Purple Rain

Prince

About Purple Rain

"Purple Rain" is a song by Prince and The Revolution. It is the title track from the 1984 album of the same name, which in turn is the soundtrack album for the 1984 film of the same name, and was released as the third single from that album. A power ballad, the song is a combination of rock, R&B, gospel, and orchestral music. Prince explained the meaning of "Purple Rain" as follows: "When there's blood in the sky – red and blue = purple... 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" reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed there for two weeks. It was kept from the top spot by Wham's breakout hit "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go." It reached number one in Belgium and the Netherlands. It is certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It is considered to be one of Prince's signature songs. Following Prince's death in 2016, "Purple Rain" rose to number one on the US and UK iTunes Charts, allowing "Purple Rain" to re-enter the Billboard Hot 100 reaching number four. It also re-entered the UK Singles Chart at number 6, making it two places higher than its original peak of number 8. Originally peaking at number 12 in France, "Purple Rain" reached number one on April 30, 2016. 


Year:
1993
8:40
1,151 
#6

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I never meant to cause you any sorrow
I never meant to cause you any pain
I only wanted to one time to see you laughing
I only wanted to see you
Laughing in the purple rain

Purple rain, purple rain
Purple rain, purple rain
Purple rain, purple rain
I only wanted to see you
Bathing in the purple rain

I never wanted to be your weekend lover
I only wanted to be some kind of friend
Baby, I could never steal you from another
It's such a shame our friendship had to end

Purple rain, purple rain
Purple rain, purple rain
Purple rain, purple rain
I only wanted to see you
Underneath the purple rain

Honey, I know, I know
I know times are changing
It's time we all reach out
For something new, that means you too

You say you want a leader
But you can't seem to make up your mind
I think you better close it
And let me guide you to the purple rain

Purple rain, purple rain
Purple rain, purple rain
If you know what I'm singing about up here
C'mon, raise your hand

Purple rain, purple rain
I only want to see you
Only want to see you
In the purple rain

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Prince

Prince Rogers Nelson (born June 7, 1958 - found dead in his home April 21, 2016. He died of an accidental overdose of the drug fentanyl), was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Known by his mononym Prince, he was an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and actor. He produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. He wrote several hundred songs plus produced and recorded his own music for his own music label. Prince had a wide vocal range and was known for his flamboyant stage presence and costumes. His releases sold over 100 million copies worldwide. He won seven Grammy Awards, a Golden Globe, and an Academy Award. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004, the first year he was eligible. Ro… more »

24 fans

Written by: Prince Rogers Nelson

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


14 facts about this song

Artist Details
"Purple Rain" is a song by the American musician Prince and his backing band The Revolution, released on September 26, 1984, by Warner Bros. Records.
Album Release
The song is the title track of the "Purple Rain" album, which was the soundtrack for a movie of the same name, also starring Prince.
Genre
"Purple Rain" is often labeled as a psychedelic rock, symphonic rock, pop-rock, and gospel song, with various elements from multiple musical genres.
Length
The track is approximately 8 minutes and 41 seconds long, making it one of the longest tracks released by Prince.
Inspirations
Prince reportedly got his inspiration for the song after watching Bob Seger perform. He wanted to write something that would have the audience come out in a collective catharsis.
Chart Performance
"Purple Rain" peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the US and was number 8 in the UK singles chart.
Live Recording
The original track was recorded live at the First Avenue in Minneapolis, based on a basic studio track. Background vocals and a string section were layered on afterwards in the studio.
Grammy Award
The song won the Grammy award for Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group in 1985.
Impact
Rolling Stone magazine ranked the song number 143 on their list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time."
Iconic Guitar Solo
The song's iconic guitar solo, played by Prince, is often hailed as one of the greatest guitar solos of all time.
Tribute
After Prince's death in 2016, many notable artists, including Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, covered "Purple Rain" in tribute to him.
No Official Music Video
Despite its popularity, there was no official music video created for Purple Rain.
Cultural References
The song and the eponymous album have been referenced in pop culture numerous times, like in the TV show "Glee", in a "Weird Al" Yankovic song, and even in "The Simpsons."
Lyrics
The lyrics of the song are cryptic. In concert, Prince was known to introduce the song by saying, "When there’s blood in the sky – red and blue = purple... purple rain pertains to the end of the world and being with the one you love."

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    Purple Rain

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1984

    Billboard #2


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