Leaving For New York is an unreleased track recorded as a home recording in early-mid 1976 at the Russell Ave, Anderson house, Minneapolis, Minnesota (during the same set of sessions as Don't You Wanna Ride?, Hey Lover, I Spend My Time Loving You, nine untitled Instrumentals, Nightingale and Rock Me, Lover). He soon re-recorded the track in Summer 1976 at Moonsound, Minneapolis, Minnesota (during the same set of sessions as Aces, Baby, Diamond Eyes, Don't Forget, Don't Hold Back, Fantasy, I'm Yours, Jelly Jam (which was later used as the instrumental portion of Just As Long As We're Together), Love Is Forever (later renamed My Love Is Forever), Make It Through The Storm, Since We've Been Together, Surprise and Soft And Wet). The songs lyrics include what is believed to be Prince's first use of the words "purple", "rain" and "dawn" in a song. Although it is not stated in the song why the narrator is "leaving for New York", it can be interpreted that Prince is singing about going there to begin his music career; Prince traveled to New York City in Autumn, 1976, taking with him a demo tape to give to various record companies.
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