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.
My Name Is Prince (Original Mi
Prince Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(I wanna be your lover) (Partyup) (Controversy)
(I wanna be your lover) (Partyup) (Controversy) (Prince)
(I wanna be your lover) (Partyup) (Controversy)
My name is Prince and I am funky
My name is Prince the one and only
I did not come 2 funk around
'Tll I get your daughter I won't leave this town
But on the 7th day he made me
He was tryin' to rest y'all when He heard the sound
Sound like a guitar cold gettin' down
I tried to bust a high note, but I bust a string
My God was worried 'til he heard me sing
My name is Prince and I am funky
My name is Prince the one and only - hurt me
(Do that, do that, somebody)
(Do that, do that, somebody)
Hurt me (Do that, do that, somebody)
(Do that, do that, somebody)
(Do that, do that, somebody)
(Do that, do that, somebody)
(Do that, do that, somebody)
(Do that, do that, somebody)
My name is Prince and I am funky
When it come to funk I am a junky
I know from righteous I know from sin
I got 2 sides and they both friends
Don't try 2 clock 'em, they're much too fast
If you try to stop 'em they kick that ass
Without a pistol, without a gun
When you hear my music you'll be havin' fun
That's when I gottcha that's when you mine
To tell the truth, tell me what's my line?
My name is Prince and I am funky (You can't stop Prince)
My name is Prince the one and only - hurt me (You can't stop Prince)
(Do that, do that, somebody)
(Do that, do that, somebody)
(Do that, do that, somebody)
Funky fresh 4 the 90's (Do that, do that, somebody) (Prince)
My name is Prince, I don't wanna be king
'cause I've seen the top and it's just a dream
Big cars and women and fancy clothes
Will save your face but it won't save your soul
I'm here to tell you that there's a better way
Would our Lord be happy if He came 2 day?
I ain't sayin' I'm better, no better than you
But if you want 2 play with me, you better learn the rules
My name is Prince and I am funky (You can't stop Prince)
My name is Prince the one and only (You can't stop Prince)
I did not come 2 funk around (You can't stop Prince)
'Till I get your daughter I won't leave this town
I won't leave this town
I won't leave this town
I won't leave this - leave this - leave this
My name is Prince and I am funky (You can't stop Prince)
My name is Prince the one and only (You can't stop Prince)
Funky fresh 4 the 90's (Do that, do that, somebody)
(Do that, do that, somebody)
(Do that, do that, somebody)
Hurt me (Do that, do that, some....)
The funkier I be
The funkier I get, oh shit
Lickety split on the lyric
A new jack in the pulpit
Watch it deacon, your track is leakin'
What is this you're seekin'?
The syncopated rhymes are at their peak
When you jumped on my D.I.C.K.
That's the one thing that I don't play
The jock strap was 2 big 4 you anyway
You're just a simpleton
I'll bust you like a pimple, son
My star is 2 bright
Boy, I'll sink you like the ship Poseidon Adventure
You're bumpin' dentures 2 be cocksure
There must be more coming from
Your mouth than manure.
So with a flow and a spray, I say hey
You must become a prince before you're king anyway
(Do that, do that somebody)
(Do that, do that somebody)
It's time I get ig-nig-nig-nig-nig-nig-n-ignorant
Def be the beat that I'm rockin'
Yo so, come get a hit
And put your thinking cap on
You've been forewarned
I call upon the inner forces that I've got brewin'
In my cauldron. That means my nugget...
Sometimes I'm rugged
The style I posses be havin'
The other brothers buggin' and this is 4 those who oppose
And propose 2 overexpose disclose
Pose a threat 2 my brother
Like any other man makin' a stand
I'll be damned if I let you play this hand
I'm the blackjack dealer and the cards are stacked
What do you expect 2 win when you're used to playing craps?
(Do that, do that somebody)
Hell yeah, let's get this under the hmm...
(Do that, do that somebody)
"Damn." It's gettin' tricky
I mean it's a sticky situation
2 resurrect a groove with feeling
And give it this much affection
Passion flows and who knows
What lurks in the gallows of my mind
I put my foot in the ass of Jim Crow
12 inches of non-stop sole
I'm on a roll with P, and it's time for the show
So do that, do that somebody
Wave your hands in the air
This is a motherfucking party
While you're laying back I'm on the attack paddywhack
Give yourself a bone
This is my house and I'm prone
2 layin' some chrome upside some motherfuckers dome
And I'm out...
My name is Prince and I am funky
My name is Prince the one and only
My name is Prince
My name is Prince
My name is Prince
My name is Prince
My name is Prince
My name is Prince
My name is Prince
My name is Prince
My name is Prince
My name is Prince
The song My Name Is Prince is a declaration of Prince's talent to create funk music like no other. The lyrics are a combination of his name and a confession to his funky style. Prince describes himself as the one and only and is not willing to leave a town until he gets the woman he wants.
The song opens with references to three of his previous tracks, I Wanna Be Your Lover, Partyup and Controversy. He then mentions God and how he was created on the 7th day, with a unique gift to create music. Prince further describes his two sides, the righteous and the sin, and how they are both friends. He also mentions that when it comes to funk music, he is a junky, and there is no way to stop him from making it. The song ends with a strong declaration of his name, which serves as a reminder that he is one of the greatest artists of all time.
Line by Line Meaning
(I wanna be your lover)
I want to be with you and show you my love
(Partyup)
Let's party and have a good time
(Controversy)
I am not afraid of controversy or pushing boundaries
(Prince)
I am Prince, and this is my message
My name is Prince and I am funky
I am Prince, and I have a unique and funky style
My name is Prince the one and only
I am the one and only Prince
I did not come 2 funk around
I am not here to waste time, I have a purpose
'Tll I get your daughter I won't leave this town
I will not give up until I get what I want
In the beginning God made the sea
God created the world, but he also created me
But on the 7th day he made me
God created me as a gift to the world
He was tryin' to rest y'all when He heard the sound
God was resting, but he couldn't resist the sound of my music
Sound like a guitar cold gettin' down
My music is so good, it's like a guitar playing itself
I tried to bust a high note, but I bust a string
I pushed myself too hard, but even my mistakes sound great
My God was worried 'til he heard me sing
God was worried about me, but then he heard my beautiful music
Hurt me (Do that, do that, somebody)
Challenge me and push me to be even better
When it come to funk I am a junky
I am obsessed with and highly skilled in the art of funk music
I know from righteous I know from sin
I understand morality and immorality
I got 2 sides and they both friends
I have a good and bad side, but they work together
Don't try 2 clock 'em, they're much too fast
Don't try to mess with me, I am too quick and clever
If you try to stop 'em they kick that ass
If you try to stop me, I will fight back hard
When you hear my music you'll be havin' fun
My music is so good, it's impossible not to enjoy it
That's when I gottcha that's when you mine
When you love my music, you are mine
To tell the truth, tell me what's my line?
Tell me if you can find a flaw in my music
My name is Prince and I am funky (You can't stop Prince)
I am Prince, and nobody can stop me from being funky
My name is Prince the one and only - hurt me (You can't stop Prince)
I am the one and only Prince, challenge me and push me to be even better
Funky fresh 4 the 90's (Do that, do that, somebody) (Prince)
I am bringing a new, funky style to the music scene of the 1990s
My name is Prince, I don't wanna be king
I don't need titles and status, I just want to be known for my music
'Cause I've seen the top and it's just a dream
I have achieved success, but I know it's not everything
Big cars and women and fancy clothes
Material possessions may look good, but they do not bring happiness
Will save your face but it won't save your soul
Material possessions may make you look good, but they will not fulfill your soul
I'm here to tell you that there's a better way
I want to inspire you to find a better path in life
Would our Lord be happy if He came 2 day?
If God were to come today, would he be happy with how we are living our lives?
I ain't sayin' I'm better, no better than you
I am not claiming to be better than anyone
But if you want 2 play with me, you better learn the rules
If you want to work with me, you need to understand my philosophy and style
I won't leave this town
I will not give up on my goals and dreams
The funkier I be The funkier I get, oh shit
The more I embrace funk music, the better and more impressive I become
Lickety split on the lyric
I am a skilled lyricist and can rap quickly
A new jack in the pulpit
I am a fresh and exciting artist in the music industry
Watch it deacon, your track is leakin'
Be careful, your music is not as good as mine
What is this you're seekin'?
What kind of music are you trying to make?
The syncopated rhymes are at their peak
My rhymes and music are at their best
When you jumped on my D.I.C.K.
When you tried to copy my style and music
That's the one thing that I don't play
I do not tolerate people copying my style
The jock strap was 2 big 4 you anyway
You are not skilled enough to copy my style
You're just a simpleton
You are not a skilled musician like me
I'll bust you like a pimple, son
I will defeat you easily
My star is 2 bright
My talent and success are too great
Boy, I'll sink you like the ship Poseidon Adventure
I will destroy you like a ship sinking in a disaster movie
You're bumpin' dentures 2 be cocksure
You are too old to be so confident
There must be more coming from Your mouth than manure.
Your music is terrible and sounds like crap
So with a flow and a spray, I say hey You must become a prince before you're king anyway
I am skilled and confident in my music, and you need to work harder before you can be as successful as I am
It's time I get ig-nig-nig-nig-nig-nig-n-ignorant
It's time for me to be rude and aggressive in my music
Def be the beat that I'm rockin'
I am rocking the beat of my music with confidence and skill
Yo so, come get a hit And put your thinking cap on
Come listen to my music and think harder about the messages I am trying to convey
You've been forewarned
I have warned you that my music is not to be taken lightly
I call upon the inner forces that I've got brewin' In my cauldron. That means my nugget... Sometimes I'm rugged
I am skilled in making music that is both aggressive and contemplative
The style I posses be havin' The other brothers buggin' and this is 4 those who oppose And propose 2 overexpose disclose
My unique style of music makes other musicians jealous and people who try to copy me will be exposed as frauds
Pose a threat 2 my brother Like any other man makin' a stand I'll be damned if I let you play this hand
If someone threatens my music or my fellow musicians, I will not let them succeed
I'm the blackjack dealer and the cards are stacked What do you expect 2 win when you're used to playing craps?
I am in control of the music industry and am not afraid to take advantage of the situation
Hell yeah, let's get this under the hmm... 'Damn.' It's gettin' tricky I mean it's a sticky situation
This situation is becoming difficult and tricky to handle
2 resurrect a groove with feeling And give it this much affection Passion flows and who knows What lurks in the gallows of my mind
I am passionate about bringing back the groove in music and exploring the depths of my own creativity
I put my foot in the ass of Jim Crow 12 inches of non-stop sole
I am challenging racism and discrimination in my music with strength and soul
I'm on a roll with P, and it's time for the show So do that, do that somebody
I am rolling with my music and it's time to show off what I can do
Wave your hands in the air This is a motherfucking party
Let's party and enjoy the music together
While you're laying back I'm on the attack paddywhack Give yourself a bone
I am taking charge and working hard, while others are just relaxing
This is my house and I'm prone 2 layin' some chrome upside some motherfuckers dome
This is my domain and I will defend it fiercely
And I'm out...
I am finished for now.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANTHONY MOSLEY, . PRINCE (US 1)
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mylesa.williams6281
Prince is my opinion was the greatest all around musician that ever lived considering he arranged, composed, produced, wrote all of his songs and played multiple instruments and this is coming from a huge MJ fan but to compare those two music greats is absurd and disrespectful. Prince had his style Michael had his. Anyone on here saying Michael Jackson was overrated is a fool. The fact remains MJ is the King Of Pop and to me Prince is the King Musical Prodigy. Both Jackson and Prince have the accomplishments to back it up
@Sarspariila
Exactly how I feel. Worded it perfectly.
@paulavish5482
Omg. These are my words, mate!
@davidkuzur5186
Well stated-apparently several people agree. I just can't help but see 'Pop' as bullshit and Music as music...you are correct though, one was king of Bullshit and one was king of Music...✌️
@leeleethelibra981
@David Kuzur ur pressed like a keypad dummy 😅
@sidneytownsend700
Prince was a musical genius! RIP PURPLE ONE.
@Damishaw
This man will always be a badass! Nobody will ever compare to Prince!
@wendymouse3
Amen!!!
@BIGSEXXY62677
Facts!!! Speak On It 👊🏽👍🏽💯
@mariefloyd6174
You forgot about Michael 👍✌️. Both were unstoppable.