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.
Days of Wild
Prince Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Break down
This is a bust (Hold onto your wits!)
All you sorry motherfuckers up against the wall
If you don't play, bite the dust
Cause in a couple of simple fuckin' phrases
I'm gonna hip you to the fuckin' place of
Cause these are the days of wild - hit me!
[Repeat: 2X]
(Hold onto your wits!)
Pop guns and weed?
Brother please!
We're to wise for now, since the other 90's was better suited for that biz
Back when Dick was fuckin' Liz
Before soda pop had fizz
Don't blame it on a jockstrap full of jizz
Mentality so insane
I got a Tech-9 to and it's called my brain
Shoot another brother? Not today
Death from envy is the only way
Here I can tear shit up 'cause that's my style
And these are the days of wild - hit me! (Hold onto your wits!)
These are the days of wild (Hold onto your wits!)
These are the days of wild
Hooker, bitch and ho, I don't think so
I only knew one and never told her though
I thought about many times (Diss me?)
But that's the kind of shit that make you check your mind
Is your blood type the type that flows
Or is your blood type the type just stereo?
A woman every day should be thanked
Not disrespected, not raped or spanked
And if a woman ever said I did
Uh, she's a motherfuckin' liar and I'm a set-up kid
And I can tear shit up y'all 'cause that's my style
And these are the days of wild - hit me! (Hold onto your wits!)
These are the days of wild (Hold onto your wits!)
Oh oh oh, by the way, I play guitar!
Tennis shoes and caps, now that's phat
Up until the day another want to laugh behind your back
Sayin' we all look the same, huh
God bless America, home of the brave
I'd rather dress to make a woman stare
I'm puttin' on somethin' that another won't dare
It's a freezer burn compared to cool
And if you still got loot, then who's the fool?
Everybody want to take the stand
Mind your own motherfucker, let a man be a man
I can tear shit up y'all 'cause that's my style
And these are the days of wild - hit me! (Hold onto your wits!)
These are the days of wild - hit me! (Hold onto your wits!)
These are the days of wild - hit me!
Much props to the upside down double six
Baddest, freezer burnin', head turnin', make a brother yearnin',
Sister walkin' the face
You know who you are
For love
[Repeat: 2X]
(Hold onto your wits!)
[Repeat to fade]
Hit me!
"Days of Wild" is a song by Prince, released initially as a live version on his 2002 album One Nite Alone... Live!. The song begins with a warning for the listener to hold onto their wits as Prince sets the scene for the "brand new mad style" of the days of wild. The lyrics evoke feelings of rebellion, power, and confidence. Prince mocks those who rely on "pop guns and weed," instead positioning himself as someone with a "Tech-9," a metaphor for his fiercely intelligent and creative brain.
Prince also takes aim at misogyny and sexism, stating that women should be respected and not disrespected, raped, or spanked. He asserts that if a woman accuses him of doing those things, she is lying, and he is "a set-up kid." The song's message seems to be one of empowerment and self-assurance, encouraging listeners to embrace their individuality and not conform to societal norms.
Overall, "Days of Wild" is a high-energy, aggressive track that embodies the wild spirit of Prince and his music. The song has a strong funk-rock feel and features powerful guitar work from Prince. It's a standout track from his live album and a testament to his electric live performances.
Line by Line Meaning
(Hold... hold... hold onto your wits!)
Get ready, hold onto your wits!
Break down This is a bust (Hold onto your wits!)
This is a breakdown or problem, so brace yourself.
All you sorry motherfuckers up against the wall
All the people who are doing wrong or not following the rules, you are cornered.
If you don't play, bite the dust
If you don't follow the rules, you will suffer the consequences.
Cause in a couple of simple fuckin' phrases I'm gonna hip you to the fuckin' place of The brand new mad style, uh
I will soon tell you about the new happening trend in town through my simple words.
Cause these are the days of wild - hit me!
These are crazy times - let's get started or listen to me!
Pop guns and weed? Brother please! We're too wise for now, since the other 90's was better suited for that biz
Weapons and drugs? No way, we are too smart than to do that. The 90s was a better time when those things worked.
Back when Dick was fuckin' Liz Before soda pop had fizz Don't blame it on a jockstrap full of jizz
This refers to the time when things were different, regardless of biological impulses or influences.
Mentality so insane I got a Tech-9 to and it's called my brain
My way of thinking is crazy, like with a weapon called Tech-9, but it's just my mind.
Shoot another brother? Not today Death from envy is the only way
Killing another person is not a solution, but envy can lead to it.
Here I can tear shit up 'cause that's my style And these are the days of wild - hit me! (Hold onto your wits!) These are the days of wild (Hold onto your wits!) These are the days of wild
I can destroy it all, because it's in my nature. These are the crazy times, so be ready!
Hooker, bitch and ho, I don't think so I only knew one and never told her though I thought about many times (Diss me?) But that's the kind of shit that make you check your mind
I have respect for all women and never treated them poorly. Even the thought of it makes me self-reflect.
Is your blood type the type that flows Or is your blood type the type just stereo?
Is your blood worth spilling or are you just a stereo-type?
A woman every day should be thanked Not disrespected, not raped or spanked And if a woman ever said I did Uh, she's a motherfuckin' liar and I'm a set-up kid
A woman should always be respected, thanked and never harmed. If someone accuses me of doing the contrary, they are lying.
And I can tear shit up y'all 'cause that's my style And these are the days of wild - hit me! (Hold onto your wits!) These are the days of wild (Hold onto your wits!)
I can destroy anything because that's the kind of person I am. Be ready for crazy times!
Oh oh oh, by the way, I play guitar!
By the way, I'm good at playing guitar!
Tennis shoes and caps, now that's phat Up until the day another want to laugh behind your back Sayin' we all look the same, huh God bless America, home of the brave
Tennis shoes and caps are cool until someone makes fun of you, saying that we all look similar or the same. God bless America where people dare to be unique.
I'd rather dress to make a woman stare I'm puttin' on somethin' that another won't dare It's a freezer burn compared to cool And if you still got loot, then who's the fool?
I'd rather dress to impress women and put on something that others wouldn't wear. Even though it might not be cool for them, I still got money - who's really the fool?
Everybody want to take the stand Mind your own motherfucker, let a man be a man I can tear shit up y'all 'cause that's my style And these are the days of wild - hit me! (Hold onto your wits!) These are the days of wild - hit me! (Hold onto your wits!) These are the days of wild - hit me!
Everyone wants to have an opinion or take the mic, just let people be themselves. I can destroy anything because that's my nature. Get ready for crazy times!
Much props to the upside down double six Baddest, freezer burnin', head turnin', make a brother yearnin', Sister walkin' the face You know who you are For love
Special thanks and love to those who dare to be different and stand out even if it's not comfortable.
(Hold onto your wits!)
Be ready!
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PRINCE ROGERS NELSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind