Wednesday, November 22, 2006
You May Ask, "Why Starfish n Coffee ??"
Those who really know me, know that I LOVE PRINCE. Starfish & Coffee is one of my favorite songs. There is a little controversy in regards to its meaning. Is it about drugs or about a girl with autism? Allow me clarify.
That was from the Signs of the Times double album. Cynthia Rose is actually based off someone Susannah Melvoin (sister of Wendy - former member of Prince's band 'The Revolution') knew in school who was autistic and was teased because she was “different”. The song is celebrating those differences and apparently Prince was planning on releasing this on a childrens’ album that never came to be (however, it has been released on a children's compilation album by another artist).
From the official website [http://www.love4oneanother.com/ask.htm (link no longer effective)] :
4/30/98
U: There's been a discussion going on around the 'net about what "Starfish and Coffee" means. Can u explain that song? Is it about a mentally challenged girl?
P: Let's say mentally alternative, or "gifted," shall we?
I think the lyrics are fun and it cheers me up to think of idiosyncratic kids like Cynthia Rose, loving life. This song represents, to me, a celebration of differences.
Here are the lyrics:
It was 7:45 we were all in line
2 greet the teacher Miss Cathleen
First was Kevin, then came Lucy, third in line was me
All of us were ordinary compared to Cynthia Rose
She always stood at the back of the line
A smile beneath her nose
Her favorite number was 20 and every single day
If U asked her what she had 4 breakfast
This is what she’d say
Starfish and coffee
Maple syrup and jam
Butterscotch clouds, a tangerine
And a side order of ham
If U set your mind free, baby
Maybe you’d understand
Starfish and coffee
Maple syrup and jam
Cynthia wore the prettiest dress
With different color socks
Sometimes I wondered if the mates were in her lunchbox
Me and Lucy opened it when Cynthia wasn’t around
Lucy cried, I almost died, U know what we found?
Starfish and coffee
Maple syrup and jam
Butterscotch clouds, a tangerine
And a side order of ham
If U set your mind free, honey
Maybe you’d understand
Starfish and coffee
Maple syrup and jam
Starfish and coffee
Cynthia had a happy face, just like the one she’d draw
On every wall in every school
But it’s all right, it’s 4 a worthy cause
Go on, Cynthia, keep singin’
Starfish and coffee
Maple syrup and jam
Butterscotch clouds, a tangerine
And a side order of ham
If U set your mind free, baby
Maybe you’d understand
Starfish and coffee
Maple syrup and jam
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This song has so many emotional attachments for me. Sign of the times was one of the many tapes we played (my mom is a HUGE prince fan too!), and Starfish and Coffee always had me baffled.
ReplyDeletei figured Cynthia was special, because of the endearing way he sang about her.
thanks for the clarification. the youtube video was also very cool! gotta love the muppets. hee hee
~wyn ^_^
Thanks for the info! I loved this song from the first time I heard it because it reminded me of me. Being different and "Alway stood at the back the line with a smile beneath her nose!" No matter what came my way I alwayed smiled and looked at the bright colored positive side of life. Now that I am 40, I still have the "Cynthia Rose" attitude & I have a daughter with the same attitude toward life, her class mates sometimes tease her about her happiness but she tells them "why not be happy?"
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info, Bambi another Prince fan