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 Want To Be Free
Prince Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It was all a dream
Day after day, just a yearning
For something in between
Kneeling down beside your bed
Praying for a sign
And everything your mother said
But one day, one day, we'll all be free
You go to church, just to be sold
Why you deserve to die
It's just like having your fortune told
But never asking why
More like having one of God's creations
Tied up on a leash, oh, ah
Makes you wonder who controls the nations
If we never have peace
One day, one day, we'll all be free
You go to school, just to learn
About what never existed
But if your history only burns
It's better to resist it
Keeping it Franklin
Benjamin Banneker
Was never born a slave
And ah, if George Washington never told no lie
Maybe we'd all be saved
One day, one day, we'll all be free
One day, one day, we'll all be free
One day, one day, we'll all be free
One day, one day, we'll all be free
One day, one day, we'll all be free
(One day, one day, we will all be free)
Oh, yes we will, yes we will
One day, one glorious day, we will all be free
(One day, one day, we'll all be free)
I'm talking 'bout you (one day, one day, we'll all be free)
I'm talking 'bout me
One day, one day, we'll all be, all be free
(One day, one day, we will all be)
In Prince's song "I Will," the lyrics tell a story of searching and longing for freedom. The song is very philosophical, with a focus on education, religion, and history. The first verse talks about going to bed and dreaming, only to wake up and realize that life is not as you hoped it would be. There is a yearning for something in between dreams and reality, perhaps suggesting that the singer is looking for a more fulfilling life experience.
The second verse questions the control that religion has over people's lives. The singer goes to church but feels like they are being sold a story that doesn't make sense. The reference to God's creations being tied up on a leash suggests a feeling of confinement or oppression. The idea that one day we'll all be free implies that the singer is hoping for a future where people can form their own beliefs without being judged or restricted.
The final verse addresses education and history. The line "if your history only burns, it's better to resist it" suggests that the singer is advocating for a more honest account of history, rather than glossing over or ignoring uncomfortable truths. The reference to Benjamin Banneker, a free African American who made significant contributions to science and mathematics, is perhaps meant to highlight the achievements of Black Americans who are often overlooked in conventional teachings. The repetition of "one day, one day, we'll all be free" ties the whole song together, suggesting that the singer believes in a future where everyone can live freely and express their true selves.
Line by Line Meaning
You go to bed, just to learn
You settle into your bed thinking you know how things are, but then realize it was all just a dream.
It was all a dream
The reality of the situation is different from what you initially thought.
Day after day, just a yearning
Every day you feel a deep longing for something that you can't quite put your finger on.
For something in between
You want something that is neither one extreme nor the other, but somewhere in the middle.
Kneeling down beside your bed
You pray in hopes of receiving a sign or guidance.
Praying for a sign
You hope to be given a clear indication of what direction you should take.
And everything your mother said
You were raised with certain beliefs and values that you are now questioning.
Was just a waste of time
You no longer find comfort or truth in the teachings of your mother.
But one day, one day, we'll all be free
There will come a time when everyone will be free from fear and oppression.
You go to church, just to be sold
You attend church, only to be told that you are inherently sinful and need to be redeemed.
Why you deserve to die
You are made to question your own value and worth as a human being.
It's just like having your fortune told
Going to church and hearing these messages is like having your future already predetermined.
But never asking why
You are told what to believe without questioning the reasons behind it.
More like having one of God's creations
People are considered to be God's creation, and yet they are being treated poorly.
Tied up on a leash, oh, ah
People are being restrained and held back from living their full lives.
Makes you wonder who controls the nations
You start to question who is truly in charge of the world and its systems.
If we never have peace
As long as people continue to be oppressed and mistreated, there will never be true peace.
You go to school, just to learn
You attend school with the intent of gaining knowledge and understanding.
About what never existed
You are taught history that has been whitewashed or altered to fit a certain narrative.
But if your history only burns
If the truth about history is ignored or concealed, it only leads to further destruction and pain.
It's better to resist it
It's important to fight against the falsification of history.
Keeping it Franklin
Referencing Benjamin Franklin, known for being a leading figure in American history and contribution to science and politics.
Benjamin Banneker
Astronomer and mathematician who calculated ephemerides for almanacs and assisted in surveying the District of Columbia.
Was never born a slave
Banneker was born free, despite the widespread enslavement of Black people in America.
And ah, if George Washington never told no lie
Referencing the popular story of George Washington admitting to chopping down a cherry tree - suggesting that if people were to be more honest, the world would be a better place.
Maybe we'd all be saved
If people were more honest, perhaps there would be less chaos and injustice in the world.
One day, one day, we'll all be free
There will come a time when everyone will be free from fear and oppression.
One day, one glorious day, we will all be free
Freedom will come, and it will be a joyous and glorious day for all.
I'm talking 'bout you (one day, one day, we'll all be free)
This message is meant for every listener who is also longing for freedom and justice.
I'm talking 'bout me
The artist himself is also desiring the same kind of freedom and justice for himself and his community.
One day, one day, we'll all be, all be free
A repetition of the message that freedom is coming for everyone, and it will be a beautiful moment.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Prince Rogers Nelson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Yvette Sanchez
Everything about this song is total excellence!! This is true quality!! The words express an important message!! The music sounds so original & absolutely fabulous!! I also love how peaceful, calming, & soothing the music is!! & Our forever beloved, sweet Prince sang this like a dream come true with his always incredible voice!! I absolutely love & adore the way Prince has always been able to use his voice in so many different & wonderful tones!! He used a deep tone mostly to sing this!! & There were times that he lowered his voice to sing softly too in this song!! & He even spoke some lines in the song!! That variety of the different tones that he used in this song is absolutely amazing & very impressive!! This song is an incredible song that sounds so divine!! I really love the mood in this song!! This is excellent for sitting back & relaxing to while listening!!
Our forever beloved, sweet Prince always gave us total ultimacy in everything that he did for us!! That's one of the many reasons why we love him so much!!
ONLY PRINCE!!
PRINCE WAS PURE MAGIC!!
PRINCE FOREVER EXCELS WAY ABOVE ALL OTHERS!!
PRINCE MADE THE GREATEST DIFFERENCE IN OUR LIVES!!
PRINCE IS FOREVER OUR ONE & ONLY TRUE MASTER OF MUSIC!!
PRINCE REIGNS FOREVER!!
PRINCE IS ETERNAL!! PURPLE POWER!! PEACE ALWAYS!!
Yvette Sanchez
Everything about this song is total excellence!! This is true quality!! The words express an important message!! The music sounds so original & absolutely fabulous!! I also love how peaceful, calming, & soothing the music is!! & Our forever beloved, sweet Prince sang this like a dream come true with his always incredible voice!! I absolutely love & adore the way Prince has always been able to use his voice in so many different & wonderful tones!! He used a deep tone mostly to sing this!! & There were times that he lowered his voice to sing softly too in this song!! & He even spoke some lines in the song!! That variety of the different tones that he used in this song is absolutely amazing & very impressive!! This song is an incredible song that sounds so divine!! I really love the mood in this song!! This is excellent for sitting back & relaxing to while listening!!
Our forever beloved, sweet Prince always gave us total ultimacy in everything that he did for us!! That's one of the many reasons why we love him so much!!
ONLY PRINCE!!
PRINCE WAS PURE MAGIC!!
PRINCE FOREVER EXCELS WAY ABOVE ALL OTHERS!!
PRINCE MADE THE GREATEST DIFFERENCE IN OUR LIVES!!
PRINCE IS FOREVER OUR ONE & ONLY TRUE MASTER OF MUSIC!!
PRINCE REIGNS FOREVER!!
PRINCE IS ETERNAL!! PURPLE POWER!! PEACE ALWAYS!!
Yvette Sanchez
@Tzipporah36 Thank you so much, my forever dear friend, Tzipporah36!! That reply means a lot to me!! & I send the same to you, my forever dear friend, Tzipporah36, 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜!! Prince Is Eternal!! Purple Power!! Peace Always!!
Tzipporah36
@Yvette Sanchez 💜💜💜💜💜
Yvette Sanchez
@Tzipporah36 What you wrote to me in this most recent reply of yours back to me is so sweet & flattering!! That means so much to me!! The greatest of thanks to you, my dear friend, Tzipporah36, always!! & Thank you so much, your friendship would mean the world to me too!! I am so glad that you will be keeping in touch!! Thank you so much!! I'm greatly looking forward to knowing that I will be hearing from you again, my dear friend, Tzipporah36!! Happy 2022 & blessings to you too, always!!
Prince Is Eternal!! Purple Power!! Peace Always!!💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
Tzipporah36
@Yvette Sanchez would be my honor to keep in touch, dear 💜.
Your friendship would mean the world to me.
Happy 2022 and Blessings, always!
Yvette Sanchez
@Tzipporah36 The greatest of thanks to you, my dear friend, Tzipporah36, for the wonderful best wishes that you wrote to me!! That means a lot to me!! & I definitely wish you the same, my dear friend, Tzipporah36!! Again, I was very impressed by your wonderful reply the other day!! & I absolutely agree with you 100%!! You have great thoughts!! & You word yourself so well!! Please keep in touch!! It's always great to hear from a dear friend of mine!!💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
Coach Robinson
Only the late Prince Rogers Nelson, could have remade this classic & not taint it's 🎵 integrity! 🥇
Teddy Gee
What 👁 like about Prince is that he was a fan of The Ohio players and music! Nice!
Gregory Zahn
Yep; this was one of his favorite songs when he was a teenager ... he composed 'Shh' as a tribute to 'I Want To Be Free' ....
Teddy Gee
@thad g 👁believe it! Too smooth!