Raspberry Beret

Album: Around the World in a Day (1985)
Charted: 25 2
Play Video
  • One, two
    One, two, three, uh

    Yeah

    I was working part time in a five-and-dime
    My boss was Mr. McGee
    He told me several times that he didn't like my kind
    'Cause I was a bit too leisurely

    Seems that I was busy doing something close to nothing
    But different than the day before
    That's when I saw her, ooh, I saw her
    She walked in through the out door, out door

    She wore a
    Raspberry beret
    The kind you find in a second hand store
    Raspberry beret
    And if it was warm she wouldn't wear much more
    Raspberry beret
    I think I love her

    Built like she was
    She had the nerve to ask me
    If I planned to do her any harm
    So, look here
    I put her on the back of my bike
    And-a we went riding
    Down by old man Johnson's farm

    I said now, overcast days never turned me on
    But something 'bout the clouds and her mixed
    She wasn't too bright
    But I could tell when she kissed me
    She knew how to get her kicks

    She wore a
    Raspberry beret
    The kind you find in a second hand store
    Raspberry beret
    And if it was warm she wouldn't wear much more
    Raspberry beret
    I think I love her

    The rain sounds so cool when it hits the barn roof
    And the horses wonder who you are
    Thunder drowns out what the lightning sees
    You feel like a movie star

    Listen
    They say the first time ain't the greatest
    But I tell ya
    If I had the chance to do it all again
    I wouldn't change a stroke
    'Cause baby, I'm the most
    With a girl as fine as she was then, oh, oh yeah

    Raspberry beret
    The kind you find in a second hand store (the kind you find)
    Raspberry beret
    If it was warm she wouldn't wear much more
    Raspberry beret

    I think I, I think I, I think I love her

    Raspberry beret
    (No, no, no)
    The kind you find in a second hand store (no, no, no)
    Raspberry beret
    (Tell me where have all the raspberry women gone?)
    If it was warm she wouldn't wear much more
    Raspberry beret Writer/s: Prince Rogers Nelson
    Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 14

  • Matt from Myrtle BeachTo Augie from USA - the girl who hands the guitar to Prince in the beginning is Jackie Swanson who played Woody Harrelson's girlfriend/wife Kelly on the TV show "Cheers".
  • George Pope from Vancouver BcI heard it as raspberry buffet, & it still sounds like it, even knowing the truth.

    A beret is basically a French version of the Scottish tam; It was popular among artists well into the 20th century.
  • Jorgep from Puerto RicoI see kind of an homage to the Rolling Stones osycgedelic Satanic Majesties album in the video: I think 'The Rolling Stones' can blurrily be read when the kaleidoscope stops girating in the beginning and Prince's blue sky with cloud jacket also alludes to the Stones' album cover.
  • Steven Wilhelm from Boonville Indiana Did Prince write/sing Raspberry Beret about Ricki Lee Jones?
  • Annabelle from Eugene, OrOne day, my sweet love, Johnny showed me this tune over the phone, and then he asked me if the cough was included in the album version of this song, but I'm not sure whether or not it is. I told him it's just part of the video version, but now I'm confused! What do I tell him?
  • Pike from Las VegasDimitri from Denver IS THE ONLY ONE WHO KNOWS WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT!
    (S)he walked in through the out door. Aka anal sex. The song is about the flavor of a red headed woodpecker, which looks like a beret in profile.
  • M.gunn from Somewhere, UsaThere's a rumor singer-songwriter Rickie Lee Jones is set to claim Prince wrote "Raspberry Beret" about her in an upcoming autobiography. Jones was a musical star in the 80s and fell back to earth pretty hard by the end of the decade. She has worked hard ever since to get the attention and recognition she lost. Joni Mitchell, someone who Prince was a huge fan of, was the first famous female musician to wear a beret (check out the cover of her 1976 album, Herija). Since Prince is no longer with us to refute anyone claiming that "Raspberry Beret" was written about them and considering how notoriously private Prince was, it's 99% likely "Raspberry Beret" is entirely fictional and simply born solely of his imagination and there's nothing more to it.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn this day in 1985 {July 14th} "Raspberry Beret"* by Prince peaked at #2 {for 1 week} on Billboard's Top 100 chart, the week it was at #2, the #1 record for that week was "A View To A Kill" by Duran Duran...
    "Raspberry Beret" reached #3 on Billboard's Hot Black Singles chart...
    Between 1978 and 2006 the Minneapolis, Minnesota native had forty nine records on the Top 100 chart, eighteen made the Top 10 with five reaching #1, "When Doves Cry" for five weeks in July of 1984, "Let's Go Crazy" for two weeks in September of 1984, "Kiss" for two weeks in April of 1986, "Batdance" for one week in July of 1989, "Cream" for two weeks in November of 1991...
    Prince Rogers Nelson passed away at the young age of 57 on April 21st, 2016...
    May he R.I.P.
    * "Raspberry Beret" was Prince's second of three of his records to peak at #2, his two other #2 records were "Purple Rain" for two weeks in 1984 and "U Got The Look" for one week in 1987...
    And from the 'for What It's Worth' department, the remainder of Billboard's Top 10 on July 14th, 1985:
    At #3. "Everytime You Go Away" by Paul Young
    #4. "You Give Good Love" by Whitney Houston
    #5. "Sussidio" by Phil Collins
    #6. "The Search Is Over" by Survivor
    #7. "If You Love Someone Set Them Free" by Sting
    #8. "Glory Days" by Bruce Springsteen
    #9. "Shout" by Tears For Fears
    #10. "Would I Lie To You" by The Eurythmics
  • Secret Love from UsaPrince began written this song in Los Angeles at a club where he became fascinated with a beautiful young lady. He got her attention by whispering in here ear about the hat. He introduced himself to her and the rest was history; Originally, she his muse but she stole his heart (he pattern his dressing style after her).They were secret lovers, from 1982 - 1983 They met secretly all around Los Angeles under different alias. She didn't like the limelight and he constantly tried to pursue her. He even proposed to her , she said no. They created ways to communicate through his songs. Prince would leave concert tickets at the box office.. There was a lot of obstacles transpired between them. She split with him. But he really never got over her. That was the cause of his depression. You see, she was not his usual type of female. Dovie(as he called her) was a pretty dark skin African American from Compton.
  • Augie from UsaNot for nothin' but there is a lovely lady wearing a red beret who delivers a guitar to Prince at :23. This is not part of the above list and I ask "Could she be - Is she the subject of the song"?
  • Rabbit Bunny from Westminster MdHe wrote it about Madonna! I know this as fact!
  • Johnny from Claxton, GaFor the record... Girl 6 is very well known in the black community. There are other segments of society besides caucasian.
  • Dimitry from Denver, Co, CoSorry guys, but a Raspberry Beret is an uncircumcised penis... You take it from there.
  • Susan from Airdrie, AbI loved this song when it first came out. Prince was and is a musical genius, albeit a bit of a pervert...LOL
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Dr. John

Dr. JohnSongwriter Interviews

The good doctor shares some candid insights on recording with Phil Spector and The Black Keys.

Matthew Wilder - "Break My Stride"

Matthew Wilder - "Break My Stride"They're Playing My Song

Wilder's hit "Break My Stride" had an unlikely inspiration: a famous record mogul who rejected it.

Chris Squire of Yes

Chris Squire of YesSongwriter Interviews

One of the most dynamic bass player/songwriters of his time, Chris is the only member of Yes who has been with the band since they formed in 1968.

Gary Louris of The Jayhawks

Gary Louris of The JayhawksSongwriter Interviews

The Jayhawks' song "Big Star" has special meaning to Gary, who explains how longevity and inspiration have trumped adulation.

David Paich of Toto

David Paich of TotoSongwriter Interviews

Toto's keyboard player explains the true meaning of "Africa" and talks about working on the Thriller album.

Jeff Trott

Jeff TrottSongwriter Interviews

Sheryl Crow's longtime songwriting partner/guitarist Jeff Trott reveals the stories behind many of the singer's hits, and what its like to be a producer for Leighton Meester and Max Gomez.