"Controversy" is the title track and lead single to the 1981 album by Prince. One of his most respected classic funk songs, "Controversy" addresses certain rumors about Prince at the time such as his sexuality and racial background, and how he could not understand the curiosity about him. The song has two main verses, a few choruses, with the title repeated throughout the track. Towards the middle he recites the Lord's Prayer in full, which fueled the fire for some to say the song was blasphemous. Toward the end is a repeating chant of doggerel: "People call me rude / I wish we all were nude / I wish there was no black and white / I wish there were no rules." The song is straight funk with a steady drumbeat, synthesized bass, "chicken grease" guitar and keyboards. The song was backed with "When You Were Mine", from his previous album, Dirty Mind.