Prince‘s music possessed the ability to deliver thunderbolts of invigorating energy, stirring all kinds of emotion even before you heard a bit of the words. When you dove deeper, however, you realized that the heft of the music was matched by the depth of the words.
Take a look at his monumental smash “Let’s Go Crazy” as a prime example. This massive hit is a sugar rush of a track, all slashing guitars and relentless rhythms. That’s the flash, but the substance comes from Prince’s message about choosing the right side in a battle between good and evil.
“Crazy” Train
Prince had already started making major inroads toward commercial success with his 1999 double album, released in 1982. Songs like the title track and “Little Red Corvette,” and the sultry videos that accompanied them, gave many people in the mainstream audience their first taste of this special talent.
But when he came back with Purple Rain in 1984, he managed to raise the stakes in every way. Not only was he going to be releasing his highly anticipated new album, but he decided he’d also be starring in a semi-autobiographical film that featured this music. It was a big roll of the dice for all involved, considering such projects were often reserved for those with a much longer track record of success.
Prince didn’t seem to harbor any of those doubts, however, at least not publicly. He probably knew that he had the goods in terms of the songs, along with a band in the Revolution that somehow made the music even more vibrant and accessible. Accessibility aside, however, he was writing lyrics with deep personal meaning.
On the surface, “Let’s Go Crazy” sounds like an invitation to party. But the lyrical intent was to depict a struggle between the forces of light and dark. In fact, Prince’s original lyrics were much more overt in their religious references. Sensing the song had potential as a single, he dialed that back a bit in the finished version, although there are still hints evident.
What Do the Lyrics of “Let’s Go Crazy” Mean?
Prince begins “Let’s Go Crazy” by sermonizing: Dearly Beloved / We are gathered here today / To get through this thing called “life.” He promises that in the Afterworld, there are great rewards waiting. But before you can get to that point, you’re going to be set adrift and forced to decide where you stand. In this life, you’re on your own, he warns.
Once the beat kicks in and we move into the heart of the song, the perspective of the narrator seems to change. No longer is he a preacher with all the answers, but rather an everyman trying to get through the chaos of life. And that includes dealing with unfaithful lovers, which we find out when he calls her for advice and then mimics the sound of heavy breathing to explain what he heard on the line.
In the second verse, he spends some time philosophizing. When he ponders why everyone seems to be so excited, he guesses, Maybe it’s ‘cause / We’re all gonna die. He wonders, What’s it all for? This guy is having a crisis of faith, trying to work out the answers. Prince seemed to innately understand his audience was likely doing the same.
In the chorus, Prince decides that simply wallowing in the midst of all this uncertainty isn’t the best approach. Better to rage, and rave, against it: Let’s go crazy / Let’s get nuts. The following lines allow his eccentricity to enter the picture: Let’s look for the purple banana / Until they put us in the truck.
Instead of letting the de-elevator take us all down to an unfortunate, forever fate, Prince wants to uplift us and get us on the right path. With “Let’s Go Crazy,” he clandestinely delivered his message of righteousness amidst a gloriously funky party.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Photo by Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock
Local News
Comments / 0