Songwriter: Prince

(Prince)

I never meant to cause you any trouble
I never meant to cause you any pain
I only ever wanted to see you laughing
Only want to see you laughing in the purple rain
Purple rain, purple rain
Purple rain, purple rain
Purple rain, purple rain
Only want to see you underneath the purple rain

Honey, I never wanted to be your wicked lover
Only wanted to be some kind of friend
I could never leave you for another
It's such a shame our friendship had to end
Purple rain, purple rain
Purple rain, purple rain
Purple rain, purple rain
Only wanted to see you underneath the purple rain

Honey, I know, I know, I know times are changing
This time we all reach out for something new
That means you too
You say you're looking for a leader
But you can't seem to make up your mind
But you better open it up wide, let it guide you
To the purple rain
Purple rain, purple rain
Purple rain, purple rain
Purple rain, purple rain
Only want to see you, baby, in the purple rain

The Waterboys

Led by Mike Scott, the Waterboys formed in London in 1981. Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, Scott first became involved in music as the creator of the fanzine Jungleland and later played in a series of local punk bands. After studying English and philosophy in college, Scott moved with his band, Another Pretty Face, to London where, following the group’s breakup, he formed the Waterboys with multi-instrumentalist Anthony Thistlethwaite and Kevin Wilkinson, issuing their self-titled debut in 1983. Keyboardist Karl Wallinger and trumpeter Roddy Lorimer joined for their follow-up, A Pagan Place (1984).

After the release of their 3rd album, This Is the Sea, in 1985, Wallinger departed from the group. When the Waterboys returned in 1988 with the acclaimed Fisherman’s Blues, they were joined by fiddler Steve Wickham, keyboardist Guy Chambers, drummer Dave Ruffy and bassist Marco Weissman, a lineup that would take them to their next release, Room to Roam in 1990.

In 1991, Scott moved to New York without any of his bandmembers- reflected in 1993’s Dream Harder, a rock-oriented record that seemed to mark the end of the Waterboys’ career.