Talk to me, ravish me
Liberate my mind
Tell me what you think of me
Praise me, craze me
Out this space and time
The singer calls upon Anna Stesia to come and free him from the constraints of his own mind. He seeks for her to tell him what she thinks of him and drive him to the brink of madness.
Between white and black, night and day
Black night seemed like the only way
So I danced
The artist refers to the two opposite extremes, white and black, night and day, and claims that black, or darkness, appeared to be the only option. However, he danced anyway.
Music late, nothing great (Music late, nothing great)
No way to differentiate (No way to differentiate)
I took a chance
The music wasn't anything special, and there was no way to tell good from bad, but the artist took a chance regardless.
Gregory looks just like a ghost
And then a beautiful girl the most
Wets her lips to say
"We could live for a little while
If you could just learn to smile
You and I could fly away, fly away"
Gregory, who resembles a ghost, is joined by a stunning girl who urges the singer to smile and escape with her, even if only for a short time.
Maybe, maybe, maybe I could learn to love
I mean the right way, I mean the only way
Perhaps you could show me, baby (show me, baby)
The singer envisions a possibility of learning to love properly, and asks for Anna Stesia's help.
Save me Jesus, I've been a fool
How could I forget that you are the rule
You are my God, I am Your child
From now on, for you I shall be wild
I shall be quick I shall be strong
I'll tell Your story, no matter how long (no matter how, no matter)
The artist cries out to Jesus, admitting to his foolishness and remembering that Jesus is the one who holds the power. He declares himself as God's child and vows to be wild, quick, and strong. He declares that he will testify about Jesus no matter how long it takes.
We're just a play in Your master plan
Now, my Lord I understand
(I understand)
The artist realizes that he and everyone else is a part of God's master plan and comes to an understanding of this.
Love is God, God is love, girls and boys love God above
The artist asserts that love is God, and vice versa, and that both girls and boys love God.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Prince Rogers Nelson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@DrSimpleBeauty
Save me Jesus I’ve been a fool
How could I forget that you are the rule
You are my God
I am your child
From now on for you I shall be wild
I shall be quick
I shall be strong
I’ll tell the story
No matter how long
@candygirl6193
Who in their right mind would thumbs down this gem? Some of his best work. RIP Purple One👍🏾🤷🏾♀️
@andremosley9358
There is always a 🤡 in Cognito!!!! They really like it…actually love it!!!!!!
@aadams3100
My parents named me after this song. Such a classic.
@Cindee-Schnitman
Anastasia Adams that is EPIC!!! 💟💟 you’re parents are dope as hell. 🤙🏻
@aateriovalhalla2787
Anastasia Adams How beautiful 🦄
@krysss.m2549
ma fille aussi
@jamminj8822
Awesome. We are playing this right now for our daughter, Anastasia! My oldest son's name is Prince.
@rinse-esnir4010
But the song is called Anna Stesia
@MusicAndTheScience
One of my favorites of his. So much soul and funk and it makes my heart ache. After thousands of hearings it never gets old. How does one create such a powerful arrangement of voices and instruments? It seems impossible. This man was touched by God.
@kamrynnichole8869
He truly was