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 Would Die 4 U
Prince Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm not a man
I am something that you'll never understand
I'll never beat you
I'll never lie
And if you're evil I'll forgive you by and by
Darling if you want me to
You, I would die for you
I'm not your lover
I'm not your friend
I am something that you'll never comprehend
No need to worry
No need to cry
I'm your messiah and you're the reason why
'Cause you, I would die for you, yeah
Darling if you want me to
You, I would die for you
You're just a sinner I am told
Be your fire when you're cold
Make you happy when you're sad
Make you good when you are bad
I'm not a human
I am a dove
I'm your conscious
I am love
All I really need is to know that
You believe
Yeah, I would die for you, yeah
Darling if you want me to
You, I would die for you
Yeah, say one more time
You, I would die for you
Darling if you want me to
You, I would die for you
Two, three, four you
I would die for you
I would die for you
You, I would die for you
You, I would die for you
In "I Would Die 4 U," Prince expresses his devotion to a lover or a follower, declaring that their bond transcends traditional gender roles or even earthly forms. He sings, "I'm not a woman, I'm not a man, I am something that you'll never understand." By not defining himself by societal binaries, Prince positions himself as a spiritual being or a higher power, which seems fitting since he also calls himself "a dove" and a "messiah" in the song.
The lyrics also touch on themes of forgiveness and salvation. Prince promises never to harm or deceive his beloved ("I'll never beat you, I'll never lie") and even offers absolution for their sins ("And if you're evil I'll forgive you by and by"). He sees himself as a source of comfort and guidance for this person, offering to be there for them in all situations ("Make you happy when you're sad, make you good when you are bad").
It's worth noting that the song's title, "I Would Die 4 U," combines an intentionally non-standard spelling of "for" with the numeral "4," which was a hallmark of Prince's quirky, stylized approach to language. Also, the chorus's repetition of "You, I would die for you" emphasizes the depth of Prince's devotion, as though he's willing to shout it from the mountaintops (or the dance floor, at least).
As for the music itself, "I Would Die 4 U" is a propulsive dance track that incorporates elements of funk, gospel, and New Wave. The song features Prince's signature falsetto vocals and a memorable synth riff that drives the melody. "I Would Die 4 U" was one of the standout tracks on Prince's iconic 1984 album "Purple Rain," and it continues to be a fan favorite and a staple of his live performances.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm not a woman
I do not conform to your gender stereotypes
I'm not a man
I do not conform to your gender stereotypes
I am something that you'll never understand
My identity cannot be confined to the binary gender system that you operate in
I'll never beat you
I will never physically harm you
I'll never lie
I will always be truthful with you
And if you're evil I'll forgive you by and by
I will try to understand and forgive your mistakes and flaws, even if they seem unforgivable initially
'Cause you, I would die for you, yeah
I care for you so deeply that I would be willing to sacrifice my own life
Darling if you want me to
If you asked me to die for you, I would do it without hesitation
You, I would die for you
I care for you so deeply that I would be willing to sacrifice my own life for you
I'm not your lover
My relationship with you goes beyond the boundaries of romantic love
I'm not your friend
My relationship with you goes beyond the boundaries of platonic friendship
I am something that you'll never comprehend
My relationship with you is beyond conventional definitions of love and friendship
No need to worry
You can trust me to take care of you
No need to cry
I will comfort you in your time of need
I'm your messiah and you're the reason why
I see myself as a savior for you and will do everything in my power to protect and care for you
You're just a sinner I am told
Society may judge you for your mistakes, but I will not
Be your fire when you're cold
I will provide warmth, comfort, and support for you when you feel lost or alone
Make you happy when you're sad
I will try to bring joy and happiness into your life, even when it feels like the world is against you
Make you good when you are bad
I will try to guide you towards the right path, even when you make mistakes
I'm not a human
I am more than just a physical being
I am a dove
I represent peace, love, and purity
I'm your conscious
I am your moral compass, guiding you towards what is right and just
I am love
My actions and intentions are motivated by love and care for you
All I really need is to know that you believe
The most important thing to me is that you trust and have faith in me
Yeah, say one more time
Repeat it again
Two, three, four you
An expression of love and support
I would die for you
I care for you so deeply that I would be willing to sacrifice my own life for you
You, I would die for you
I care for you so deeply that I would be willing to sacrifice my own life for you
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Prince Rogers Nelson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind