On Episode 90 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast, Rhonda Nicole returns to talk to me about one of the more fun and funky songs to follow a dark and ominous opener in album tracklisting history. The ying to “Sign O’ the Times'” yang, it’s “Play in the Sunshine!”
“I’m feeling kind of lucky tonight, I’m going to find my four-leaf clover.”
Sign up on the dotted line, and dance like it’s gonna be the last time. That’s how Prince wants us to forget all the social ills, natural disasters, and angst he offered up in the album’s opening track, “Sign o’ the Times.” The album’s second song, “Play In the Sunshine,” is a complete 180 from that somber opener in terms of lyrical content. It’s bright, sunny (it’s right there in the title), and warm and full of jubilant joy.
Rhonda helps me get at the heart of this track’s positive messages and poke fun at some of the imagery Prince provides to us (margaritas and ecstasy, oh my!) in the song’s lyrics. Make no mistake; Prince is taking us on a journey with this album if the first two songs are any indication.
The goal of each episode of Press Rewind 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 along with any guest I may have
- If submitted, discuss listener’s interpretations of each song’s lyrics
Thank you for joining me on this journey through Prince’s catalog!
