Born and raised in Minneapolis, Prince signed a record deal with Warner Bros. Records at the age of 19, soon releasing the albums For You (1978) and Prince (1979). He went on to achieve critical success with the influential albums Dirty Mind (1980), Controversy (1981), and 1999 (1982). His sixth album, Purple Rain (1984), was recorded with his new backing band the Revolution, and was also the soundtrack to the film of the same name in which he starred. Purple Rain garnered continued success for Prince and was a major commercial achievement, spending six consecutive months atop the Billboard 200 chart. The soundtrack also won Prince the Academy Award for Best Original Song Score. After disbanding the Revolution, Prince released the album Sign o' the Times (1987), widely hailed by critics as the greatest work of his career. In the midst of a contractual dispute with Warner Bros. in 1993, he changed his stage name to the unpronounceable symbol logo. Hollow circle above downward arrow crossed with a curlicued horn-shaped symbol and then a short bar (known to fans as the "Love Symbol") and was often referred to as The Artist Formerly Known as Prince (or TAFKAP) or simply The Artist.
After signing with Arista Records in 1998, Prince reverted to his original name in 2000. Over the next decade, six of his albums entered the U.S. top 10 charts. In April 2016, at the age of 57, Prince died after accidentally overdosing on fentanyl at his Paisley Park home and recording studio in Chanhassen, Minnesota. He was a prolific musician who released 39 albums during his life, with a vast array of unreleased material left in a custom-built bank vault underneath his home after his death, including fully completed albums and over 50 finished music videos. He also released songs under multiple pseudonyms during his life, as well as writing songs that were made popular after being covered by other musicians, most notably "Nothing Compares 2 U" by Sinéad O'Connor and "Manic Monday" by the Bangles. Estimates of the complete number of songs written by Prince range anywhere from 500 to well over 1,000. Released posthumously, his demo albums Piano and a Microphone 1983 (2018) and Originals (2019) both received critical acclaim.
Prince sold over 100 million records worldwide, ranking him among the best-selling music artists of all time. His awards included the Grammy President's Merit Award, the American Music Awards for Achievement and of Merit, the Billboard Icon Award, an Academy Award, and a Golden Globe Award. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004, the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2006, and the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame in 2016, and was inducted twice into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame in 2022.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_(musician)
Studio albums
For You (1978)
Prince (1979)
Dirty Mind (1980)
Controversy (1981)
1999 (1982)
Purple Rain (1984)
Around the World in a Day (1985)
Parade (1986)
Sign o' the Times (1987)
Lovesexy (1988)
Batman (1989)
Graffiti Bridge (1990)
Diamonds and Pearls (1991)
Love Symbol (1992)
Come (1994)
The Black Album (1994)
The Gold Experience (1995)
Chaos and Disorder (1996)
Emancipation (1996)
Crystal Ball (1998)
The Truth (1998)
The Vault: Old Friends 4 Sale (1999)
Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic (1999)
The Rainbow Children (2001)
One Nite Alone... (2002)
Xpectation (2003)
N·E·W·S (2003)
The Chocolate Invasion (2004)
The Slaughterhouse (2004)
Musicology (2004)
3121 (2006)
Planet Earth (2007)
Lotusflow3r (2009)
MPLSound (2009)
20Ten (2010)
Plectrumelectrum (2014)
Art Official Age (2014)
HITnRUN Phase One (2015)
HITnRUN Phase Two (2015)
Posthumous releases:
Piano and a Microphone 1983 (2018)
Originals (2019)
Welcome 2 America (2021)
Prince also released two albums credited to Madhouse, three albums credited to the New Power Generation, and one credited to the N.P.G. Orchestra:
Madhouse:
8 (1987)
16 (1987)
The New Power Generation:
Goldnigga (1993)
Exodus (1995)
Newpower Soul (1998)
The N.P.G. Orchestra:
Kamasutra (1997)
For Serbian singer Princ, please use Princ.
Big Tall Wall
Prince Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Come here
I got something to lay on your mind
I'm gonna build a big tall wall
Stone circle so you can't get out
Big tall wall
True love is what it's all about
If I see you in a restaurant
ooh, baby, you're all I want
Your sexy body, your curly brown hair
Try to run if you want to, I don't care!
I'm gonna build a big tall wall
Stone circle so you can't get out
Big tall wall (sugar darling)
True love is what it's all about
If I see you walkin' down the street
(See you walkin' down the street)
you be the one I wanna meet (you be the one I wanna meet)
you dress so smart (you dress so smart)
you talk so neat (you talk so neat)
you are so fine (so fine)
It's hard not to eat'cha, baby!
Big tall wall
Stone circle so you can't get out
I'm gonna build a big tall wall (oh yeah, ooh)
True love is what it's all about
B is for bold, girl that's how you make me feel
I is for ignorant, this situation's real (so real)
G is for my girlfriend, yah you know
I got another one (G is for my girlfriend)
But that ain't gonna stop me and you
From having fun (stop me, stop me)
Big tall wall
I see you in a restaurant
I don't want nothing else
you're all I want (you're all I want)
Big tall wall
Baby, I'd kiss you for youncle Sam
Pretty little baby, you're so glam
Every time I see you I wanna slam
Big tall wall
Stone circle so you can't get out, get out (you can't get out)
Big tall wall (yeah, yes I am)
True love, true love is what it's all about
Big (ooh) tall wall
B is for bold, that's how you make me feel
ooh, big tall, big tall wall
(Don't leave me like this, that's so cold)
Your sexy body, your curly brown hair
ooh, pretty baby you really take me there
Baby doll, you're so glam
Every time I see you I wanna slam (Ow, uh!)
If I see you in a restaurant (I don't want nothing else)
oh baby, baby, you're all I want (you're all I want)
Sexy body, your curly brown hair (Girl, girl, girl, girl)
you really take me there (yeah!)
I'm gonna build a big tall wall
Stone circle so you can't get out
(Build a big tall wall
(I'm gonna build a...)
(ooh, I'm gonna build a...)
True love is what it's all about
I'm gonna build a big tall wall (tall wall, tall wall, tall, baby, sugar)
Stone circle so you can't get out (Get out)
Big tall wall (I'm gonna, I'm gonna, yeah)
True love is what it's all about (True)
Stone circle so you can't get out
True love is what it's all about
{lines are repeated in foreground and background}
(Big tall wall)
I'm gonna
I'm gonna build a big tall wall
Baby doll, you're so glam
Every time I see you I wanna slam
you have the nerve to walk up my street
Didn't anybody tell you that
My modus operandi left a lot to be desired?
I got more holes than a golf course
oh yeah, you're hot company
Take your time 'cause in the back room
I'm building a
Honey, (little bitch), you're so mean
Every time I see you I wanna sc-sc-sc-sc-scream
(oh mama, your body's like that)
You wanna rap?
you dress so smart
you talk so neat
you're just my style girl (tall wall)
you wanna see my (tall wall)
you wanna see my walls? (tall wall) (I see you walking down the street?)
(Let me put you behind my big tall wall)
you wanna see my bridge? (I just wanna eat'cha, honey)
Well what'cha want, what'cha wanna see? (B is for bold, baby)
(Let me put you behind my big tall wall) (how you make me feel)
(I just wanna eat'cha, honey) (I is for ignorant, this situation's real)
G is for my girlfriend (I'm gonna do ya)
you know I got another one
But that ain't gonna stop
Me and you from having
Me and you from having fun
The lyrics of Prince's song Big Tall Wall talks about his desire for a woman and his need to keep her isolated behind a big tall wall. Prince sings about building a strong wall around the woman so she cannot leave, and how he would enjoy seeing her walk down the street dressed so smart and talking so neat. He sings about how he would meet her in a restaurant, and how she is all he wants. The lyrics reiterate that Prince wants to build the wall for the sake of love and that true love is the motivator behind this.
The lyrics have a strong element of possessiveness and control over the woman’s will, almost making her a prisoner. Nevertheless, the song is interpreted as a commentary on love and modern-day society, where boundaries are not respected, and everyone is free to roam. Besides this interpretation, many listeners view it as an insulting, misogynistic song that objectifies women.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey sugar
Starting off the conversation with affection and endearment.
Come here
Asking them to come closer physically, to pay attention to what's being said.
I got something to lay on your mind
Promise to share something important that has been bothering the singer's mind.
I'm gonna build a big tall wall
Symbolic wall that represents the artist's defensive mechanism against the world, keeping their love interest trapped inside, isolated from everything else.
Stone circle so you can't get out
Adding an extra layer, making it difficult for the person trapped inside the wall to escape; signifies the artist's insecurity and need for control.
True love is what it's all about
Justifying these actions as coming from a place of love, despite the controlling and toxic behavior.
If I see you in a restaurant
The singer is stalking the person they have feelings for, making a point to be where they are, forcing themselves into their lives without consent.
ooh, baby, you're all I want
Repetition of the desire to have the object of their affections, making it clear that they won't stop until they get what they want.
Your sexy body, your curly brown hair
Objectifying the person and reducing them to their physical attributes and appearance.
Try to run if you want to, I don't care!
The artist disregards the person's consent or agency, confident they will succeed in trapping them regardless of their attempts to leave.
B is for bold, girl that's how you make me feel
The singer is admiring the person's boldness, but also projecting their own feelings onto them without considering the person's point of view.
I is for ignorant, this situation's real (so real)
The artist acknowledges their ignorance and lack of consideration for the other person, but continues with their actions despite this knowledge.
G is for my girlfriend, yah you know
Admitting to having a girlfriend already, but still pursuing someone else for their own selfish reasons.
I got another one (G is for my girlfriend)
Repeating the admission of having a girlfriend, highlighting the singer's own infidelity and disregard for other people's feelings.
But that ain't gonna stop me and you
The singer is determined to continue pursuing the person, despite knowing the harm it may cause to everyone involved.
From having fun (stop me, stop me)
Justifying their toxic behavior and the potential hurt it could inflict as something that's worth it because they perceive it as 'fun'.
Big tall wall
Repeating the concept of the wall, emphasizing the prominence of it and how important it is to the artist's idea of love.
Stone circle so you can't get out, get out (you can't get out)
Increasing the level of difficulty to leave, iterating that the person is trapped and has no way of escaping the singer's grasp.
Baby, I'd kiss you for young Uncle Sam
The singer is overly eager to show their affection, offering to do it even for trivial reasons like patriotism.
Pretty little baby, you're so glam
Once again, the artist reduces the person to their physical attributes, exemplifying their toxic nature.
Every time I see you I wanna slam
Objectifying the person again and highlighting the artist's aggressive tendencies and lack of respect for boundaries.
B is for bold, that's how you make me feel
Repeating the same line as earlier, once again projecting their feelings onto the other person without considering their own role in the situation.
ooh, big tall, big tall wall
Repeating the phrase to emphasize its importance once again.
Your sexy body, your curly brown hair
Repeating the same line as earlier, once again objectifying the person and their physical attributes.
ooh, pretty baby you really take me there
Repeating the objectification of the person and highlighting how they evoke feelings from the singer without considering if those feelings are appropriate or not.
Big (ooh) tall wall
Repetition of the phrase, once again emphasizing its importance and prominence.
I don't want nothing else
The singer's insistence on only wanting the person they have feelings for, displaying entitlement and lack of respect for people's choices.
you're all I want (you're all I want)
Repeating the desire to have the person, putting pressure on them and their feelings, disregarding any potential consequences it might have.
I'm building a
Indicating that the wall is being constructed right now, and that the artist is taking active steps to isolate the person they fancy.
Honey, (little bitch), you're so mean
Using derogatory language, further objectifying the person and highlighting the singer's antagonism towards them.
Every time I see you I wanna sc-sc-sc-sc-scream
Emphasizing the negative feelings the singer has towards the person, portraying them as a victim rather than acknowledging the harm they're causing by their actions.
G is for my girlfriend
Repeating the admission of having a partner, emphasizing the artist's unfaithfulness and selfishness.
you know I got another one
Repeating the same line as earlier, once again showing the artist's disregard and lack of respect for their partner and the person they're pursuing.
Me and you from having fun
The artist's insistence on having 'fun' regardless of the hurt it may cause to others, highlighting their selfish and entitled behavior.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Prince Rogers Nelson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind