This is a heartbreaking tale. Prince (he wasn’t named Prince at the time, but to eliminate any confusion, I’m just going to refer to him as Prince throughout) recorded today’s track “Let’s Have A Baby” sometime in late-1995/early-1996. This isn’t one of Prince’s cleverly titled songs that implies one thing but means something completely different than what you expected. It’s called “Let’s Have A Baby” and it is indeed about his desire to have a baby.
On February 14, 1996, Prince married Mayte Garcia and the studio version of “Let’s Have a Baby” was played at their wedding reception. Eight months later on October 16, 1996, Prince and Mayte welcomed their son, Amiir. However, when he was born they discovered that he had something called Type 2 Pfeiffer Syndrome. It’s a genetic abnormality that causes the premature fusion of bones in the skull. Amiir was born with no eyelids and eyes that were “outside of the sockets.” It also fused bones in his hands and feet. Amiir was only able to survive six days. Just the thought of this makes me feel ill. I can’t imagine the devastation they felt. Three years later Prince and Mayte divorced and in a 2017 interview with People magazine Mayte said, “I don’t think he ever got over it. I don’t know how anybody can get over it. I know I haven’t.” Prince never had another child.
All of this makes “Let’s Have A Baby” a painful listen. When Prince sings lyrics like, “So long I have gazed into your eyes wondering’ what they’d look like on a newborn child,” it breaks your heart. Despite everything that happened Prince released “Let’s Have A Baby” as part of his Emancipation triple album that was released less than a month after Amiir’s death. The song is sweet and peaceful. Just Prince singing over a keyboard and bass. No drums aside from a brief intro. No guitar. Just a stripped down track with Prince’s falsetto. It would inspire happy memories if Amiir was still with us, but instead it’s difficult to hear without sadness.
I wish I had something more upbeat for you today. They can’t all be funky party jams. I’ll get back at you tomorrow when I’m not bummed out like I am right now. Let’s get something more upbeat and start the week off right tomorrow. Good night!
mookiefantana 