Prince Rogers Nelson (June 7, 1958 – April 21, 2016), more commonly known m… Read Full Bio ↴Prince Rogers Nelson (June 7, 1958 – April 21, 2016), more commonly known mononymously as Prince, was an American singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer. The recipient of numerous awards and nominations, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest musicians of his generation. He was known for his flamboyant, androgynous persona; his wide vocal range, which included a far-reaching falsetto and high-pitched screams; and his skill as a multi-instrumentalist, often preferring to play all or most of the instruments on his recordings. Prince produced his albums himself, pioneering the Minneapolis sound. His music incorporated a wide variety of styles, including funk, R&B, rock, new wave, soul, synth-pop, pop, jazz, and hip hop.

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.

Lady Cab Driver
Prince Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Taxi, taxi

Lady cab driver, can you take me for a ride?
Don't know where I'm goin' 'cause I don't know where I've been
So just put your foot on the gas, let's drive
Lady, don't ask questions
Promise I'll tell you no lies
Trouble winds are blowin', I'm growin' cold

Get me outta here, I feel I'm gonna die

Lady cab driver, roll up your window fast
Lately trouble winds are blowin' hard, and I don't know if I can last

Lady, I'm so lonely
I know that's not the way to be
Don't want isolation, but the air it makes me cold
Drive it, baby, drive it, drive this demon out of me
Take me to your mansion
Honey, let's go everywhere
Help me girl I'm drownin', mass confusion in my head
Will you accept my tears to pay the fare?

Lady cab driver, roll up your window fast
Lately trouble winds are blowin' hard, and I don't know if I can last oh, oh

Lady cab driver, can you take me for a ride?

Lady cab driver, roll up your window fast
Lately trouble winds are blowin' hard, and I don't know if I can last

This is for the cab you have to drive for no money at all
This is for why I wasn't born like my brother, handsome and tall
This is for politicians who are bored and believe in war
This, yeah, that's for me, that's who that one's for
This is for discrimination and egotists who think supreme
And this is for whoever taught you how to kiss in designer jeans
That one's for, that one's for, for you have to live
This one's for the rich, not all of 'em, just the greedy,
The ones that don't know how to give
This one's for Yosemite Sam and the tourists at Disneyland
And this one oh yeah, that's the one
That's for that's for the, the creator of man
This is for the sun, the moon, the stars, the tourists at Disneyland
This is for the ocean, the sea, the shore
This is for and that's for you, and that's who that one's for
This is for the women, so beautifully complex
This one's for love without sex
This is for the wind that blows no matter how fast or slow
Not knowing where I'm going
This galaxy's better than not having a place to go
And now I know (I know)

Lady cab driver
Lady cab driver
Lady cab driver
Lady cab driver
Lady cab driver

Lady cab driver
Lady cab driver

Overall Meaning

Prince's "Lady Cab Driver" is a song that tells the story of a man, who is going through a dark and lonely time in his life. He calls a cab to take him away from his troubles, but doesn't know where he wants to go. He asks the lady cab driver to take him for a ride, promisisng to tell no lies as he confides in her about his personal struggles. He is looking for connection and comfort without any judgment or interrogation. The driving rhythm of the music matches the urgency of the singer's need for escape.

The chorus is repeated several times, emphasizing the singer's desperation for immediate action: "Lady cab driver, can you take me for a ride? / Lady cab driver, roll up your window fast / Lately trouble winds are blowin' hard, and I don't know if I can last."

The second part of the song takes on a slightly surreal and political aspect, addressing important topics such as discrimination, greed, and the environment. Princes speaks about a range of issues from the personal to the global, such as his brother's advantage over him, the politicians who engage in war, egotists, and the creator of humankind. He contrasts this with admiration and appreciation for women's beauty, the simple joys of love, and the infinite possibilities that lead to discovery.

Overall, "Lady Cab Driver" is a complex song that blends themes of personal struggle and political frustration with a driving rhythm that emphasizes the singer's urgency for escape and connection.

Line by Line Meaning

Taxi, taxi
Opening line to get the attention of a taxi driver

Lady cab driver, can you take me for a ride?
Asking the taxi driver for a ride

Don't know where I'm goin' 'cause I don't know where I've been
Uncertain about the destination because of the past experiences

So just put your foot on the gas, let's drive
Encouraging the driver to start moving the vehicle

Lady, don't ask questions
Requesting the driver not to ask personal questions

Promise I'll tell you no lies
Assuring the driver that the passenger will not lie

Trouble winds are blowin', I'm growin' cold
Feeling lost and vulnerable due to problems

Get me outta here, I feel I'm gonna die
Urgently requesting the driver to take the passenger away from the current location due to fear and discomfort

Lady cab driver, roll up your window fast
Asking the driver to close the window to avoid the cold wind

Lately trouble winds are blowin' hard, and I don't know if I can last
Expressing concern about the recent problems and uncertain about the future

Lady, I'm so lonely
Feeling lonely and seeking companionship

I know that's not the way to be
Acknowledging that loneliness is not a preferable state

Don't want isolation, but the air it makes me cold
Rejecting the idea of being alone but feeling the negative effect of loneliness

Drive it, baby, drive it, drive this demon out of me
Asking the driver to help the passenger feel better and remove negative thoughts from the mind

Take me to your mansion
Expressing the desire to go to a luxurious place

Honey, let's go everywhere
Requesting the driver to take the passenger to multiple places

Help me girl I'm drownin', mass confusion in my head
Feeling overwhelmed and seeking help

Will you accept my tears to pay the fare?
Asking the driver if the payment can be made informally

This is for the cab you have to drive for no money at all
Acknowledging and appreciating the driver's hard work

This is for why I wasn't born like my brother, handsome and tall
Reflecting on life's unfairness and insecurities

This is for politicians who are bored and believe in war
Addressing the issue of political conflict and war

This, yeah, that's for me, that's who that one's for
Claiming responsibility for one's actions and thoughts

This is for discrimination and egotists who think supreme
Condemning discrimination and arrogance

And this is for whoever taught you how to kiss in designer jeans
Amusing commentary on unconventional romantic practices

That one's for, that one's for, for you have to live
Highlighting the importance of living life to the fullest

This one's for the rich, not all of 'em, just the greedy,
Calling out the greed among the wealthy

The ones that don't know how to give
Critiquing the wealthy who prioritize their wealth over generosity

This one's for Yosemite Sam and the tourists at Disneyland
Playfully referencing famous cartoon characters and tourists

And this one oh yeah, that's the one That's for that's for the, the creator of man
Expressing gratitude and a spiritual connection to the idea of a higher power

This is for the sun, the moon, the stars, the tourists at Disneyland
Poetically appreciating the beauty of the universe and the diversity of people

This is for the ocean, the sea, the shore
Celebrating nature and its wonders

This is for and that's for you, and that's who that one's for
Including the listener and acknowledging their importance

This is for the women, so beautifully complex
Praising the diversity and complexity of women

This one's for love without sex
Recognizing and appreciating non-sexual forms of love and connection

This is for the wind that blows no matter how fast or slow
Reflecting on the constant force of nature

Not knowing where I'm going This galaxy's better than not having a place to go
Preferring the uncertainty of life to having no purpose or drive

And now I know (I know)
Coming to a realization and accepting the current state of life

Lady cab driver
Repeating the song's title as a refrain