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.
I Rock Therefore I Am
Prince Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All the time world wide
Ninety six sound better
Legendary tune
I rock (I rock) therefore I am (therefore I am)
I don't need you to tell me I'm in the band please)
I rock (I rock) therefore I am (therefore I am)
I don't need you to tell me what clothes to wear
I don't want suggestions about my hair
If the whole world buys your bullshit I don't care
I'd rather put on something that you won't dare
I rock (Legendary to the maximum) (I rock)
Therefore I am (therefore I am)
I don't need you to tell me I'm in the band (I don't need it) (No)
I rock
Legendary to the maximum
NPG for now and forever
Welcome to mendacity, sign your name
See the world so pretty, wealth and fame
They can put you on the field (Yeah)
But you won't get in the game (Wo no)
How many suckers knew that before they came (Woo yeah)
Now you know
I rock (I rock) therefore I am (therefore I am)
I don't need you to tell me (I don't need it)
I'm in the band (Legendary all the time)
I rock (I rock) therefore I am (therefore I am) (NPG to the maximum)
Right or wrong I sing my song the best I can (Show 'em)
Therefore I am
All you mean to NPG to the maximum want you to understand somethin'-asta
When me say love me say unto another
Watcha them attack each and every vulture
Or do you wants forget that P-are-O starts via pro
Teachin' things in life you'll never know
What for they dabble they don't understands a
They caught me comin' from the other Minnesota
My flavor will burn their ears
Awhen it comes to music this sir is no stranger
Is the same kids you compliment
The same ones that you were meant
To rob an education from
In a private school as opposed to one
That yearly spits out another group of fools
Into a system designed to fail
Wait a minute, I just got some e-mail
Somebody selling twelve CDs for a dollar
Make me want to holler (Yeah)
Alright to the maximum
I don't need you to tell me what clothes to wear
I don't want suggestions about my hair
If the whole world buys your bullshit I don't f'in care
I'd rather put on something that world wouldn't dare 'cause
I rock (NPG to the maximum) (I rock)
Therefore I am (therefore I am) (Legendary)
(I don't need) I don't need you to tell me I'm in the band
I rock (I rock) therefore I am (therefore I am)
(Right or wrong) Right or wrong I sing my song
(Singin' my song the best I can) the best I can
I rock (I rock) therefore I am (therefore I am)
I don't need you to tell me (I don't need)
I'm in the band (I'm in the band)
I rock (years and years)
Therefore I am (original)
Right or wrong I sing my song
(Singin' my song the best I can) the best I can
Clap your hands
All I mean original for years, mon (I rock)
NPG natural, yes
(All I mean sho man)
Rock Rock Rock
God have us mercy (I rock)
Mon hit 'em
(Rock) Come follow me, come follow me, come follow me, come follow
H'here we come follow me, come follow me, come follow me, come follow
(I rock) H'here we come follow me, come follow me, come follow me, come follow
H'here we come follow me, come follow me, come follow me, come follow
(I rock) H'here we come follow me, come follow me, come follow me, come follow
(Therefore I am)
H'here we come follow me, come follow me, come follow me
Watch out mon (I rock), gangsta
NPG in the original pro nation
Hear me though
Yeah
(Rock) Make some noise if you're ready
NPG rocks the city
Rugged and raw lift up your bra
Show me your titties
Don't be a dumb son
Grab your condoms and Bacardi
Here's car keys, let's party
You fake players walkin' streets in mean mug
I be makin' records gettin' (mmmh) in the hot tub
(Rock) In this Minneapolis snow I'm fellin'
Ready set to blow up like Mt. Saint Helen
On your cord snorin' your flow borin'
Sort of like channel five at four in the mornin'
(Rock) Adult (made under on the par) give up hope
Grab the devil by the throat
Make him play the scapegoat
(Rock) In the runnin' with the bucket of cuttin's
Wishin' I had duckets to live like Kirby Puckett
(Rock) Here comes the rumors I'm down with NPG
I sign the contract, I'm doing the LP
But woe, what a minute bro' go slow
Ten dollars for the blow, no dollars for the ho'
(Rock) In the club trick holdin'
Lookin' for a black magic (woman gang) strong with dick holdin'
I rock therefore I am (Rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock) [Repeat: x3]
I rock therefore I am (Rock) [Repeat: x3]
I rock therefore I am, yeah
Rock, rock, rock, rock, rock
Rock, rock, rock, rock, rock
The song "I Rock Therefore I Am," released in 1996, has lyrics that convey Prince's self-confidence and independence. He sings that he does not need anyone to tell him what to wear, how to style his hair, or how to make music. He believes that his uniqueness is what sets him apart from others, and he is comfortable with that. He is also critical of the music industry and its tendency to take advantage of artists who are eager for wealth and fame. Prince advises his listeners to be mindful of the industry's false promises and to be true to themselves.
The song's lyrics are straightforward and leave little room for interpretation. Prince's boldness and confidence are evident as he proclaims that he rocks, and therefore, he exists. The repetition of the phrase "I rock, therefore I am" drives home Prince's point that his music defines him more than anyone else's opinions ever could. He argues that he is better off doing what he loves and being true to himself, rather than trying to fit into someone else's idea of what an artist should be.
The song's shift towards criticizing the music industry is where Prince's message becomes most pronounced. He warns aspiring artists to be cautious of the industry's pitfalls, and he urges them to prioritize their worth and uniqueness above all else. Ultimately, "I Rock Therefore I Am" is a song about standing firm in one's identity and refusing to be swayed by external forces.
Line by Line Meaning
NPG to the maximum
The New Power Generation is at its highest level of power and influence.
All the time world wide
The NPG's impact is felt globally and throughout all of time.
Ninety six sound better
1996 is an excellent year for music, perhaps better than the current year.
Legendary tune
This song is a classic that will be remembered for its greatness.
I rock (I rock) therefore I am (therefore I am)
The act of rocking is what gives me purpose and identity.
I don't need you to tell me I'm in the band please)
I don't need approval or validation from anyone else to know that I'm part of the group.
Right or wrong I sing my song the best I can
Whether my music is good or bad, I always do my best to perform it to the best of my abilities.
I don't need you to tell me what clothes to wear
I dress according to my own preferences, and don't need any input from others on what I wear.
I don't want suggestions about my hair
I want to keep my hairstyle as is and don't want to hear any suggestions about changing it.
If the whole world buys your bullshit I don't care
I don't care if everyone believes in or supports something that I don't believe in or support.
I'd rather put on something that you won't dare
I like to wear things that are bold and daring, something that others may not have the courage or desire to wear.
Legendary to the maximum
My status as a legend is at its highest level.
NPG for now and forever
The New Power Generation is a lasting and unchanging force.
Welcome to mendacity, sign your name
Welcome to a world of lies and deception. Sign your name to join in on it.
See the world so pretty, wealth and fame
The world looks beautiful when you have wealth and fame.
They can put you on the field (Yeah)
They can give you the opportunity to play but it doesn't guarantee success.
But you won't get in the game (Wo no)
Even with the opportunity, you may not succeed and get to play in the game.
How many suckers knew that before they came (Woo yeah)
How many people realized this before they pursued their dreams and ended up not succeeding?
Now you know
You now understand the harsh reality of trying to succeed in the entertainment industry.
All you mean to NPG to the maximum want you to understand somethin'-asta
The New Power Generation wants you to understand something very important.
When me say love me say unto another
When I say 'love,' I mean to love others around you.
Watcha them attack each and every vulture
Watch them attack anyone who tries to take advantage of others, like a vulture would.
Or do you wants forget that P-are-O starts via pro
Do you want to forget how Prince became successful, by being a professional and working hard.
Teachin' things in life you'll never know
Prince is teaching things that you may not have learned in life.
What for they dabble they don't understands a
People who dabble in the entertainment industry don't understand how to truly succeed.
They caught me comin' from the other Minnesota
Prince is from Minnesota but he is different from what people usually expect from there.
My flavor will burn their ears
My unique style will surprise and impress people.
Awhen it comes to music this sir is no stranger
Prince is no stranger to music and has been involved with it for a long time.
Is the same kids you compliment
The children you once praised are the same ones you are now taking advantage of.
The same ones that you were meant
The children are the same ones that were destined for greatness.
To rob an education from In a private school as opposed to one
You are trying to rob them of an education by pushing them towards a private school instead of a public one.
That yearly spits out another group of fools
The public school system produces a lot of uneducated and unprepared students.
Into a system designed to fail
The system does not work for everyone, and is designed to fail some groups and individuals.
Wait a minute, I just got some e-mail
Prince has just received an email.
Somebody selling twelve CDs for a dollar
Someone is trying to sell twelve CDs for a dollar.
Make me want to holler (Yeah)
This is frustrating and makes Prince want to yell in anger.
Right or wrong I sing my song the best I can (Show 'em)
Prince continues to sing his music, whether it's right or wrong, in the best way he can.
All you mean to NPG to the maximum want you to understand somethin'-asta
The NPG has something important to communicate.
Come follow me, come follow me, come follow me
Prince invites his listeners to follow him and his music.
Watch out mon (I rock), gangsta
Prince warns people to be careful around him because he rocks like a gangsta.
I rock therefore I am (Rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock) [Repeat: x3]
Prince's identity as a rocker is reaffirmed, repeated seven times.
Rock, rock, rock, rock, rock
Repetition of the word rock, perhaps to emphasize the importance of rocking.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PRINCE ROGERS NELSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind