The Prince
Metallica feat. Sean Harris & Brian Tatler Lyrics
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Such a lonely place, no golden mile
Eyes tell of morbid tales, of his black heart
His deeds through ages past, tell of his part
See his face, see his smile
Time to die
Yo-ooh, wo-ooh, noo
Angel from below, change my dreams
I want for glory's hour, for wealth's esteem
I wish to sell my soul, to be reborn
I wish for earthly riches, don't want no crown of thorns
See his face, see his smile
Time to die
Wo-ooh, oo-ooh, noo
I was born a fool, don't want to stay that way
Devil take my soul, with diamonds you repay
I don't care for heaven, so don't you look for me to cry
And I will burn in hell, from the day I die
See his face, see his smile
Time to die
Wo-ooh, no-ooh, no
The lyrics of Metallica feat. Sean Harris & Brian Tatler's song The Prince is a classic tale of temptation and the desire for material wealth. The singer acknowledges the face and smile of the devil, revealing the hopelessness and loneliness of the world they find themselves in. He tells of the blackness of the devil's heart - a symbol of his wickedness - and how history is filled with his evil deeds. Throughout the song, we see the singer struggling with his own morality and the devil's offer.
In the second stanza, the singer expresses his desire for earthly riches and glory, willing to trade his soul to be reborn as a wealthy man. He desires the opulence that wealth brings, without wanting to suffer any of the pain. The words "don't want no crown of thorns" allude to the crown of thorns that Jesus Christ wore during the crucifixion, a symbol of the suffering that accompanies the pursuit of righteousness. The singer is not willing to go through that pain, even if it means sacrificing his morality.
The final part of the song sees the singer accepting his fate - he was born a fool, and he will die that way. The devil will take his soul, and in exchange, he will be rewarded with earthly riches. He doesn't want anyone to cry for him, even if he's going to burn in hell. In this way, he embraces his other-worldly fate, rather than run from it.
Line by Line Meaning
Now I see his face, I see his smile
The singer encounters the devil and takes notice of the devil's appearance
Such a lonely place, no golden mile
The setting in which they meet is desolate and without luxury
Eyes tell of morbid tales, of his black heart
The devil's eyes hint at his malevolent nature and inclination towards evil
His deeds through ages past, tell of his part
The devil has been involved in acts of wickedness throughout history
Angel from below, change my dreams
The devil is referred to as an angel from below, who can manipulate the artist's thoughts and dreams
I want for glory's hour, for wealth's esteem
The singer desires material wealth and recognition
I wish to sell my soul, to be reborn
The singer is willing to sacrifice his soul for a fresh start and a better life
I wish for earthly riches, don't want no crown of thorns
The artist doesn't seek spiritual rewards, but instead wants tangible riches without suffering
I was born a fool, don't want to stay that way
The artist feels regret for foolish choices made in the past, but wishes to improve himself
Devil take my soul, with diamonds you repay
The artist is willing to give his soul to the devil if he's granted wealth and luxury in return
I don't care for heaven, so don't you look for me to cry
The singer has no interest in redemption or salvation, and doesn't expect compassion from others
And I will burn in hell, from the day I die
The artist acknowledges the punishment he'll face in the afterlife for his sins
See his face, see his smile
Repetition of the earlier stanza to reinforce the appearance of the devil, and to emphasize that his nature hasn't changed
Time to die
A final proclamation of acceptance of the deal with the devil and the consequences that will follow
Wo-ooh, no-ooh, no
Vocalization to bring the song to an intense conclusion
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: SEAN LYNDON HARRIS, BRIAN ANDREW TATLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind