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 SinΓ©ad 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)
NΒ·EΒ·WΒ·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.
I Can't Love U Anymore
Prince Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Turn down these voices inside my head
Lay down with me, tell me no lies
Just hold me close, don't patronize
Don't patronize me
Cause I can't make you love me if you don't
I can't make your heart feel something it won't
I will lay down my heart (my heart) and I'll feel the power
But you won't, no, you won't
Cause I can't make you love me if you don't
Do you?
Do you love me?
Look at me
I'll close my eyes, then I won't see
The love you don't feel, when you're holding me (Hold me)
Morning will come and I'll do what's right (Do it right) [Repeat: x2]
Just give me 'til then to give up this fight
And I will, I will give up this fight
Oh, yes I will
Cause I can't make you love me if you don't
I can't make your heart feel something it won't
Ah, don't you know here in the dark, in the dark baby, these final hours (Here in the dark)
I will lay down my heart (my heart) and I'll feel the power, oh yes I will
But you won't
Tell me why, tell me why you don't?
(I can't make you love me if you don't)
Come here, baby
(I can't make your heart feel something it won't)
Talk to me, tell me where you want to be kissed
Talk to me, tell me how you want me to do this
In this bedroom/church, you can guess the offering
I offer you (My heart)
I offer you sexual relations (But you won't)
But you won't (you won't)
Tell me what's up baby?
Am I moving too fast?
Not only do I want to be the first, I want to be the last, the last
Is that so bad?
I, I want to, you know
I want to, I want to, I want to make you love me
(Do you love me?)
Come on baby, you can take it (My heart) (Come on and take it)
It's real love, I want to make it (I wanna)
But you won't love me, love me (But you won't)
You won't love me, baby
What's a man to do?
What is this man gonna do?
I can't make you love me if you don't
I want you to (love me) love me
I need you to (kiss me, yeah)
Oh darlin' (Love me)
Love me [Repeat: x5]
Turn down the lights, turn down the bed
Turn down these voices inside my head
Lay down with me, tell me no lies
Just hold me close between your thighs
(I can't make you love me)
The song "Eye Can't Make U Love Me" by Prince is a heart-wrenching ballad about a person who is desperately holding on to a relationship that is not reciprocated. The lyrics express the anguish of the singer who has given his all to make the relationship work, but can't seem to make the other person love them back. The first two lines of the song create a bleak setting, with the singer longing for darkness, both outside and within. The repeated phrase "turn down" echoes the thoughts and feelings of the singer as they try to shut out the world and their own thoughts, but ultimately, they are left alone in the dark, isolated from love.
The song's chorus is the most poignant part of the lyrics. The singer is left with no choice but to accept the situation for what it is, "I can't make you love me if you don't." The lyrics also acknowledge the feeling of powerlessness in the face of unrequited love. The singer lies down his heart, but the other person won't, and the singer is left to wonder why. The lyrics, "just hold me close between your thighs," are a last, desperate attempt to attain some kind of intimacy, even if it is just physical.
The song's desperate lyrics are matched by the melancholy melody and Prince's soulful performance. The music, stripped down to just a few instruments, conveys the sense of the singer's loneliness and isolation. The repeated melody emphasizes the feeling of powerlessness and desperation.
Line by Line Meaning
Turn down the lights, turn down the bed
Dim the lights and prepare the bed for us to lie down together and get intimate.
Turn down these voices inside my head
I am struggling to focus because of the inner voices that keep filling up my head. Please help me relax and push them away.
Lay down with me, tell me no lies
Let's lay down together with open hearts and be truthful about our feelings and emotions, without any deception or false promises.
Just hold me close, don't patronize
Please hug me tightly and genuinely, without any condescension or belittlement, because I need your comfort and reassurance right now.
Cause I can't make you love me if you don't
No matter how much I try or what I offer, I cannot force you to fall in love with me if your heart and mind are not willing to.
I can't make your heart feel something it won't
Even if I pour out all my love and affection, I cannot awaken emotions in your heart that are simply not there or not genuine.
Here in the dark, in these final hours
In the late hours of the night, when everything else fades away, I am left alone with my thoughts and feelings of despair and vulnerability.
I will lay down my heart (my heart) and I'll feel the power
Despite risking heartbreak and rejection, I am willing to expose my deepest emotions and desires to you, hoping that you will reciprocate them and give me the power of your love.
But you won't, no, you won't
However, I know that you will probably not respond to my feelings in the way I hope and dream of, which makes me feel even more powerless and frustrated.
Tell me why, tell me why you don't?
I am pleading with you to explain why you cannot love me back, what holds you back, and what I can do to change that, even though I know the answer might be painful and final.
In this bedroom/church, you can guess the offering
I am suggesting that our intimacy is like a religious ceremony or a sacred ritual, where we both give something precious and valuable to each other, which might involve our bodies, souls, or emotions.
I want to, I want to make you love me
Despite the obstacles and doubts, I cannot help desiring and yearning for your love and affection, to the point where it becomes an obsession or a compulsion.
But you won't love me, love me
However, I am aware that this desire might remain unfulfilled and unrequited, no matter how hard I try or how much I offer, which is a painful and frustrating realization.
I can't make you love me if you don't
The main theme of this song is repeated again, emphasizing the fact that true love cannot be forced or manipulated, but only given and received freely.
Lyrics Β© Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALLEN SHAMBLIN, MICHAEL REID
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bl6797
This is the way I love prince the most! showing off his raw talent without computers, just his magnificent piano playing, and his ability to create such STRONG memorable melodies that stick in your mind and heart for all time. Prince, I will never get over missing you every day. π
@marleendhulst4367
B lively. me too he was/is a gem....
@marleendhulst4367
B lively. me too he was/is a gem....
@marleendhulst4367
+Michelle Dartis , i feel the same ... never feld like this before... he was /is very special.... i love him for the rest of my life .. we are very blessed to have known him in our lifetime hope we meet again... in another... i send you lots of love
@LD-pw7oq
Me, too, Michelle. Hearing his music everyday has been a comfort for me. So much love in his music, it pulls the heartstrings in every direction here. Prince, we adore you and miss you still!
@angelbabyprettyface
B Lively
@donnareynolds9534
this is gorgeous. ...for 34 years his music has been my sanctuary....that will go on with these beautiful gems we are now hearing..RIP Prince β‘
@janeternst6674
Wendy and prince
@briant4750
Donna Reynolds you expressed exactly what I was thinking.
@pds002
@Brian T ...and me too.