Top Religious Prince Songs from 2001 to Present

For us folks who grew up in the 70s and 80s, we know Prince is the little, funky guy who wore fur coats and bikinis and sang about all things sex. We know about his several women and lyrics so dirty that Tipper Gore formed a whole organization to keep kids from buying the Purple One's music.

My, how times have changed and stayed the same all at once. 20 years later, Prince still makes funky music about love and the women, yet the lyrics are clean, no longer raunchy, and very respectful towards the opposite sex. But one of the most dramatic changes in Princes music is that now a lot of his songs are also focusing on-yikes!-God. Prince is now an avowed Jehovah's Witness. Although he's talked about religion in past songs, his albums since the early 200s have featured some biblical themes and tunes especially made for saving one's soul and engaging in religion. Is Tipper Gore listening now?

This list is 7 of the top religious songs Prince has recorded since the release of The Rainbow Children in 2001, with an honorable mention of songs from the 80s. These are in no particular order and were compiled from a list made by people on prince.org.

1.Everywhere (The Rainbow Children)- The Rainbow Children" was an album chock-full of spiritual songs. "Everywhere" seemed to be about Prince and him being able to now feel God not just in church, but everywhere. There's a place I want 2 go/Where the milk and honey flow/Without God it wasn't there/Now I feel it Everywhere"

2. The Word (3121) 3121 Boasted a funky title track and a hit dance number with "Black Sweat", but in the middle of it all Prince wanted to ask people if they knew God's message. "The Word" asks people what they are going to do if they don't have God and bad people try to bring them down. They might try to get us crazy/Cuz they don't know what I've heard/ We got this new exaltation/ I'm talking about the word

3.Beautiful, Loved and Blessed (3121) This is also on 3121 and talks about someone who feels like a different and better person after accepting Jesus and God I was 4mless, U gave me a new name/ With the breath of life I now live abundantly
All I needed was the potter's hand/And the blood on Calvary

4. Cinnamon Girl (Musicology) Although not directly religious in lyrics, Cinnamon Girl tells a story about a girl and her beliefs being tested somewhere in the Middle East. It seems that Prince is writing about events after 9/11 and if you've seen this video, you can see Prince with "Matthew 5:5" written on his face. Tearful words of love 4 people she had never met b4/ Asking God 2 grant them mercy in this face of a holy war

5. Everlasting Now (The Rainbow Children) This dance track, complete with latin flavor, reminds believers to stay strong when challenged because Christ and God promise a better world as long as they believe. Don't let nobody bring U down (Letnobody) /Accurate knowledge of Christ and the Father/ Will bring the everlasting now

6. Last December (The Rainbow Children) Last December questions if you died tomorrow, would you be saved? In the name of the Father In the name of the Son/
We need 2 come 2together/Come 2gether as one

7. Lion of Judah (Planet Earth) This track is on Prince's newest release and speaks of having the strength of the Lion of Judah to fight opposing forces in one's life. Like the Lion of Judah/ I Strike my enemies down/ As my God is living/ Surely the trumpet will sound

Honorable mentions. "Lets Go Crazy" and "I Would Die 4 U" from Purple Rain were top pop hits strewn with religious elements in them. How could you forget "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here 2day to get through this thing called life" sang on top of church organs, and "I'm your conscience/I am love/What I really need/ is 2 know that u believe" in "I Would Die 4 U"? My personal favorite is "The Cross" from Sign O' 'The Times. "Black day, stormy night/no love, no hope in sight/ Don't cry, he is coming/ Don't die without knowing the cross."

Regardless of what you thought about Prince before, his music now reflects a spiritual side to go along with that funk-rock sound. Check out some of those albums and if you hadn't listened to Prince since your parents caught you listening to "Darling Nikki", you're in for quite a surprise.