The song tells the story of a "sex fiend" named Nikki who seduces the singer. In the film Purple Rain, the song is directed toward Apollonia Kotero's character when she decides to work with Prince's character's rival, played by Morris Day.
Near the end of the song, the music changes. There is singing, but played in reverse. The vocals, unreversed, are Prince singing,
"Hello, how are you?
I'm fine 'cause I know that the Lord is coming soon
Coming, coming soon."
During the Purple Rain tour performances of "Darling Nikki", the recording at the end was played forward. This can be heard in the live video Prince and the Revolution Live.
A circulating outtake of "Darling Nikki" contains an instrumental subdued section in the middle of keyboard onslaught at the end of the song. Also, it does not have the backmasking segment tacked on to the end, instead Prince performs an extended hard guitar solo devoid of any other instruments.
The song has been covered by many artists.
Darling Nikki
Prince Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
She took me to her castle
She had so many devices
Everything that money could buy
She said, "Sign your name on the dotted line"
The lights went out
And Nikki started to grind
Uh, Nikki
The castle started spinning
Or maybe it was my brain
I can't tell you what she did to me
But my body will never be the same
Oh, her lovin' will kick your behind
Oh, she'll show you no mercy
But she'll sho'nuff, sho'nuff show you how to grind
Darlin' Nikki, oh
Woke up the next morning
Nikki wasn't there
I looked all over and all I found
Was a phone number on the stairs
It said, "Thank you for a funky time
Call me up whenever you want to grind"
Oh, Nikki, oh, oh
Oh, come back Nikki, come back
Your dirty little prince
Wanna grind, grind, grind, grind, grind, grind, grind, grind, grind
Noos gnimoc, gnimoc, noos gnimoc si droL eht tahT
Wonk I esuac' enif m'I ?Uoy era woh, olleH
The song "Darling Nikki" by Prince & The Revolution is a sexually charged track that tells the story of the singer's encounter with a woman named Nikki. The lyrics describe how he met her in a hotel lobby while she was masturbating with a magazine. Nikki seduces the singer, taking him to her castle where she reveals a collection of sexual devices and asks him to sign a contract before engaging in sexual acts with him. The singer notes that the encounter was so intense that his body would never be the same again.
Prince uses vivid imagery to describe the atmosphere of the song, with a castle spinning under dimmed lights, which could be symbolic of the singer's loss of control under Nikki's spell. The song's lyrics and subject matter were quite controversial at the time of its release, eliciting responses from critics and parents' groups who called for it to be banned due to its explicit nature.
Overall, "Darling Nikki" serves as a good example of Prince's ability to blur the boundaries between art and obscenity with its graphic depictions of sex and hedonism.
Line by Line Meaning
I knew a girl named Nikki
I was acquainted with a girl named Nikki
I guess you could say she was a sex fiend
She had an insatiable appetite for sexual activity
I met her in a hotel lobby
I encountered her in a hotel reception area
Masturbating with a magazine
Engaging in self-stimulation while viewing a periodical
She said, "How'd you like to waste some time?"
She inquired if I would enjoy engaging in a recreational activity with her
And I could not resist when I saw little Nikki grind
I was unable to resist after observing Nikki's suggestive dance movements
She took me to her castle
She brought me to her residence
And I just couldn't believe my eyes
I was incredulous at what I was seeing
She had so many devices
She possessed an extensive collection of equipment
Everything that money could buy
Absolutely everything available for purchase
She said, "Sign your name on the dotted line"
She requested that I provide my signature on a legal document
The lights went out
The illumination ceased
And Nikki started to grind
Nikki began to perform an erotic dance move
Uh, Nikki
Expressing admiration or arousal towards Nikki
The castle started spinning
The building began to rotate
Or maybe it was my brain
Perhaps it was my perception or cognition
I can't tell you what she did to me
I am unable to articulate the nature of her actions
But my body will never be the same
My physical state has been significantly altered
Oh, her lovin' will kick your behind
Her sexual affection is forceful and intense
Oh, she'll show you no mercy
She is unforgiving in her approach
But she'll sho'nuff, sho'nuff show you how to grind
However, she will undoubtedly demonstrate to you how to properly execute suggestive dance moves
Woke up the next morning
Awoke the following day
Nikki wasn't there
Nikki was not present
I looked all over and all I found
I searched extensively and located solely
Was a phone number on the stairs
A piece of contact information was situated on the steps
It said, "Thank you for a funky time
The message conveyed appreciation for the enjoyable experience
Call me up whenever you want to grind"
Contact me at your convenience if you desire to engage in further suggestive dance activities
Oh, Nikki, oh, oh
Vocalizing longing for Nikki
Oh, come back Nikki, come back
Imploring Nikki to return
Your dirty little prince
One's salacious or licentious partner
Wanna grind, grind, grind, grind, grind, grind, grind, grind, grind
Desiring to execute suggestive dance moves with fervor
Noos gnimoc, gnimoc, noos gnimoc si droL eht tahT
Reverse speech message that says, "That's the Lord's prayer, backwards, it's demonic, demonic."
Wonk I esuac' enif m'I ?Uoy era woh, olleH
Reverse speech message that says, "Hello, who are you? I'm fine, cause I knew it now."
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Prince Rogers Nelson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind