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Strange Relationship: Sign ‘O’ the Times and Prince’s Pursuit of Happiness. The dissolution of his iconic band The Revolution marked a turning point in Prince’s life and career. The music he made while settled in his Galpin Boulevard love nest with girlfriend Susannah Melvoin would provide the foundation for one of the most ambitious, eclectic albums of the 1980s. Sign ‘O’ the Times would explore familiar themes found in Prince’s earlier works: social awareness, joie de vivre, and spiritual yearning (to name a few). Beyond these, though, the themes of love, sex, and commitment would be treated with a type of reverence and intimacy not seen in the Purple One’s music before or after. The artist had found his muse, and he was committed to forging a lasting love with her. This paper examines the love story which runs throughout the 1987 double album, as seen through the lens of Prince’s theoretical quest for happiness and fulfillment in his romantic connection with Susannah. I analyze the lyrical and metaphorical meanings of songs (such as “Starfish and Coffee,” “If I Was Your Girlfriend,” “Strange Relationship,” and “Forever in My Life,” in addition to vault outtakes like “Crucial” and “All My Dreams” from the Sign ‘O’ the Times Super Deluxe Edition box set), and link those meanings to corresponding events in the life of the artist. Quotes from those in Prince’s inner circle at the time, including (but not limited to) audio engineer Susan Rogers and the muse herself, Susannah Melvoin, add richness and depth to the analysis of a beautifully strange relationship. Chris Johnson is an independent researcher from Le Center, Minnesota. In 2008, he published a short French-language memoir entitled Poisson bleu (Blue Fish). Chris earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in French and English from Augustana University in 2013. His research interests lie in American popular culture, French literature and culture, and advocacy for people with Cerebral Palsy. He has been a fan of Minneapolis musician, Prince Rogers Nelson, from the age of three. Chris hosts a podcast, the Purple Knights Podcast, a round-table discussion on Prince and related artists and people. New episodes are posted online every few months.