What Exactly is “Purple Rain?” The Answer According to Prince

“Purple Rain” has fascinated listeners for decades now. The sprawling power ballad holds the kind of magic only a handful of artists are able to drum up. It’s endlessly replay-able and a testament to Prince’s visceral artistry.

While the song is beloved, the lyrics seem somewhat foreign. Though we grasp that there is a powerful sentiment here just by listening, it can be hard to know what that sentiment is. Below, find out what the “Purple Rain” is in Prince’s own words.

[RELATED: Prince Posthumously Inducted Into Songwriters Hall of Fame During Intimate Ceremony in His Hometown of Minneapolis]

What Exactly is the “Purple Rain?” The Answer According to Prince

I never meant to cause you any sorrow

I never meant to cause you any pain

I only wanted, one time, to see you laughing

I only want to see you laughing

In the purple rain

There is something almost haunting about “Purple Rain.” As it turns out, that feeling is intentional. Prince penned this song to be a vignette of the end of the world. That cataclysmic event is the backdrop to a powerful love story that is laid out in the lyrics.

The title itself refers to the color Prince assumed the sky would turn when it is stained with blood–a religious picture that is described in The Bible. Instead of focusing on the fiery destruction the Book of Revelation promises, Prince’s purple version of the end of the world feels far more seductive.

“When there’s blood in the sky – red and blue = purple,” Prince once explained. “Purple rain pertains to the end of the world and being with the one you love and letting your faith/god guide you through the purple rain.”

Purple rain, purple rain

Purple rain, purple rain

Purple rain, purple rain

I only want to see you bathing

In the purple rain

Though this song had the potential to be morbidly depressing, Prince somehow makes it a declaration of love against all odds. It’s equal parts morose and joyful.

Prince towed the perfect line while creating this song. Even if you didn’t know what “Purple Rain” meant, you still get hit with a wave of emotion that feels eerie and inviting. Revisit this track, below.

I never wanted to be your weekend lover

I only wanted to be some kind of friend, hey

Baby, I could never steal you from another

Purple rain, purple rain

Purple rain, purple rain

Purple rain, purple rain

I only want to see you bathing

In the purple rain

Photo by Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock