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 You
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
The lyrics to Prince and The Revolution's song I Would Die 4 U are complex and multi-layered, demonstrating Prince's unique ability to blend poetic imagery with powerful emotions. On the surface, the song appears to be a declaration of love and devotion from a mysterious figure who claims to be "something that you'll never understand." This ethereal quality is reinforced by the repeated assertions that the singer is "not a woman" or "a man", but rather "a dove", "your conscience", and "love".
The song's lyrics move beyond the standard tropes of romantic love and instead offer a vision of unconditional devotion that verges on religious devotion. This is demonstrated by the line "I'm your messiah and you're the reason why", which suggests that the singer's love is not just personal but also spiritual. This is further reinforced by the repeated declaration that the singer would "die for you", which suggests sacrifice and martyrdom.
Despite the intensity of these declarations, the overall tone of the song is gentle and soothing. Prince's soft vocals and the gently pulsating beat create a sense of intimacy and reassurance, as though the singer is offering comfort and comfort to the listener. This is reinforced by the lines "No need to worry / No need to cry", which suggest that the singer is a benevolent presence who will always be there to offer support.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm not a woman
I do not identify as female
I'm not a man
I do not identify as male
I am something that you'll never understand
My gender identity and personal experience cannot be fully comprehended by others
I'll never beat you
I will not 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 forgive you for any wrongs you may have done, eventually
'Cause you, I would die for you, yeah
My love for you is so strong that I would sacrifice my life to protect you
Darling if you want me to
If it is what you desire
I'm not your lover
Our relationship does not fit into conventional romantic categories
I'm not your friend
We do not have a typical platonic friendship
I am something that you'll never comprehend
Our connection goes beyond traditional labels of love or friendship
No need to worry
Don't be anxious or concerned
No need to cry
Do not shed tears over me, because I am here for you
I'm your messiah and you're the reason why
I am your savior, and your presence is what drives me to protect you
You're just a sinner I am told
People may criticize or judge you for your mistakes
Be your fire when you're cold
I will warm and comfort you when you are feeling low
Make you happy when you're sad
I will bring joy and happiness to your life when you are feeling down
Make you good when you are bad
I will help you become a better person, even when you make mistakes
I'm not a human
I am not just an ordinary mortal being
I am a dove
I am a symbol of peace and redemption
I'm your conscious
I am your guiding voice of reason and morality
I am love
My actions and intentions are motivated by love
All I really need is to know that You believe
Your faith and trust in me is important and valuable
Yeah, say one more time
Repeat that
Two, three, four you
Emphasizing the repetition of the phrase
I would die for you
I am willing to sacrifice my life for you
You, I would die for you
Again, reiterating my willingness to give my life for you
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PRINCE ROGERS NELSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind