Moonbeam Levels

Album: 4Ever (2016)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The first new Prince track to be released posthumously, Prince sings here of nuclear war and death.

    Yesterday I tried 2 write a novel but I didn't know where 2 begin
    So I laid down in the grass tryin' 2 feel the world turn
    Boy loses girl in a rain storm, nuclear World War III
    All that's left is pain and sorrow, as far as he's concerned


    The piano-heavy rock ballad was cut in 1982 during the same sessions that resulted in Prince's fifth album, 1999. It didn't make the final tracklist, possibly in part because the title song had a similar apocalyptic theme.
  • The song leaked in the mid-'80s and made in onto number of Prince bootlegs and was considered for inclusion on his aborted 1988 project Rave unto the Joy Fantastic Prince acknowledged the cult following of "Moonbeam" by slipping it into concert piano medleys on a couple of occasions, but the song was never given an official release until November 22, 2016, when it was the sole previously unreleased track on the posthumous 40-track greatest hits collection Prince 4Ever.

Comments: 1

  • Gray from ClevelandPure classic. genius.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Jon Anderson of Yes

Jon Anderson of YesSongwriter Interviews

From the lake in "Roundabout" to Sister Bluebird in "Starship Trooper," Jon Anderson talks about how nature and spirituality play into his lyrics for Yes.

Boz Scaggs

Boz ScaggsSongwriter Interviews

The "Lowdown" and "Lido Shuffle" singer makes a habit of playing with the best in the business.

Loudon Wainwright III

Loudon Wainwright IIISongwriter Interviews

"Dead Skunk" became a stinker for Loudon when he felt pressure to make another hit - his latest songs deal with mortality, his son Rufus, and picking up poop.

Does Jimmy Page Worship The Devil? A Look at Satanism in Rock

Does Jimmy Page Worship The Devil? A Look at Satanism in RockSong Writing

We ring the Hell's Bells to see what songs and rockers are sincere in their Satanism, and how much of it is an act.

Michael Sweet of Stryper

Michael Sweet of StryperSongwriter Interviews

Find out how God and glam metal go together from the Stryper frontman.

Linda Perry

Linda PerrySongwriter Interviews

Songwriting Hall of Famer Linda Perry talks about her songs "What's Up" and "Beautiful," her songwriting process, and her move into film music.