Miss Understood is an unreleased song by The Family recorded in September, … Read Full Bio ↴Miss Understood is an unreleased song by The Family recorded in September, 1984, at Flying Cloud Drive Warehouse, and was intended for The Family album. Susannah Melvoin, who sang lead vocals on the track, didn't like the track, which was a cheery pop song unlike other tracks by The Family, and argued with Prince to not include it on the album. According to engineer Susan Rogers, Prince defended the track and even threatened to find someone else to sing in the band instead of Susannah Melvoin, but ultimately the track was not included on the final album.

Miss Understood
Prince Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Isn't there a man who understands me?

He picked me up at midnight (Oh)
When all the town was fast asleep
We danced 4 the man in the moon above
Understanding's cheap when U fall in love, fall in love

Just call me Miss Understood
I'm just a girl who wants true love like anyone would
I'm Miss Understood
Isn't there a man who understands me?

I want a lover that can satisfy the hunger of my lonely heart
Gotta have a lover with a PhD in undercover art

Now that I'm a woman
I'm always looking 4 romance (Romance)
I'm always looking 4 the perfect man
Who'd take me in his arms and understand, understand me

Just call me Miss Understood
I'm just a girl who wants true love like anyone would
I'm Miss Understood
Isn't there a man who understands...

Miss Understood
I'm just a girl who wants true love like anyone would
I'm Miss Understood
Isn't there a man who understands...

Miss (Miss, Miss) Understood

I'm just a girl who wants true love like anyone would
I'm Miss Understood

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Miss Understood" by Prince reflect the feelings of a woman who is longing for true love and understanding. The song is an exploration of the troubles that many women face when searching for love and companionship.

The main character of the song is a woman who is always dreaming of romance and looking for the perfect man who will understand her. She calls herself "Miss Understood" because she feels that she is not being heard or understood by the men she meets. She longs for someone who will pick her up at night and dance with her under the moon. The lyrics reflect the loneliness and desperation that can come with looking for love, as well as the need for intimacy and connection that many people crave.

Despite her longing for love, the woman in the song is also confident and empowered. She knows what she wants and is not afraid to ask for it. She describes the kind of lover she is searching for as someone who can satisfy the hunger of her lonely heart and who has a "PhD in undercover art." These lyrics suggest that she is looking for someone who can be both emotionally and physically intimate with her.

Overall, "Miss Understood" is a powerful exploration of the struggles and desires of women who are searching for love and understanding. The lyrics are honest and raw, expressing the deep longings and vulnerabilities that many people feel when looking for companionship.

Line by Line Meaning

Now that I'm a woman
As a woman, I imagine and yearn for the idea of having a romantic relationship.

I'm always dreaming of romance
I frequently daydream about the possibility of being in a romantic relationship.

I'm always dreaming about the perfect man
In my visions, I imagine and long for a flawless individual to be in a romantic relationship with.

Who'd take me in his arms and understand, understand me
I hope to find someone who will embrace me and be empathetic towards me.

My name is Miss Understood
I feel as though no one understands me.

I'm just a girl who wants true love like anyone would
I'm a girl who desires a genuine romantic relationship, something that most individuals crave.

Isn't there a man who understands me?
I'm wondering if I'll ever encounter an individual who can truly relate to me.

He picked me up at midnight (Oh)
He gathered me in the middle of the night (Oh)

When all the town was fast asleep
When everybody else in the town was asleep.

We danced 4 the man in the moon above
We moved our bodies to music in the presence of the moon above us.

Understanding's cheap when U fall in love, fall in love
It's easy to understand someone when you're in love with them, and it comes naturally.

I want a lover that can satisfy the hunger of my lonely heart
I desire a partner that can fulfill the longing of my spiritual emptiness.

Gotta have a lover with a PhD in undercover art
I must find a romantic partner that is extremely skilled and talented in the art of romance and seduction.

I'm always looking 4 romance (Romance)
I'm always searching for the possibility of having a romantic relationship.

Just call me Miss Understood
Please refer to me as Miss Understood.

Isn't there a man who understands...
Still, I'm wondering if there's a man out there who can truly comprehend and empathize with me.

Contributed by Anna F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

R. E.

3y↑7

Now that I'm a woman
I'm always dreaming of romance
I'm always dreaming about the perfect man
Who'd take me in his arms and understand, understand me

My name is Miss Understood
I'm just a girl who wants true love like anyone would
I'm Miss Understood
Isn't there a man who understands me?

He picked me up at midnight (Oh)
When all the town was fast asleep
We danced 4 the man in the moon above
Understanding's cheap when U fall in love, fall in love

Just call me Miss Understood
I'm just a girl who wants true love like anyone would
I'm Miss Understood
Isn't there a man who understands me?

I want a lover that can satisfy the hunger of my lonely heart
Gotta have a lover with a PhD in undercover art

Now that I'm a woman
I'm always looking 4 romance (Romance)
I'm always looking 4 the perfect man
Who'd take me in his arms and understand, understand me

All comments from YouTube:

Yvette Sanchez

5y↑13

This is excellent!! It sounds great!! It is cool & stylish!! Awesome musical backup!! She sang it perfectly!! Prince created a great piece here!! Prince was so masterful, such a genius!! Prince gave us so much!! Thank-you, Prince, for everything!! You made our lives so much better!! You are forever the rightful one & only true Master, our beloved, sweet Prince!! Thank-you so much for sharing!!

Godz Child

6y↑13

One of my favorite unreleased tracks ...takes u back 2 that 80's feel good era.#RIPPrince💜

Anita Kos

3y↑6

I’m forever a Prince fan! Missing him so much! 5 years this month, April 21, since he left us. I’m heartbroken still 💔❤️❤️💜💜💜💜💜💜💜❤️💋💋🌹🌹🌹

Lee Lee

6y↑9

I like it!!! Shoulda been on the album. 😍😍

GoddessAnjanee

7y↑20

I love this song. ♡

R. E.

3y↑7

Jeff S

5y↑19

Dope track. Another Prince classic with no true home...except all up in my ear hole! Hey ooo!

Duren!

5y↑9

Wonderful. He knew... I wonder if there's a recording of Prince singing it.

Helios

3y↑3

That's a certainty, he wrote it. Hearing his version would be a dream.

Isaiah Tolbert

45w

Prince saw this as great potential for summer pop radio. Could have hit the Billboard Hot 100 somewhere.

uwg2003

8y↑28

WOW....I can't believe this is the first time I am hearing this...and I have an EXTENSIVE unreleased collection. Great post.

Emcee Moniker

7y↑3

im after those reference vocals for the time albums

Erroll Palmer

You? I'm just responding to your comment SIX YEARS LATER!😑😑

B R.N

6y↑7

I know how to respect what direction a song is intended so I can
appreciate music more than common listeners

Sandra V

7y↑31

Miss Understood is an unreleased song by The Family recorded in September 1984, at Flying Cloud Drive Warehouse, and was intended for The Family album. Susannah Melvoin, who sang lead vocals on the track, didn't like the track, which was a cheery pop song unlike other tracks by The Family, and argued with Prince to not include it on the album. According to engineer Susan Rogers, Prince defended the track and even threatened to find someone else to sing in the band instead of Susannah Melvoin, but ultimately the track was not included on the final album.

Donald Williams

7y↑11

Susannah was right.

GMS CHAARAWTAZA

6y↑4

great info Sandra. to me personally (if this is true), indicates how much political torque the Melvoin name had in the industry surrounding Prince.

KJS

6y↑6

Susannah stated recently that Prince wanted her to sing this like a cross between Elvis and some other singer (can't remember who), and she just did not feel comfortable doing it. She said it felt forced and not authentic. She wanted to re-cut it for the next album. So, Prince ultimately agreed to keep it off the first album.

B R.N

6y↑2

KJS sounds like one of those moments when prince was unsure of himself it happens at times

Starr Company

@KJS Wow GREAT info thank u so,much! Sounds like an Elvis like melody....im a longtime Prince fan never knew thiz info

4 More Replies...

Stephen Scott

7y↑8

I've always had this listed as Prince, but it makes so much more sense to reclassify it as The Family (as it's always been obvious to be Susannah Melvoin on vocals). It's a terrific song, but totally wrong for the first The Family album. Maybe it should have been a b-side.

Fabio Michieli

6y↑2

Susannah didn't like this song; she never liked her voice and the song sounds like an outtake for Apollonia 6 album (it was recorded in august 10th, 1984).
The only thing familiar with The Family album is the sound of keyboard, because is the same used in "Desire" and also in "Manic Monday".

Nino Bossalini

+Fabio Michieli How do U know the in4mation 2 this song?

Fabio Michieli

6y↑4

Well... Duane Tudahl wrote about this song in his new book "Prince and the Purple Era Studio Sessions 1983 and 1984". Before this book, I found informations in "The Vault" book and Susannah herself talked about this song after Prince death.

JoeyWyss junior

5y↑1

That's exactly what I thought, strictly B-side material.

RJCHOICE

2y↑2

@JoeyWyss junior
Maybe B-side by the standards Prince set in the 80s, but it's a standout track now judging by the low creative standards of radio today. I really like this.

1 More Replies...

Survivor2002

7y↑11

It's just too bad it went unreleased...at the VERY least, this could have been a dance hit in the clubs!

musicbox63

4y↑5

Susannah didn't like her vocals. I'm on her Instagram page and she told me this, herself.

Joseph Vargas

4y↑2

It was released as a B side to screams of passion

VetteGyrl

7y↑4

love love love love and MISS this music!

KAM

I want to buy this track. 💜

Ryan Rule

5y↑21

Even though this is from the Family, it sounds like Brenda Bennett could've handled this.

Jeff the Gent

3y↑4

Yes, I could totally hear Brenda turning this out a la “Some Kind of Lover” from the Apollonia 6 album.

Petty Ceddy

3y↑4

When me and prince wrote this Brenda did the demo vocals she was in studio with us .I’m on keyboards and prince doing drums and all other sounds

Petty Ceddy

3y↑2

@Jeff the Gent if u didn’t know that was a sarcastic lie 🤣🤣 I wasn’t born when that album was made

Jeff the Gent

3y↑2

@Petty Ceddy Oh, I thought you were actually a session musician from that time. 🤣 I deleted my misguided response.

Petty Ceddy

@Jeff the Gent no I have stuff that prince gave me but I wasn’t a session artist 😂

1 More Replies...

A.C. Cordova

5y↑13

I agree with her on this one. I don't think it would have fit in with the other tracks on the CD. I am hearing Vanity or Applonia on this.

Glors

6y↑6

I like this 😍 it's quirky 😀

Azzam Zamzam

36w

"Wonderful song of Prince"

FROM NOTHING TO SOMETHING

5y↑21

Linn drums for the win!

Billy Black

3y↑1

Boom Pawwcack Pawwwcack !!! Indeed that linn

jonathan dow

5y↑7

It has the same tempo as When Dove Cry 🤧

Jay Ham

when doves cry doesn't have a bass on it. just like kiss, and s few others. including river run dry on the family's album. only Prince could pull this off.

Sarassie Little

7y↑8

Susannah sounds good!

Ameera Azeem

6y↑5

This seems like something that could've been in sixteen candles

Chris Poinsette

Miss Understood is an unreleased song by The Family recorded on 10 August 1984, at Flying Cloud Drive Warehouse in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, and was intended for The Family album. Susannah Melvoin, who overdubbed a lead vocal on the track at Sunset Sound, in Hollywood, California didn’t like the track, which was a cheery pop song unlike other tracks by The Family. She argued with Prince to not include it on the album. According to engineer Susan Rogers, Prince defended the track and even threatened to find someone else to sing in the band instead of Susannah Melvoin, but ultimately the track was not included on the album as it was released.
Jill Jones says it was also considered for her eponymous debut album, and presumably she recorded a lead voice on it at some point.

Derek 880

8y↑17

It would have worked for the 80s. Susannah didn't like it and Prince agreed to leave it off the album. I don't think she was comfortable being the lead on it and preferred the band approach.

Dr George Taylor III

Bingo. She mentioned this in an interview for SOTT.

blackgargamel

7y↑6

💙🎶

Tess Wonderful

7y↑5

I like it.

Edward Little

6y↑2

First time I ever heard this track. It sounds great, but I agree it should not have been on the album. Actually would have been better for Appolonia 6. Brenda on lead vocal.

Johnny Styles

7y↑13

This is truly rare to find...

Cornell Wilson

5y↑6

Why I can see Brenda singing this!

HeyMikey_HeLikesIt

40w

Sounds like it could have been written for Vanity 6.

K L

7y↑3

A complete MaStErPiEcE!!!

GoddessAnjanee

7y↑11

Susannah Melvoin has a great voice.

sunnypie2

4y↑3

I like the photo. Cool, just like this song

Lonzo Randle

6y↑4

WHATEVER PRINCE TOUCH ITZ FIYR,SUSANNAH CAN BLOW

K Jamerson

8y↑40

Sounds like it was something for Vanity 6

THE MUSIC CRITIC

5y↑1

it is vanity 6 i have it relased over seas

Duren!

5y↑6

Loving the pic...

Harold White

6y↑4

Wish he would have gave this to Gwen

St. Paul

Closinhtown

5y↑4

Great post! Never heard this.

Lenny Conner

42w

💜

Thomas Asha Ren Wooly

1y↑1

She definitely didn't sell it .

John Brinkman

7y↑11

it sounds like Susannah ......but it sounds like Appolina 6....unless Susannah turned it down , and prince then gave it to Apollonia 6?? I think I hear Brenda in the mix!!!

inspectorbudget

John Brinkman I hear Brenda big time

Tim Scott

7y↑3

John Brinkman Brenda from V6/A6 is also singing on this track.

jonathan dow

John Brinkman So true! I hear Brenda in there too..Appolonia is fine as 🅰️ but couldn't carry a tone if it Hermes Bag👜

Starr Company

@inspectorbudget if you guys hear Brenda your not Prince fans lol
(That's not Brenda because her voice is low register) lol

inspectorbudget

4y↑1

@Starr Company The part is low for a female. What are you talking about?

1 More Replies...

Starr Company

5y↑6

Cool they left it off cuz it would not have fit on that BRILLANT Family album!Maybe somthing from Vanity or Brenda but not Susanna🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

Rhythmbfree

39w↑1

This sounds more like it shoulda been a Sheila E. song.

wolflover968

7y↑28

The three unlikes were from people who worship Cardi B. and Justin Bieber. XD

Nino Bossalini

6y↑3

L😂L

Craig featherstone

6y↑3

lol

PRHousequake

3y↑1

That has to be it.

Eva Rene’

3y↑1

🤣🤣🤣

LAKIN KEY

7y↑7

This is Brenda on the vocals from Vanity 6.

chj2

6y↑2

yeme baby Not totally true - Susannah Melvoin is singing lead and Brenda is in the background.

LAKIN KEY

chj2 I stand corrected I do hear Susannah's voice. Thanks for clarifying.💜

KJS

6y↑1

I don''t think Brenda is singing backround on this. The vocal is higher pitched and Brenda had a lower singing voice. I think Prince Layered Susannah's vocals. Also, per The Vault.com, there are no backround singers on this song.

Starr Company

6y↑1

Wonder who's singing lead
Sounds like Brenda or Wendy???

B L

It’s Susannah....Brenda is in the back ground.

Starr Company

4y↑2

Who's singing?
And did I hear "Little Red Corvette"
at 4:04 or am I crazy?

Rinse-esniR

3y↑1

Susannah Melvoin sings the lead vocals.

trininmn

yup heard it too

Gato

8y↑4

Who is singing lead vocals?

Jason S

8y↑11

Suzannah Melvoin, Wendy Melvoin's twin sister.

man ray

7y↑5

Susannah , I love u <3 ; )

Ralph Richards

6y↑4

Funky Mpls Sound

Devin Young

6y↑1

raspberry beret up speed intro lol

tyler gates

Incorrect.

REGGIE

7y↑3

THIS NOT THE FAMILY, IT IS APPOLONIA SIX

Anthony Conlon

7y↑8

Sorry Reg, but this is a well documented and long circulating song recorded during The Family sessions. Susannah should be apologized to for you even comparing to Apples. Apples is sweet but she can't carry a tune to save her life...

rekindle

7y↑1

Ahh, so it's Brenda on lead vocals?

KJS

6y↑2

No, it is Susannah Melvoin on lead vocal. According to The Vault.com, it is only Susannah singing. There is no backround singer. Prince probably layered Susannah's vocals

St. Paul

6y↑1

NOPE

Tess Wonderful

@Anthony Conlon Yes!!! Someone who agrees with me. Brenda had the vocals.

2 More Replies...

THE MUSIC CRITIC

7y↑3

no it is vanity 6 i have the colletion

KJS

6y↑2

No, this is Susannah Melvoin, member of The Family, and Wendy's twin sister. This song was meant for The Family's first album. Brenda is singing backround vocals.