With just over a week left until the launch of his Welcome 2 Chicago residency, Prince is working the national media circuit today. He was a guest on talk show The View this morning (coincidentally, on the same episode that featured former Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura), chatting up Barbara Walters and the show's other hosts about his new run of tour dates and his love of Springsteen, and simultaneously debuted a new song, "RNR Affair," on Clear Channel-owned radio stations across the country.

Many radio stations are still playing the new song on the top of every hour, and there are already a few streams of it floating around online; if the SoundCloud embed below doesn't work, you can stream it over on Dr. Funkenberry's site.

To my ears, it's the best thing I've heard from the Purple One since his 2007 single "Guitar." The composition sounds way less cheesy and dated than his other recent offerings (though he still insists on using synth horns instead of the real deal), and the shuffling beat sinks us into a classic Prince groove. Rumor has it the track will be on his next album, but details on when and how that will be released are fuzzier than dude's new afro.

What do you think about the new track?

Here are the lyrics, as interpreted by the Prince.org fan message board; apparently the title is short for "Rock 'n' Roll Love Affair":

she believed in fairy tales and princes
he believed the voices coming from his stereo
he believed in rock and roll

she left her past and those lilly white fences
and headed out to hollywood in search of her soul
but she had to pay the toll (yes she did)

they were bound to find each other
he needed proof, she needed a brother
that's when stars collide
when there's space for what you want
and your heart is open wide

wait a minute

he gave up women for the stripes of the road
and learned the meaning of grace
that's when his cup overflowed
and she said: "hello"

he said "my faith keeps me from willin'
but you know that i'm able
and if there's some room
i'd like to sit at your table"
she said "it's tight, but i think i can fit you in"

this kind of love don't come from a prayer
ain't talking rebound, born of despair
yellow sun rising on their bodies in bed
two people in love, with nothing but the road ahead

ah yeah, oh hoo
oh oh oh oh ooh oooooh
let's go

she believed in fairy tales and princes
he believed in jazz, rhythm and blues
and this thing called soul
he believed in rock and roll
hear me

she wanted to see her name appear on the big screen
he just wanted to hear her scream his name
can you scream my name? do you know what i mean?

this kind of love don't come from a prayer
ain't talking rebound, born of despair
yellow sun rising on their bodies in bed
two people in love with nothing but the road ahead

rock, rock, love affair
rock, rock, love affair
rock, rock, love affair