Is this the greatest song ever written? I think so…
You know, there are certain songs and pieces of music that mean a lot to me and have stayed with me from the first time I listened to them, quite often because the lyrics mean so much to me.
Recently, I was woken from a pleasant dream by an early morning alarm call, and just before my rude awaken, I was ‘listening’ Mica Paris’ “If I Love U 2 Nite”. For the rest of the day, I had this tune in my head, despite the fact that I had not heard it for at least ten years.
I’m sure that everyone can recall a time when a tune stuck in their mind and could not be shaken. This was one of those times.
In this case, I think it is Mica Paris’ re-appearance on TV and her interview in the BMI flight magazine that brought her to mind. But I had bought the CD in Camden Town some 17 years ago, and it was stolen when my apartment in Muswell Hill was burgled in 1997… I believed that I would never hear it again…
Released in 1991, it was one of the first CDs that I bought, at a time when CDs were still relatively new, and buying one was an investment decision for me. I was at university, thinking hard about my future career whilst juggling my studies, with my part-time job at Silica Systems and my infatuation with Grainne Coen.
The smooth, velvety tones of Mica Paris, combined with the intelligent and thought-provoking lyrics won me over instantly. I’d never heard anything like it before.
I believe that Mica is the best British soul singer that we’ve ever produced, although Beverley Knight’s performances with Prince made me reconsider…
However, it was not until this week that I realised that the song was written by Prince (obvious now I think about it) and that helped me to track down a copy in Italy which I bought, and which is playing while I write this.
I don’t know what it is about Prince’s lyrics that have always reached out to me, and I accepted the fact a long time ago that most people just don’t and won’t get him. His genius will probably only be fully appreciated in centuries to come.
However, the lack of recognition that this particular song enjoys is a travesty. Very few songs deal with the dissatisfaction that men get from one night stands, and none as eloquently as this.
The song is genius, and so I’m posting the lyrics here in the hope that it encourages some people to seek it out, even though reading them doesn’t quite do the song justice, especially as their written in Prince’s favoured ‘txt speak’, something he pioneered long before the first SMS was ever sent. Enjoy! 
“if i love u 2 NITE” by Mica Paris, composed by Prince
Funny that U should call
I was just sittin’ by the telephone
Looking 4 a remedy
4 all my misery
I’m sorry 4 what I said
It’s just that I didn’t think our first date should be in bed
Ooooh, I wanna let U be the one
But U oughta know I’m lookin’ 4 a girl
That’ll want me 4 more than one night of fun
CHORUS:
If I love U 2night (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
Swear 2 me that U’ll stay with me until the morning light
(Baby, can U stay until the morning light, ooh?)
Talk 2 me, tell me a story
Just tell me U’ll hold me tight (Hold me)
If I love U 2night
I want U, this is true
When U looked at me, I knew (That’s when, it’s when I knew)
This ain’t no matter of pride (No matter)
It’s just that when 2morrow comes I want U here by my side
CHORUS
I’m lookin’ 4 a girl, she don’t have 2 be pure
(I am looking 4 a girl)
She just gotta be sho’nuff secure
(Sho’nuff secure)
If U want a lover, I’m the remedy
(I’m the remedy, the remedy)
But girl, U gotta tell me what U gonna do 4 me
(What U gonna do, what U gonna do 4 me?)
If I love U 2night
Promise me that U’ll stay with me until the morning light
(Say that U’ll stay until the morning light, ooh)
Talk 2 me, tell me a story
Just tell me U’ll hold me tight (Hold me, hold me)
I’ll make U breakfast, I’ll drive U 2 work girl, I’ll treat U right
Promise me that U’ll stay with me until the morning light
If I love U 2night, if I love U 2night
Ah yeah, baby
(If I love U 2night) {repeat in BG}
If U’re lookin’ 4 a lover, girl
I’m the remedy
Tell me, tell me baby
Whatcha gonna do for me
3rd February 2008 at 6:21 pm
just wanted to say that this is one of my all-time favourite prince songs too. I love love love prince i own almost everything he has ever put out. he later gave this song to mayte garcia, (his ex wife now of ten years) and he wrote it some years before he released it for mica. the 2 versions are drastically different in voice however if you seek out the mayte version, remembering it as different and not to compare them i doubt you will be disappointed.
.and beverley knight is absolutely fabulous!