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 Tree
Prince Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't pick my peaches
Leave my tree alone
This is not my money
This is not my car
This is not my world 2
What labels me a star?
CHORUS:
This is my tree, my tree
And I ain't never gonna let U climb me
This is my tree, my tree
And I ain't never gonna let U climb me
Can't a man have secrets?
Can't a man have love?
Can't a man have an attitude?
Or is it all or none?
I don't know what U want
CHORUS
Watch me dance
This is not my woman
This is not her race
Color shouldn't matter
If your soul is in the right place, right place, ooh
CHORUS
Yo, Robin Power's on the mic now
Pumpin' a steady jam, but this ain't a battle
N.P.G. is in the house 2 rattle your brain 2 the new idea
Love's the only drug we're doin' here
Love's the only drug we're doin' here
We doin' it hard! (Hard!)
N.P.G. is in the house and we're just gettin' started (In the house, yeah)
And on the way, I'll preview all the days 2 come (Mm-hmm)
We got a big bad drummer who got computers on the run, oh yes it is
Got computers on the run
N.P.G. in the house (N.P.G. in the house)
N.P.G. in the house (N.P.G. in the house)
Yeah
If U're lookin' 4 (it then)
Look in your own backyard
Plant some peace flowers in your war zone
So I can fire my bodyguards
This is my tree (CHORUS {x5})
No, U ain't climbin' me
I ain't never gonna let cha climb my tree
That's right
Funky, funky, but we got 2 slow this down
Yo, Robin Power's on the mic now
And I'm comin' from a positive place
Uptown James, let's get ready 2 turn this papa out
Yo boy, turn this mic up
I want them 2 hear what I got 2 say
Testing, 1 2, testing, 1 2
It ain't loud enough baby, turn it up
Prince? Prince?
Yo, I don't think U heard me
U got 2 slow this down
Did U hear me? (This is.. this is..)
Yo, yo, slow it down (This is.. this is..)
(This is.. this is my tree)
Yeah
In Prince's song "My Tree," he uses the metaphor of a tree to represent himself and his life. He tells listeners not to pick his apples or peaches, meaning not to take advantage of him or his talents. He continues to say that this is not his world and questions what makes him a star. He is proud of who he is and wants to protect himself from those who would try to climb him or use him. The chorus repeats that this is his tree and he will not let anyone climb it.
Prince then asks if a man can have secrets, love, or an attitude without being criticized. He doesn't know what people want from him but knows he will protect his tree. He then switches gears to talk about love being the only drug they are doing here, and how he wants to plant peace flowers to fire his bodyguards. Prince concludes the song by repeating that this is his tree and he will not let anyone climb it.
Overall, the song can be interpreted as Prince asserting his independence and not wanting to be used or controlled by others. He values his privacy and individuality and will do whatever it takes to protect himself and his tree.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't pick my apples
Please do not take what belongs to me.
Don't pick my peaches
Please do not take what belongs to me.
Leave my tree alone
Please do not take what belongs to me.
This is not my money
I do not identify with material things.
This is not my car
I do not identify with material things.
This is not my world 2
I do not identify with societal labels or expectations.
What labels me a star?
I question how I have gained fame and what it really means.
This is my tree, my tree
I am protective of what is mine and do not want it taken away.
And I ain't never gonna let U climb me
I will not let anyone take advantage of me.
Can't a man have secrets?
I believe in the right to privacy and keeping somethings to oneself.
Can't a man have love?
I believe in loving who you love, regardless of societal norms or expectations.
Can't a man have an attitude?
I believe in expressing oneself, even if it does not align with societal norms or expectations.
Or is it all or none?
I am questioning whether society allows for individuality and expression, or if it is just conformity or exclusion.
Watch me dance
I am confident in expressing myself and my artistry.
This is not my woman
I do not see people as possessions or defined by their relationship to me.
This is not her race
I do not see people as defined by their race or ethnic background.
Color shouldn't matter
I believe in equality and treating people equally, regardless of their skin color.
If your soul is in the right place, right place, ooh
I believe in judging people by the content of their character.
Yo, Robin Power's on the mic now
There is a new speaker taking over the song.
Love's the only drug we're doin' here
We are focused on spreading love and positivity.
Pumpin' a steady jam, but this ain't a battle
We are creating music, but it is not a competition or a fight.
N.P.G. is in the house 2 rattle your brain 2 the new idea
We are here to challenge your thinking and introduce new ideas.
We doin' it hard! (Hard!)
We are doing our best and putting in a lot of effort.
On the way, I'll preview all the days 2 come
Through my music, I will give you a glimpse into the future.
We got a big bad drummer who got computers on the run, oh yes it is
We have a skilled musician who is able to create amazing beats even with technology.
N.P.G. in the house (N.P.G. in the house)
Our group is present and making music.
If U're lookin' 4 (it then)
If you are searching for something.
Look in your own backyard
You may already have what you are looking for close to home.
Plant some peace flowers in your war zone
Bring positivity and change to your environment, even if it is difficult.
So I can fire my bodyguards
I want to live in a world where violence and protection are not necessary.
No, U ain't climbin' me
I will not let anyone take advantage of me.
That's right
I am affirming my stance on protecting what is mine.
Funky, funky, but we got 2 slow this down
The song has been energetic, but we need to calm down now.
I'm comin' from a positive place
I am speaking from a place of love and positivity.
Let's get ready 2 turn this papa out
Let's get prepared to make a big change and impact.
Yo boy, turn this mic up
I am asking for the microphone to be louder so that my message can be heard more clearly.
I want them 2 hear what I got 2 say
I have something important to say and want it to be heard.
Testing, 1 2, testing, 1 2
I am checking to make sure the microphone is working correctly.
It ain't loud enough baby, turn it up
The microphone still needs to be louder for my message to be heard.
Prince? Prince?
Someone is calling my name.
Yo, I don't think U heard me
I do not think my message was heard properly.
Did U hear me? (This is.. this is..)
I am asking again if my message was heard.
Yeah
An affirmative response.
Contributed by David P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@mscapricorn-ce1pl
Cool song!
@FunkATeer-qk7hq
Merçi - c'est la tuerie 💜(+ > 🤘🏿
@shakiracharriez9811
💜💃🏽🥰💜
@FunkATeer-qk7hq
💜(+ > 🤘🏿
@brachelleon8333
Thanks La route. Banging. Dance my ass off.
@rickydennis7966
JAM!!!
@fallingup8262
✌️💜
@Lync1111
I did not know there was a Prince doll out there. Where did you get this from? Thanks.
@suzannej2448
Is this a Troy Gua art piece (image)?
@knmlover
🔥