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.
Girlfriend
Prince Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ooh, oh
Ooh, hoo, oh yeah
Ooh, hoo
If I was your girlfriend, would you remember
To tell me all the things you forgot when I was your man?
Hey hey, when I was your man
If I was your best friend, would you let me
Take care of you and do all the things that only a best friend can?
Oh, only best friends can
If I was your girlfriend
Ooh, hoo, ho ooh
If I was your girlfriend
If I was your girlfriend, would you let me dress you
I mean, help you pick out your clothes before we go out?
Not that you're helpless
But sometime, sometime those are the things that bein' in love's about
If I was your one and only friend
Would you run to me if somebody hurt you even if that somebody was me, yeah
Sometimes I trip on how happy we could be, please
If I was your girlfriend
Ooh, hoo, hoo
If I was your girlfriend
Would you let me wash your hair?
Could I make you breakfast sometime?
Well then, could we just hang out
I mean, could we go to a movie and cry together?
'Cause to me baby, that would be so fine (that would be so fine), ooh
(If I was your girlfriend)
Baby, can I dress you
I mean, help you pick out your clothes before we go out? (if I was your girlfriend)
Listen girl, I ain't sayin you're helpless
But sometime, sometime those are the things that bein' in love's about
Sugar
Sugar, do you know what I'm saying to you this evening? (If I was your girlfriend)
Maybe you think I'm being a little self-centered
But I, I said I want to be all of the things you are to me (if I was your girlfriend)
Surely, surely you can see
Is it really necessary for me to go out of the room
Just because you want to undress?
We don't have to make children to make love
And we don't have to make love to have an orgasm
Your body's what I'm all about
Can I see it?
I'll show you
Why not?
You can do it because I'm your friend
I'd do it for you
Of course I'd undress in front of you
And when I'm naked, what shall I do?
How can I make you see that it's cool?
Can't you just trust me?
If I was your girlfriend, you could
Oh yeah, I think so
Listen, for you naked I would dance a ballet
Would that get you off?
Tell me what will
If I was your girlfriend, would you tell me?
Would you let me see you naked then?
Would you let me give you a bath?
Would you let me tickle you so hard you'd laugh and laugh
And would you, would you let me kiss you there
You know, down there where it counts
I'll do it so good, I swear I'll drink every ounce
And then I'll hold you tight and hold you long
And together we'll stare into silence
And we'll try to imagine what it looks like
Yeah, we'll try to imagine what, what silence looks like
Yeah, we'll, we'll try to imagine what silence looks like
Yeah, we'll try
The lyrics to Prince's song If I Was Your Girlfriend explore the idea of what it would be like if the singer was in a more intimate relationship with his partner. He suggests that if he were his girlfriend, he would pay close attention to all the little details in her life that he may have overlooked before. He asks if she would let him dress her, help her pick out her clothes, and take care of her like a best friend would. The song also touches on the idea of trust and openness in a relationship as he asks if she would let him see her naked and give her a bath.
At its core, the song is about the desire for greater intimacy and closeness in a relationship. Instead of just being lovers, the singer wants to be his partner's best friend, confidante, and someone who knows them intimately. He suggests that these deeper levels of connection and affection are what real love is all about.
The lyrics can also be seen as challenging traditional gender roles and expectations in relationships. The singer's desire to dress his girlfriend and wash her hair are typically seen as feminine activities, suggesting that he is not confined by societal norms of masculinity and is willing to break down those barriers in a relationship.
Overall, If I Was Your Girlfriend is a poignant exploration of the complexities of relationships and the benefits of greater openness and intimacy.
Line by Line Meaning
Look at the bargains over here, ladies
Prince is calling out to the ladies, indicating that he has something of value to offer them.
If I was your girlfriend, would you remember To tell me all the things you forgot when I was your man? Hey hey, when I was your man
Prince wonders if he could have a deeper, more intimate relationship with someone where they can reveal everything to each other and not keep secrets.
If I was your best friend, would you let me Take care of you and do all the things that only a best friend can? Oh, only best friends can
Prince would like to have an even deeper relationship, implying that a best friend can be the ultimate confidante.
If I was your girlfriend, would you let me dress you I mean, help you pick out your clothes before we go out? Not that you're helpless But sometime, sometime those are the things that bein' in love's about
Prince is expressing the desire to be involved in all aspects of his partner's life, even things like helping her pick out clothes.
If I was your one and only friend Would you run to me if somebody hurt you even if that somebody was me, yeah Sometimes I trip on how happy we could be, please
Prince wants to be someone his partner can always count on, even if he is the cause of her pain. He longs for a relationship where happiness knows no limits.
Would you let me wash your hair? Could I make you breakfast sometime? Well then, could we just hang out I mean, could we go to a movie and cry together? 'Cause to me baby, that would be so fine (that would be so fine), ooh
Prince desires a relationship where the little things matter, like washing his partner's hair, making breakfast, and just spending quality time together.
Sugar
Prince is calling out affectionately to his partner.
Sugar, do you know what I'm saying to you this evening? (If I was your girlfriend) Maybe you think I'm being a little self-centered But I, I said I want to be all of the things you are to me (if I was your girlfriend) Surely, surely you can see
Prince is trying to express his desire for deeper intimacy with his partner and hopes she sees that he wants to experience what it is like to be in her position as well.
Is it really necessary for me to go out of the room Just because you want to undress? We don't have to make children to make love And we don't have to make love to have an orgasm Your body's what I'm all about Can I see it? I'll show you Why not?
Prince wants to blur the traditional lines of gender roles and asks why he should leave the room when his partner undresses. He insists that sex isn't the most important part of a relationship and expresses that he is interested in his partner's body.
You can do it because I'm your friend I'd do it for you Of course I'd undress in front of you And when I'm naked, what shall I do?
Prince reaffirms that he is his partner's friend and wants to show that he would do anything for her. He confirms that he would also undress in her presence and is curious about what his next move would be.
How can I make you see that it's cool? Can't you just trust me? If I was your girlfriend, you could Oh yeah, I think so
Prince is trying to make his partner feel comfortable and trust him. He once again emphasizes his desire to have a deeper relationship where anything is possible.
Listen, for you naked I would dance a ballet Would that get you off? Tell me what will If I was your girlfriend, would you tell me?
Prince is willing to go to any extent to fulfill his partner's desires and asks if he can fulfill her fantasies if he was her girlfriend.
Would you let me see you naked then? Would you let me give you a bath? Would you let me tickle you so hard you'd laugh and laugh And would you, would you let me kiss you there You know, down there where it counts I'll do it so good, I swear I'll drink every ounce And then I'll hold you tight and hold you long And together we'll stare into silence And we'll try to imagine what it looks like Yeah, we'll try to imagine what, what silence looks like Yeah, we'll, we'll try to imagine what silence looks like Yeah, we'll try
Prince is expressing his desire to be intimately involved with his partner in all aspects, including bathing her and having sex. He wants to experience everything together and be completely vulnerable with each other.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Prince Rogers Nelson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind