# What the Hell is Purple Rain?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-purple-rain/301998
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [May 2, 2005, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-purple-rain/301998 "2005-05-02T00:53:06Z")
**Posts on this page:** 13
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@usernamealreadyinuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usernamealreadyinuse)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2005, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-purple-rain/301998/1 "2005-05-02T00:53:06Z")
Hey, I’ve been wondering what the phrase “Purple Rain” means. We all know it from the Prince song/movie (I’ve heard the song, never saw the film). I’ve also heard it in the song “Ventura Highway” by America: “Sorry boy, but I’ve been hit by Purple Rain…”.
What Gives?
Thanks!
Usernamealreadyinuse.
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### Author:  [@Oregon\_sunshine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oregon_sunshine)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2005, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-purple-rain/301998/2 "2005-05-02T01:09:30Z")
It’s what sometimes comes shortly after the Purple Haze.
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### Author:  [@usernamealreadyinuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usernamealreadyinuse)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2005, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-purple-rain/301998/3 "2005-05-02T01:11:25Z")
What??
> [@ggurl](#):
>
> It’s what sometimes comes shortly after the Purple Haze.
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### Author:  [@BMax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMax)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2005, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-purple-rain/301998/4 "2005-05-02T01:14:48Z")
> [@ggurl](#):
>
> It’s what sometimes comes shortly after the Purple Haze.
But before the alligator lizards in the air.
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### Author:  [@jasonh300](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasonh300)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2005, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-purple-rain/301998/5 "2005-05-02T01:17:18Z")
> [@BMax](#):
>
> But before the alligator lizards in the air.
Thanks a lot son, just the same…
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### Author:  [@usernamealreadyinuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usernamealreadyinuse)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2005, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-purple-rain/301998/6 "2005-05-02T01:25:24Z")
Yeah, it’s a great song…
I guess this means you don’t know either, huh?
SOMEBODY must know!
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### Author:  [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2005, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-purple-rain/301998/7 "2005-05-02T01:58:56Z")
I kinda sorta remember hearing the song was about nuclear war. Maybe ‘purple rain’ is supposed to be nuclear fallout?
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### Author:  [@Civil\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Civil_Guy)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2005, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-purple-rain/301998/8 "2005-05-02T04:06:54Z")
Er, just for the record, we should note one possible explanation: it doesn’t really mean anything except that the picture is somewhat exotic and dreamy, and the words just happen to fit the rhythm and the lyrics.
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### Author:  [@Civil\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Civil_Guy)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2005, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-purple-rain/301998/9 "2005-05-02T04:08:29Z")
But otherwise, I have to admit that I don’t know, myself.
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### Author:  [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2005, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-purple-rain/301998/10 "2005-05-02T04:39:15Z")
WAG-could it have to do with death by a hail of bullets, alluding to the Purple Gang with whom scarface Capone divided Michigan during Prohibition years?
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### Author:  [@Captain\_Roscoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Roscoe)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2005, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-purple-rain/301998/11 "2005-05-02T12:33:05Z")
Googling (ignoring all Prince, movies, lyrics references) comes up with:
[The Water Reuse System of Pasco County!](http://pasco.ifas.ufl.edu/water_conservation-outdoor/purple_rain/purple_rain_education_prgm.htm)
[Various cocktails and shots](http://www.webtender.com/db/drink/3599)
[And a pretty cool picture](http://www.dpchallenge.com/image.php?IMAGE_ID=119888)
Nothing very useful, however. Sorry.
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### Author:  [@guinnog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guinnog)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2005, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-purple-rain/301998/12 "2005-05-02T12:35:34Z")
> [@Captain Roscoe](#):
>
> Googling (ignoring all Prince, movies, lyrics references) comes up with:
>
> [The Water Reuse System of Pasco County!](http://pasco.ifas.ufl.edu/water_conservation-outdoor/purple_rain/purple_rain_education_prgm.htm)
>
> [Various cocktails and shots](http://www.webtender.com/db/drink/3599)
>
> [And a pretty cool picture](http://www.dpchallenge.com/image.php?IMAGE_ID=119888)
>
> Nothing very useful, however. Sorry.
I had always believed it was a reference to the purple dye the police routinely add to the water they use to disperse crowds, so they can identify people later. I saw this system in action in Cape Town in 1989.
But mainly I suspect it was just a nice name.
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### Author:  [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)
#### Post date: [May 2, 2005, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-purple-rain/301998/13 "2005-05-02T12:39:33Z")
Prince, being from Minneapolis, is a Vikings fan. Purple is their main colour.