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.
Lolita
Prince Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're a VIP
At least to me
Come here and show
Me some ID
I know you're fine
From head to pumps
We'd bump, bump, bump
You're much to young
To peep my stash
You're tryin' to write
Checks you're body can't cash
You can't hang with this, girl
Lolita, you're sweeter
But you'll never make a cheater out of me
Watch out now
Cool together, yes
I must admit
Long time ago
We'd be the shh uh oh
Like Frank and Ava
We'd paint the town
Just on the floor
Gettin' way down
Dom Perignon and caviar
The finest clothes, and fancy cars
Oh you know, one of them '56 pink caddies, baby!
Oh!
Look out
Lolita, you're sweeter
But you'll never make a cheater out of me
No you won't!
Hey hey hey
Lolita
You're Is, you're mouth
You're curly hair, you're bad no doubt
But I must beware
Oh, You get a brother in trouble girl
Lolita, you're sweeter
But I won't mislead ya
I'll feed ya
If it please ya
But then I'll say see ya
You're a fine, mama mia
But you'll never ever, never ever
No you'll never make a cheater out of me
Fellas!
Yeah!
How bad is this girl?
Bad!
Then what you wanna do?
Whatever you want!
Then come on let's dance!
Dance?
Lolita?
Yeah?
How bad are you girl?
Bad!
Then What you wanna do?
Whatever you want!
Then come on let's dance!
Dance?
Imagine me on the tip of you're tongue
If I took a sip then I would be on the run
Hellhounds barkin' round my door
I can't sip you once
'Less I sip you some more
Lolita!
Better get out of here
'Less you wanna dance
The song "Lolita" by Prince is based on the concept of the novel by Vladimir Nabokov, Lolita. In this song, Prince talks about a young girl who happens to be his VIP, but he is wary of her age, and he knows that she is too young for him. He admires her beauty and her sex appeal, but he knows that she is not mature enough to handle the kind of life he leads. The song starts with Prince urging the girl to stop flirting with him and asking her to show him some ID; at this point, it is evident that he is apprehensive about her age. He then goes on to say that she is too young to handle him and compares her to someone who is trying to write checks her body can't cash.
Prince also talks about how they could have been together in the past, but it is not possible anymore. He compares their relationship to that of Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardner, two people who were known for their tumultuous relationship. He talks about how they could have painted the town red, been cool together, and had Dom Perignon and caviar. He also talks about their materialistic interests, ranging from possessions like fancy cars to the finest clothes.
Prince concludes the song by admitting that the girl is fine, but he won't allow her to make a cheater out of him. He talks about feeding her and then leaving her, saying that he won't mislead her. He concludes by warning her that if she doesn't want to dance, she should leave.
Line by Line Meaning
Stop it baby
The singer is telling Lolita to stop whatever she is doing.
You're a VIP
According to the singer, Lolita is important to him in some way.
At least to me
The singer acknowledges that not everyone might see Lolita in the same way he does, but he thinks she is special.
Come here and show
The artist wants Lolita to prove her identity to him.
Me some ID
The artist wants Lolita to give him some proof of who she is.
I know you're fine
The singer thinks Lolita is attractive, but this is not necessarily the only reason why he values her.
From head to pumps
The singer is emphasizing that he thinks Lolita looks great from head to toe.
If you were mine
The artist is imagining a scenario where Lolita belongs to him.
We'd bump, bump, bump
The artist would have sex with Lolita if they were together.
You're much too young
The artist thinks Lolita is too young for him, which may be why he has been hesitant until now.
To peep my stash
The singer does not trust Lolita yet, so he is not willing to share certain things with her.
You're tryin' to write
Lolita is trying to do something that the artist thinks she is not mature enough to handle.
Checks you're body can't cash
Lolita is taking actions that her body cannot handle, which might lead to negative consequences.
You can't hang with this, girl
The singer is suggesting that Lolita cannot handle him and his lifestyle.
Lolita, you're sweeter
The singer is complimenting Lolita by saying she is sweet.
But you'll never make a cheater out of me
The artist is saying that he will never cheat on his partner for Lolita, even if she is attractive.
Cool together, yes
The artist and Lolita would make a good team if they were together.
I must admit
The singer is being honest about how he feels.
Long time ago
The singer is talking about a time in the past when they could have been together.
We'd be the shh uh oh
The artist is trying to express a feeling of excitement or euphoria they might have shared together in the past.
Like Frank and Ava
The artist is referencing a famous duo, possibly suggesting he and Lolita would have been just as iconic.
We'd paint the town
The artist and Lolita would have a wild time together.
Just on the floor
Whatever they were doing, it would be on the dance floor.
Gettin' way down
Whatever they were doing, it would be energetic and passionate.
Dom Perignon and caviar
The singer is listing expensive and fancy things they might share if they were together.
The finest clothes, and fancy cars
The singer is suggesting they would have access to the best things in life if they were together.
Oh you know, one of them '56 pink caddies, baby!
The singer is getting carried away and imagining a flashy car they could ride around in together.
Look out
The artist is warning someone to be careful.
But I won't mislead ya
The artist is assuring Lolita that he will not lead her on.
I'll feed ya
The singer will provide for Lolita if they are together.
If it please ya
The singer is asking for Lolita's approval or consent.
But then I'll say see ya
The artist is suggesting that their time together will be temporary.
You're a fine, mama mia
The artist is complimenting Lolita again and acknowledging her beauty.
But you'll never ever, never ever
The artist is repeating that he will never cheat on his partner for Lolita.
Fellas!
The singer is addressing the men who are listening/watching.
How bad is this girl?
The artist is asking the men how they rate Lolita's attractiveness or appeal.
Bad!
The other men respond that Lolita is very attractive.
Then what you wanna do?
The singer is asking the men what action they want to take next.
Whatever you want!
The men are responding that they want to do whatever the singer wants.
Then come on let's dance!
The artist is inviting the men to join him and Lolita in dancing together.
Imagine me on the tip of you're tongue
The artist is asking Lolita to imagine him in a sexual way.
If I took a sip then I would be on the run
The singer is suggesting that if he indulges in anything with Lolita, it will lead to negative consequences.
Hellhounds barkin' round my door
The singer is saying that he will get into trouble if he does anything with Lolita.
I can't sip you once
The artist is saying that he cannot have just a little of Lolita; he must have more once he starts.
'Less I sip you some more
The artist is saying that he will not be able to stop himself from indulging further once he starts.
Better get out of here
The artist is warning Lolita that she should leave before he gives in to temptation.
'Less you wanna dance
The singer is suggesting that they can either leave or continue dancing if Lolita does not want to go yet.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Prince Rogers Nelson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind