"Dear Prudence" is a song orginally by The Beatles featured in Across the Universe. It is sung by Lucy, Sadie, Max and Jude and takes place at Sadie's house.
Prudence is an Asian American who has been physically abused in her recent past. For reasons that are related to this she has been living with Sadie and the rest of the group.
Her sexual orientation has been hinted at since the very opening song in the movie. This is a theme that the movie ultimately revolves around ; Everyone has a war inside themselves raging, and everyone has the ability to fight back against Injustice.
The movie is a compilation of a core group of friends doing just that.
This song is a vignette into the inner battles of Prudence and is a powerful statement of the movies other theme; Love.
The song is sung to her by her friends who are telling her they love her unconditionally and accept her with out question.
She has locked herself in a closet after realising that she is attracted to her female roommate Sadie.
The movie takes place in the 60s where such a revealing thought or subsequent action, could have dire perceived consequences.
The song concludes with the group participation in a freedom march and rally. The signs the activists are carrying have slogans depicting "Stop Hate" and other Pro LGBT supportive sayings.
Thus further illustration on the lyrics "Open up your eyes and greet the brand new day." They have encouraged her to "look around" and see that times are changing, and they stand by her because they feel that "it's beautiful, and so are you."
Lyrics[]
Sadie: Dear prudence, won't you come out to play? Dear prudence, greet the brand new day. The sun is up, the sky is blue. It's beautiful and so are you. Dear prudence, won't you come out to play?
Jude: Dear prudence, open up your eyes.
Lucy: Dear prudence, see the sunny skies.
Max, Jude and Lucy: The wind is low the birds will sing That you are part of everything.
Max: Dear prudence, won't you open up your eyes?
Max, Jude and Lucy: Look around round Look around round round Look around.
Dear prudence, won't you come out to play? Dear prudence, greet the brand new day. The sun is up, the sky is blue. It's beautiful and so are you. Dear prudence, won't you come out to play?
Look around round Look around round round Look around.
Trivia[]
- The film uses the song as a subtle reference to Prudence character's reluctance to 'come out of the closet' in relation to her sexual orientation.
The song is sung to her by her friends who are telling her they love her unconditionally and accept her with out question. She has locked herself in a closet after realising that she is in love with her female roommate. The movie takes place in the 60s where such a revaluation could have dire consequences for a proper young lady. The song concludes with the group participation in a freedom march and rally. The signs the activists are carrying have slogans depicting "Stop Hate" and other Pro LGBT supportive sayings. Thus further illustration on the lyrics "Open up your eyes and greet the brand new day." They have encouraged her to "look around" and see that times are changing, and they stand by her because they feel that "it's beautifu, and so are you."
Videos[]
Across the Universe - Dear Prudence
The Beatles - Dear Prudence