From the diffuser.fm series 365 Prince Songs in a Year:
When Prince set about lining up guest artists for his 1999 Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic LP, he offered to return the favor for his collaborators in exchange — an offer that No Doubt singer Gwen Stefani was more than happy to accept, leading to a day in the studio with a performer she'd long admired from afar.
As Stefani told Howard Stern years later, her Un2 enlistment wasn't the first time she'd come into contact with Prince. While stopping in Minneapolis on tour with No Doubt years before, she ended up spending some time with him — and receiving what she took as some slightly unusual advice.
"It was right around the time when Jennifer Lopez was putting out her stuff. 'Waiting for Tonight,' remember that song? I remember him, we all went out one night in a white limousine. He took us out, and he said, 'That's your competition,'" Stefani recalled. "I was like, 'What do you mean? That's nothing to do with me? That's Jennifer Lopez!' ... It was interesting. He just was up on everything."
Prince thought of Stefani while building the roster for the Un2 album, putting in a call she admitted was "super scary and intimidating" to receive. Still, she wasn't about to pass up the opportunity to work together, and she offered Prince a demo of her song "Waiting Room" in exchange for lending vocals to "So Far, So Pleased," a song Prince had set aside for his LP. The duo met in the studio for an eight-hour session that, according to Stefani, found him leading her through the recording, vocal part by vocal part.
"I went in the booth and I did not come out for, like, eight hours...I was so scared because I'm not even that good of a singer," argued Stefani. "Technically, as a singer, I kind of have my style or whatever, but it's not like I have a big range. "I can sing in tune, and I can hear notes, but he's just like a genius."
Stefani's surreal experience left her with one of the higher-profile guest credits on Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic, and the other half of their collaboration surfaced two years later on No Doubt's Rock Steady LP, with Prince taking a co-writing and co-producing credit on the version of "Waiting Room" that was eventually released. Neither song was released as a single, but they reunited years later onstage to perform "So Far, So Pleased" — an experience Stefani laughed off as being less than her best live moment.
"I went and did it, and I was so nervous," Stefani told Stern. "You can look it up on YouTube — I was horrible. But I got to perform with him. I know he records that stuff and listens back, and he must have been like, 'What was I thinking?'"
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So Far So Pleased
Prince Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I like the way you touch me
I like the way you tease
No car, no keys
I had to get us stranded
If you know what I mean
Big scar on my knee
Begging for a kiss is such a dull routine
So far, so far, so far, so pleased
So far, so fine
I find another beauty mark
With every glass of red wine
So fast the time
Every time I have to go, I go and lose my mind
It's hard, okay
That's what happens
When a boy and girl don't get to play
So far, so far, so far, so pleased
(Yeah)
(Come on, come on)
So far, so pleased
I like the way you touch me
I like the way you tease
No car, no keys
I could spend the night and leave at 10:15
So far, so far, so far, so pleased
Oh-oh yeah
So far, so pleased
Oh-oh
Prince’s song So Far So Pleased is a track that talks about the excitement of attraction and sexual chemistry. The singer is pleased with the way the person he is attracted to touches and teases him. The line “no car, no keys, I had to get us stranded” could suggest that the singer purposefully did not bring his keys or forgot them, so he can get stranded with the person he is attracted to, hoping that it will lead to something more. The lyrics “big scar on my knee, begging for a kiss is such a dull routine” could imply the physical effort the singer made just to try and kiss this person, but it didn’t work out, perhaps because they were tired of the ordinary routine.
The song also speaks about the singer's struggle with time when he is with the person he is attracted to, how it goes by too fast, and he loses it. It's hard for him to get away, which suggests that he is deeply in love with this person. The chorus repeats the line, “so far, so pleased,” which suggests that the singer is very happy with having an opportunity to be with this person, even if it’s just for the time being.
Overall, So Far So Pleased is a song that fully embodies the rush and excitement of attraction and sexual chemistry. The lyrics tell a story of a deep attraction to someone, and the thrill of being caught up in a moment, in the midst of an electric connection.
Line by Line Meaning
So far, so pleased
Things are going well and I'm happy with how they're progressing
I like the way you touch me
Your affectionate touch brings me joy and pleasure
I like the way you tease
Your playful behavior towards me is enjoyable and desirable
No car, no keys
I purposely left us stranded to create an opportunity for us
I had to get us stranded
I took a risk to create a chance for us to connect
If you know what I mean
I hope you realize the significance of what I did for us
Big scar on my knee
I've been through some challenges and difficulties in my life
Begging for a kiss is such a dull routine
I'm looking for excitement and spontaneity in our relationship
Still I'm,
Despite everything, I'm still content and satisfied
So far, so far, so far, so pleased
Things are going really well and I'm very happy with how everything is going
So far, so fine
Things are going smoothly and I'm enjoying myself
I find another beauty mark
I'm discovering more things I find attractive about you
With every glass of red wine
As we drink, I become more infatuated with you
So fast the time
I lose track of time when I'm with you
Every time I have to go, I go and lose my mind
Being away from you is difficult for me
It's hard, okay
This emotional strain is difficult for me to deal with
That's what happens
It's just a natural reaction to our being apart
When a boy and girl don't get to play
Being away from you feels like a childish punishment
So far, so far, so far, so pleased
I'm still incredibly happy with how everything is going between us
(Yeah)
An exclamation of agreement or affirmation
(Come on, come on)
An urging to take a chance or make a move
I could spend the night and leave at 10:15
I'm willing to take things slowly and not overstay my welcome
Oh-oh yeah
An expression of delight or satisfaction
So far, so pleased
I'm still feeling great about how everything is going
Oh-oh
A musical interjection that expresses excitement or emotion
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PRINCE ROGERS NELSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind