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.
Have a Heart
Prince Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She said the smell of missing me
was coming from ur pores!
She said I broke ur heart so bad
I didn't deserve u back
But u don't have 2 have a heart 1st b4 u get it broken?
Don't u have 2 wanna tell the truth b4 a word is spooken?
So what about the heartbreak?
The fault of mine goes from L.A. 2 the streets of N.Y.C.
but I ain't cryin' about payments overdue
I got some milk but no drop is spilled
over things u put me thru
Can't u c we're all just tryin'...
Tryin' 2 get this hustle on...
Lookin' 4 the righteous 2 buy in...
til we right everyone of the wrongs
So what about the heartbreak?
Everybody's had one c...
Have a heart
The lyrics to Prince's song "Have a Heart" convey a deeply personal message about heartbreak and self-reflection. The song's overall message seems to be about finding strength in the aftermath of a broken heart, and learning to move on in spite of the pain. The opening lines immediately set a somber tone as Prince sings about hearing news from a mutual friend that his former lover is still struggling to let go. The imagery of the "smell of missing me" coming from her pores is a poignant reminder of how deep the scars of heartbreak can run.
Prince goes on to acknowledge that he was the one who caused the heartbreak, but also questions whether anyone really has to have a heart before it can be broken. He seems to be suggesting that vulnerability and honesty are necessary components of any loving relationship, but also that perhaps too much emphasis is placed on needing a "heart" in order to be worthy of love. The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "so what about the heartbreak?" as a kind of mantra, a reminder that even though heartbreak is painful, it is also a universal experience that we all must endure. Ultimately, the song is a message of hope, encouraging listeners to keep trying to "get this hustle on" and to look for ways to right the wrongs of the world, even in the face of heartbreak and disappointment.
Overall, "Have a Heart" is a deeply introspective song that touches on universal themes of love and loss. It is a testament to Prince's unparalleled ability to connect with audiences on a personal level, and to convey complex emotions through his music.
Line by Line Meaning
I heard the news from a friend of mine and urs
Someone we both know told me something they heard from you
She said the smell of missing me was coming from ur pores!
She said that you missed me so much that you could actually smell it on yourself
She said I broke ur heart so bad I didn't deserve u back
She said that I hurt you so badly that I didn't deserve another chance with you
But u don't have 2 have a heart 1st b4 u get it broken?
Do you have to be in love first before you can experience heartbreak?
Don't u have 2 wanna tell the truth b4 a word is spooken?
Don't you have to want to be honest before you start speaking?
So what about the heartbreak? Everybody's had one c
So what's the big deal about heartbreak? Everyone has experienced it before
The fault of mine goes from L.A. 2 the streets of N.Y.C.
I am responsible for the situation that occurred from Los Angeles to New York City
but I ain't cryin' about payments overdue
I'm not upset about the money you owe me
I got some milk but no drop is spilled over things u put me thru
I have been through a lot because of you, but I'm not going to cry over it
Can't u c we're all just tryin'... Tryin' 2 get this hustle on...
Can't you see that we're all just trying to do our best and make a living?
Lookin' 4 the righteous 2 buy in... til we right everyone of the wrongs
We're looking for someone who will support our cause until we've corrected all the things that are unjust
So what about the heartbreak? Everybody's had one c...
So what's the point of dwelling on heartbreak? It's something that everyone has experienced before
Have a heart
This is a plea for compassion and empathy towards one another
Contributed by Kaylee E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.