Episode Summary: On Episode 2 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast, I dive into the second track, “In Love,” from Prince’s debut album. I explore the song’s themes of lust, puppy love, and highlight an early example of Prince using water metaphors to describe female sexuality.
“What more do I have to say? I really want to play in your river.”
In a synthesized disco flash, Prince implores us to groove to his song about his lust for a beautiful yet seemingly unattainable woman. One thing I noticed while listening to the song’s lyrics, he seems a tad insecure about his abilities to get the attention of his interest. This romantic insecurity can most likely be attributed to his young age, not yet having gained the level of confidence he would attain a short time later.
Consumed by lust and desire, Prince uses the song’s lyrics to express his intense interest in someone he refers to as “girl” and “baby.” Truthfully, this fierce interest feels unrequited. They may be friends, but not lovers. He becomes desperate when she ignores him, making him want her even more than he already does. What he can’t have or achieve makes his desire grow more potent. Should the song instead be called “In Fatuation?”
The song’s most memorable lyric can be found in the chorus, “I want to play in your river.” Using a water metaphor to describe female sexuality is something that Prince continues to do multiple times over his career. He was already crafting creative slang to sneak by censors at such a young age. Witty imagery that represented something much less innocent would become a trademark for Prince’s lyrics throughout his career. It all starts here, on “In Love.”
The purpose of Press Rewind – A Prince Lyrics Podcast is to:
- Take a track by track look at the lyrical content of Prince’s discography
- Discuss my own interpretation of each song’s lyrics
- If submitted, discuss listener’s interpretations of each song’s lyrics
Thank you for joining me on this journey through Prince’s catalog!
