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sign o' the times (demo)


composers
Composer : Prince


publisher
© 1987 Controversy Music, ASCAP


background
The first recordings of Sign O' The Times were recorded at Wisseloord on the 13th October 1989. There are at least three takes, a Home Mix (possibly a home recorded demo) and various parts of the song. Unfortunately these DATs weren't transferred.

By the 23rd October, the arrangement of Sign O' The Times had solidified into the final take. Four mixes, a master and an edit, were prepared. There's very little, if anything, to differentiate Mix #1 from Mix #4. (The different track times are just due to different length separating silences on the master tape). I suspect they're the same mix but with the vocals mixed in at different volumes. Master is a copy of the mix finally selected, and an Instrumental and Edit were also prepared for the The Amsterdam EP.


see also:
Sign O' The Times


lyrics
Oh Yeah.

In France a skinny man,
Died of a big disease with a litte name.
By chance his girlfriend came across a needle,
And soon she did the same.
At home there are seventeen-year-old boys,
And their idea of fun,
Is being in a gang called The Disciples,
High on crack, totin' a machine gun.

Time. Time.

Hurricane Annie ripped the ceiling off a church,
And killed everyone inside.
You turn on the telly and every other story,
Is tellin' you somebody died.
Sister killed her baby 'cuz she could affort to feed it,
And we're sending people to the moon.
In September my cousin tried Reefer for the very first time,
Now he's doing Horse, it's June.

Time. Time.

It's silly, no? When a rocket ship explodes,
And everybody still wants to fly.
Some say a man ain't happy,
Unless a man truly dies.
Oh why?

Time. Time.

Baby make a speech, Star Wars fly,
Neighbours just shine it on.
But if a night falls and a bomb falls,
Will anybody see the dawn?

Time. Time.

It's silly, no? When a rocket ship explodes,
And everybody still wants to fly.
Some say a man ain't happy,
Unless a man truly dies.
Oh why?

Time. Time.

Sign o' the times mess with your mind,
Hurry before it's too late.
Let's fall in love, get married, have a baby,
We'll call him Hate...if it's a boy.

Time. Times.

Time. Time.



demo discography
Mix #1 (5:58)
Produced by: Stephen Lipson
Engineered by: Heff Moraes

Street Fighting Years: The Amsterdam EP Tracks: Sign O' The Times
Mix #2 (6:09)
Produced by: Stephen Lipson
Engineered by: Heff Moraes

Street Fighting Years: The Amsterdam EP Tracks: Sign O' The Times
Mix #3 (5:53)
Produced by: Stephen Lipson
Engineered by: Heff Moraes

Street Fighting Years: The Amsterdam EP Tracks: Sign O' The Times
Mix #4 (5:49)
Produced by: Stephen Lipson
Engineered by: Heff Moraes

Street Fighting Years: The Amsterdam EP Tracks: Sign O' The Times
Master (5:49)
Produced by: Stephen Lipson
Engineered by: Heff Moraes

Street Fighting Years: The Amsterdam EP Tracks: Sign O' The Times
Master Instrumental (5:46)
Produced by: Stephen Lipson
Engineered by: Heff Moraes

Street Fighting Years: The Amsterdam EP Tracks: Sign O' The Times
Master Edit (4:18)
Produced by: Stephen Lipson
Engineered by: Heff Moraes

Street Fighting Years: The Amsterdam EP Tracks: Sign O' The Times