Prince: “Thieves in the Temple” – Handwritten Lyrics

Prince: “Thieves in the Temple” – Handwritten Lyrics

Song: Thieves in the Temple From the album: Graffiti Bridge (1990)

Rare handwritten working draft of “Thieves in the Temple”, one of Prince’s standout singles from the Graffiti Bridge era. The page shows Prince’s creative process with multiple revisions, crossed-out lines, circled sections, and structural notes.

Key Content	Notable Details
The lyrics feature the iconic chorus “There comes a thief in the temple tonight…” along with verses exploring themes of betrayal, desire, and spiritual conflict. Visible edits include changes to phrasing, repeated “Chorus” markings, and the note “Dream” at the bottom. This draft captures Prince’s meticulous songwriting style — constantly refining words and structure even for a major hit single.	“Thieves in the Temple” was released as the lead single from Graffiti Bridge in 1990 and became a Top 10 R&B hit. The handwritten document offers a fascinating glimpse into Prince’s raw creative process during a highly productive period in his career.

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