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.
Crystal Ball
Prince Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You ever had a Crystal Ball?
Expert lover, my baby
You ever had a Crystal Ball?
Ooh, expert lover, my baby
Ever had a Crystal Ball?
Expert lover, my baby
You ever had a Crystal Ball?
As bombs explode around us and hate advances on the right
The only thing that matters, baby, is the love that we make tonight
As little babies in make-up terrorize the western world
The only thing that matters, baby, is love between a boy and girl
Oh, expert lover, my baby
You ever had a Crystal Ball?
Undercover, no maybe
All for fun and fun for all
I can't remember my baby's voice 'cause she ain't talkin' no more
Only the sound of love and prayer echo from the yellow floor, yellow floor
Huh, she's sayin' C "Dear Jesus, save us from temptation
Dear Jesus, save us from hell
Save us from the madness that threatens us all
Can you hear us?
It's hard to tell
In your name we pray".
Expert lover, my baby
Ever had a Crystal Ball?
Undercover, no maybe
All for fun, fun for all
As soldiers draw swords of sorrow
My baby draws pictures of sex (Yes, she does)
All over the walls in graphic detail, sex!
Everybody say it now
Expert lover, huh, my baby
Ever had a Crystal Ball?
Under, undercover, ha, no maybe
All for fun and fun for all
Rip it, ouch! Uh
Expert lover, my baby
Ever had a Crystal Ball?
Uh, expert lover, my baby (My baby)
Ever had a Crystal Ball?
Crystal Ball
Expert
My baby, my baby, my baby, my baby
Kiss me, lick me, trick me, whoa!
Oh yeah, yeah
Come on, come on, come on, won't you come on?
Expert lover, huh, my baby
Have you ever had a Crystal Ball?
Don't you want to?
What my drummer want to say?
Don't you want to?
What my drummer want to say?
Yeah! Drummer
Tell me what the bass said
Yeah
Oh, ow!
Listen to my, uh, listen to my bass man play
Alright, (Expert lover, my baby is alright)
Alright, (Undercover, my baby is alright)
Listen to the guitar play
Hey! Wait a minute now
It's groovy
Ouch! Guitar, guitar
Come on now
Oh yeah!
My baby licked me fast
Her mama watch her gas
Come on, baby, do me fast
Come on, come on
Your mathematical gas
Uh
Ooh wee!
Darlin', darlin', you know you want a Cry, Crystal Ball
Crystal Ball
I don't know, I have to ask my mommy first
As bombs explode around you and hate advances on your right
The only thing you can be sure of is the love we make tonight
Expert lover, my baby
Ever had a Crystal Ball?
Take off your clothes, baby
Come on, get the Crystal Ball
Oh, expert lover, my baby
You ever had a Crystal Ball?
Come on, take off your clothes, baby
Come on, get the Crystal Ball
Come on!
Expert lover, my baby
Ever had a Crystal Ball?
Oh, my baby, my baby, my baby
Come on, get the, get the, get the Crystal Ball
Oh, you ever had a Crystal Ball?
The lyrics of Prince's song "Crystal Ball" are about love, sex, and temptation in the midst of chaos and destruction. The singer addresses his lover, who he refers to as an "expert lover," and asks if she ever had a Crystal Ball, an allusion to the concept of clairvoyance and seeing into the future. As bombs explode and hate advances, the singer emphasizes that the only thing that matters is the love they make tonight. The lyrics also reference the terror inflicted upon the western world and the importance of love between a boy and girl.
The singer's lover is described as drawing pictures of sex on the walls in graphic detail, while soldiers draw swords of sorrow. The lyrics also include a prayer to Jesus for salvation from temptation and madness. The song ultimately ends with the singer and his lover getting naked and enjoying each other's company, with the repeated refrain of "Expert lover, my baby, ever had a Crystal Ball?"
Line by Line Meaning
Expert lover, my baby
Prince is addressing his lover as an "expert lover".
You ever had a Crystal Ball?
Prince is asking his lover whether she has ever experienced a moment of intense clarity or a vision of the future.
As bombs explode around us and hate advances on the right
The world is going through a difficult phase where negative emotions like hate and anger are gaining ground causing chaos and destruction.
The only thing that matters, baby, is the love that we make tonight
Amidst all the negativity in the world, the only thing that can provide solace is love, and Prince emphasizes its importance by saying that what matters to them is to be with each other and to love each other.
As little babies in make-up terrorize the western world
Prince seems to be referring to the growing sense of violence and unrest, where innocent children dressed up as clowns are the ones causing harm and instilling fear.
The only thing that matters, baby, is love between a boy and girl
Prince believes that love between two people is the only thing that truly matters in the world.
Undercover, no maybe
Prince is indicating that they should keep their actions discreet and secretive.
All for fun and fun for all
Prince wants to keep their relationship enjoyable and not have any strings attached.
I can't remember my baby's voice 'cause she ain't talkin' no more
Prince remembers his lover's voice but he hasn't heard it for a while due to some reason, and he misses it.
Only the sound of love and prayer echo from the yellow floor, yellow floor
Despite her silence, Prince can hear a faint sound of love and prayers in the room coming from his lover, which indicates her devotion and commitment.
She's sayin' C "Dear Jesus, save us from temptation
Prince imagines that his lover is praying to be saved from being tempted away from their love.
Dear Jesus, save us from hell
Prince's lover is seeking divine intervention to help them stay away from anything negative that can harm their love.
Save us from the madness that threatens us all
Prince's lover is praying to be saved from the chaos and confusion that can destroy them both.
Can you hear us? It's hard to tell
Prince thinks that divine intervention may be hard to come by since their prayers may not be heard amidst all the madness in the world.
In your name we pray"
Prince's lover is invoking the power of Jesus to help them stay true and strong in their love.
As soldiers draw swords of sorrow
Prince is implying that the world is at war, and armies of soldiers are sharpening their swords for an imminent battle.
My baby draws pictures of sex
Prince's lover creates lust-filled images of sex and desire.
Everybody say it now Expert lover, huh, my baby
Prince is emphasizing his lover's expertise in lovemaking and is urging others to acknowledge her skills.
Rip it, ouch! Uh
This line is an exclamation of excitement and anticipation for the upcoming sexual encounter.
Don't you want to? What my drummer want to say? Don't you want to? What my drummer want to say?
Prince is piquing their curiosity and asking his drummer what he wants to say next. The repetition of this line emphasizes the urgency of the question.
Tell me what the bass said
Prince wants to know what type of bass sound is being played in the music.
Listen to my, uh, listen to my bass man play
Prince is emphasizing the importance of the bass in the music.
Alright, (Expert lover, my baby is alright) Alright, (Undercover, my baby is alright)
Prince reassures his lover that everything is okay and that they can continue their sexual encounter.
Hey! Wait a minute now It's groovy Ouch! Guitar, guitar
This line is Prince's expression of excitement during the guitar solo in the song.
Your mathematical gas
This line is Prince's reference to the magic and chemistry that exists between him and his lover.
Darlin', darlin', you know you want a Cry, Crystal Ball
Prince is suggesting that his lover wants a moment of clarity and insight into what lies ahead for them and that cry, crystal ball could provide that.
I don't know, I have to ask my mommy first
This line is spoken in a childlike tone, emphasizing the idea of needing approval or permission from a parent before doing something, even if it is something playful like accessing a crystal ball.
Take off your clothes, baby Come on, get the Crystal Ball
Prince is getting excited and urging his lover to take her clothes off so that they can get down to business.
Come on, come on, come on, won't you come on?
Prince is impatient and wants his lover to get on with the lovemaking already.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PRINCE ROGERS NELSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind