Unless the music touched you, you will probably wonder what the big deal is and wish it would go away.  I get that.

But I want to say that the music bonded us.  I listen to the song today, and it means something different now.  I have no bonds today as I did back then, and yet it still causes my eyes to close, my spirit to become a great open vacuum to take in every word, every note.

I noticed some years ago that “the” version is not available on YouTube. Besides, I can’t listen to it as I knew it then, with my friends, with its passion and meaning on a laptop screen. I left my CD elsewhere and will need to get another copy to hear its best version.

The world will remind us that Prince Rogers Nelson was an imperfect person. I guess the young person of me wants to remain ignorant of his bad behavior and only wants to recall his musical gift.  Tonight I remember all those nights we sang his songs in our tiny bedrooms, our crappy cars, school lunchrooms, sweaty bodies pressed together swaying or jumping around like lunatics, that place where we learned our power, and our powerlessness.  We learned there was this “something” had no idea what it was, only that it was bigger than us and we had to obey it, whether it was moving our bodies, sharing deepest secrets, or shedding tears.  I am blessed tonight to recall close friends of those days, music that defines those times, bonds we couldn’t conceive would break. We were alive, sweaty, happy together, immortal together and Prince was part of our soundtrack. Celebrate.

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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
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
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”