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.
Lavaux
Prince Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wanna see the mountains where the waters flow
Life back home depresses me, just another form of slavery
The cost of freedom is anything but free
I don't care if they are covered with snow
I don't care if the road is narrow, if it is I'll know
It was always meant to be, still in love I must believe
Lead me home, Lavaux
Take me to the streets of Portugal
That might be my destiny to see the waterfall
Tears or rain, they're all the same
The only way to win this game
To let everybody play and share the ball
There ain't nobody got no chains on me
I'm flying higher than any mountain, deeper than any sea
A paradox is box's key, I'm the why in mystery
You're gonna unlock the secrets if you please
Come take me to an assembly in New York
To speak of the brand new everlasting wonder war
To win or lose is so absurd
And the only casualty is the word, the word
Revolution time has come today
'Cause it took a black face to see the same decay
Like the chocolate of Vavey, in the sun they'll melt away
As for me, I'll laugh and go to the mountains where the waters flow
Back to the vineyards of Lavaux
Lavaux
Lavaux
Lavaux
Lavaux
In "Lavaux," Prince sings about his desire to escape the confines of everyday life, specifically his feeling of being enslaved back home. He longs to explore new places, including the vineyards of Lavaux and the streets of Portugal, and he expresses his belief that the cost of freedom is high, even when the path is unclear. Throughout the song, Prince emphasizes his desire to be free.
Prince mentions the mountains where the waters flow, which could be a reference to the Swiss canton of Vaud, where Lavaux is located. The chorus repeats the word "Lavaux" four times, highlighting the importance of this location in Prince's lyrics. The mention of assembly in New York could be a hint at Prince's social consciousness and his desire to speak out about important issues.
Overall, "Lavaux" is a song about Prince's desire for individual liberation and his belief that freedom requires effort and sacrifice. By exploring different places and perspectives, Prince seems to hope that he can unlock secrets and gain insight into the mysteries of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Take me to the vineyards of Lavaux
Let's escape to a place that symbolizes growth and abundance.
Wanna see the mountains where the waters flow
Let's explore a beautiful natural environment with flowing water.
Life back home depresses me, just another form of slavery
Being trapped in everyday life feels like a form of oppression.
The cost of freedom is anything but free
Even though freedom is desirable, it often comes at a high cost.
I don't care if they are covered with snow
I'm willing to endure any obstacle in pursuit of my goals.
I don't care if the road is narrow, if it is I'll know
Even if the path is difficult, I'll recognize it as the right one.
It was always meant to be, still in love I must believe
I trust that everything happens for a reason and remain hopeful for the future.
Whatever path I choose will lead me home
I'm confident that wherever I go, I'll find my way back to what's important to me.
Lead me home, Lavaux
Guide me to a place of refuge and serenity.
Take me to the streets of Portugal
Let's explore a new place with rich culture and history.
That might be my destiny to see the waterfall
Perhaps my life's purpose is to witness something truly magnificent.
Tears or rain, they're all the same
Both sadness and rejuvenation are part of the natural ebb and flow of life.
The only way to win this game
Success is achieved by working together towards a common goal.
To let everybody play and share the ball
Fairness and equality are essential for a peaceful and just society.
There ain't nobody got no chains on me
I refuse to be confined or limited by cultural or societal expectations.
I'm flying higher than any mountain, deeper than any sea
Through self-discovery and growth, I'm reaching new heights and depths.
A paradox is box's key, I'm the why in mystery
The key to understanding the world lies in embracing its contradictions, and I am part of the enigma.
You're gonna unlock the secrets if you please
By adopting an open and curious mindset, you can discover life's mysteries.
Come take me to an assembly in New York
I want to engage with diverse perspectives and ideas from all over the world.
To speak of the brand new everlasting wonder war
I want to contribute to a movement of positive change and progress.
To win or lose is so absurd
The arbitrary nature of winning and losing renders the concept meaningless.
And the only casualty is the word, the word
The misinterpretation or manipulation of language is often the root cause of conflict and division.
Revolution time has come today
It is time for a transformative shift in society and culture.
'Cause it took a black face to see the same decay
It often takes marginalized voices to draw attention to systemic issues and injustice.
Like the chocolate of Vavey, in the sun they'll melt away
Like chocolate melting in the sun, things that seem permanent or immutable can change over time.
As for me, I'll laugh and go to the mountains where the waters flow
Despite the struggles of life, I am content to find joy and solace in the beauty of nature.
Back to the vineyards of Lavaux
Returning to a place of growth and abundance is the ultimate comfort and relief.
Lavaux
The repeated refrain symbolizes the yearning for a peaceful and fulfilling existence.
Contributed by Isaiah W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.