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.
Ol Skool Company
Prince Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Every once in awhile
You need some ol' skool company
Somebody that appreciates a sexy groove
And a old school melody
When God, his son and the love of family
Ruled in the community
The songs you sing
A heaven we can believe in
Everybody's talkin' about hard times
Like it just started yesterday
People eye know they've been strugglin'
At least it seems that way
Fat cats on Wall Street
They got a bailout
While somebody else got to wait
Seven hundred billion but my old neighborhood
Ain't nothing changed but the date
[Chorus]
Ain't nothing ever come from complaining
Except a bitter heart, that's true
Follow along and you gon wanna do
Something before the next chorus is through
The songs we sing
They used to mean somethin'
Now every other one is just mean
Rather than reminisce I'm telling you this
It's time for a brand new scene
[Chorus]
Everybody's sinkin' in the quicksand
Created by the keeper of time
Cast aside by using ancient tricks
That changes your state of mind
They got you catering the whims of the flesh
Before you get your paper right
Call me old fashioned
But back in the day
There wasn't no shorties in sight
First come job then come marriage
Before shorty come out with the baby carriage
Call me old fashioned
Just clap yo hands just clap yo hands
Radio used to be local untouched by the man
Songs we used to sing used to mean something
Now they just bland like the drummer
Where's the real drummer? Michael B.
Mint Condition, Morris Day
Jellybean wishin' Sheila E and Brother John, sometimes me
'til dawn
If the White House is black
We gotta take the radio back
Power to the people
Power to the people
Put this thing on repeat go back to one
And just move your feet tell your friends
Prince and the Mplsound we can't be beat
Suckas
Prince's song Ol’ Skool Company is all about longing for the days when music was pure and true, and when it served a purpose beyond just entertainment. The lyrics urge the listener to turn away from the cynicism of the modern era and to embrace the values of the past, when God, family, and community were the center of life.
The chorus of the song speaks of the need for "ol' skool company," which is described as someone who appreciates the power of a "sexy groove" and an "old school melody." This is contrasted with the hard times of the present day, where people are struggling and the fat cats on Wall Street are getting rich while everyone else suffers.
The lyrics suggest that the songs we sing can lift us up to heaven, but that this requires a return to the values that once ruled in our communities. Instead of complaining about the state of the world, the listener is encouraged to follow along and do something before the next chorus is through. The overall message of the song is that we need to return to the values of the past in order to create a better future.
Line by Line Meaning
Every once in awhile
Occasionally, it is necessary to have old-fashioned company
You need some ol' skool company
One needs to be around people who appreciate classic melodies and sexy grooves
Somebody that appreciates a sexy groove
People who value the sensual nature of music are required
And a old school melody
Individuals who cherish timeless tunes are mandatory
When God, his son and the love of family
This line represents the time when religious faith and familial love prevailed
Ruled in the community
These principles were fundamental in the society
The songs you sing
The music you create and listen to
Lift you up to heaven
These tracks have the power to elevate you to a higher plane of existence
A heaven we can believe in
A space where we can have faith in
Everybody's talkin' about hard times
People are discussing the current tough times
Like it just started yesterday
As if these problems are recent and unknown
People eye know they've been strugglin'
Individuals I'm familiar with have been facing hardships
At least it seems that way
Or it appears to be the case
Fat cats on Wall Street
Wealthy individuals who control Wall Street
They got a bailout
These individuals were given financial aid when they needed it
While somebody else got to wait
On the other hand, other people had to wait for assistance
Seven hundred billion but my old neighborhood
Although $700 billion was given, nothing has changed in my community
Ain't nothing changed but the date
No progress has been made; things are the same as before
Ain't nothing ever come from complaining
Lamenting never leads to anything productive
Except a bitter heart, that's true
Except it just makes one resentful
Follow along and you gon wanna do
Pay attention and you will certainly want to do something
Something before the next chorus is through
Something proactive should be done before the next chorus begins
The songs we sing
The music we produce and listen to
They used to mean somethin'
Music used to be meaningful
Now every other one is just mean
Nowadays, a lot of music is negative
Rather than reminisce I'm telling you this
Instead of dwelling on the past, I'm advising you
It's time for a brand new scene
We need to create a fresh musical experience
Everybody's sinkin' in the quicksand
Everyone is drowning in difficult circumstances
Created by the keeper of time
The creator of time has made these struggles
Cast aside by using ancient tricks
Abandoned by using old methods
That changes your state of mind
These tricks that can affect your mindset
They got you catering the whims of the flesh
People are catering to physical desires
Before you get your paper right
Before one gets their finances sorted out
Call me old fashioned
I am of an older mindset
But back in the day
At a time in the past
There wasn't no shorties in sight
There were no children present at that time
First come job then come marriage
First, one should focus on their job, then get married
Before shorty come out with the baby carriage
Before having children
Just clap yo hands just clap yo hands
A call to action to clap hands along to the beat
Radio used to be local untouched by the man
Radio stations used to be independent
Songs we used to sing used to mean something
Older songs had meaning
Now they just bland like the drummer
Newer music is often unsatisfactory
Where's the real drummer? Michael B.
A nod to the talented Michael B. on the drums
Mint Condition, Morris Day
References to successful musicians from the past
Jellybean wishin' Sheila E and Brother John, sometimes me
Respectful mentions to various musicians
'til dawn
Until dawn
If the White House is black
Speaking to the election of a black president
We gotta take the radio back
We should reclaim independent music on the radio
Power to the people
Empowerment of the people
Put this thing on repeat go back to one
Play this track again from the beginning
And just move your feet tell your friends
Dance and advise others to do the same
Prince and the Mplsound we can't be beat
Self-promotion often seen in music
Suckas
Derogatory way of addressing others
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PRINCE ROGERS NELSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Don Funk
Prince
Dann und wann
Every once in awhile
Du brauchst eine alte Schule
You need some ol' skool company
Jemand, der einen sexy Groove schätzt
Somebody that appreciates a sexy groove
Und eine Melodie der alten Schule
And a old school melody
Wenn Gott, sein Sohn und die Liebe zur Familie
When God, his son and the love of family
In der Gemeinde regiert
Ruled in the community
Die Lieder, die du singst
The songs you sing
Hebe dich in den Himmel
Lift you up to heaven
Ein Himmel, an den wir glauben könnenA heaven we can believe in
Alle reden von schweren Zeiten
Everybody's talkin' about hard times
Als ob es erst gestern angefangen hätte
Like it just started yesterday
Die Leute wissen, dass sie gekämpft haben
People eye know they've been strugglin'
Zumindest scheint es so
At least it seems that way
Dicke Katzen an der Wall Street
Fat cats on Wall Street
Sie haben eine Rettungsaktion bekommen
They got a bailout
Während jemand anderes warten musste
While somebody else got to wait
Siebenhundert Milliarden, aber meine alte Nachbarschaft
Seven hundred billion but my old neighborhood
Es hat sich nichts geändert als das DatumAin't nothing changed but the date
Dann und wann
Every once in awhile
Du brauchst eine alte Schule
You need some ol' skool company
Jemand, der einen sexy Groove schätzt
Somebody that appreciates a sexy groove
Und eine Melodie der alten Schule
And a old school melody
Wenn Gott, sein Sohn und die Liebe zur Familie
When God, his son and the love of family
In der Gemeinde regiert
Ruled in the community
Die Lieder, die du singst
The songs you sing
Hebe dich in den Himmel
Lift you up to heaven
Ein Himmel, an den wir glauben könnenA heaven we can believe in
Es kommt nie etwas von einer Beschwerde
Ain't nothing ever come from complaining
Außer einem bitteren Herzen ist das wahr
Except a bitter heart, that's true
Folgen Sie uns und Sie werden es tun wollen
Follow along and you gon wanna do
Etwas vor dem nächsten Refrain ist vorbei
Something before the next chorus is through
Die Lieder, die wir singen
The songs we sing
Früher bedeuteten sie etwas
They used to mean somethin'
Jetzt ist jeder andere nur gemein
Now every other one is just mean
Anstatt mich zu erinnern, erzähle ich dir das
Rather than reminisce I'm telling you this
Es ist Zeit für eine brandneue SzeneIt's time for a brand new scene
Dann und wann
Every once in awhile
Du brauchst eine alte Schule
You need some ol' skool company
Jemand, der einen sexy Groove schätzt
Somebody that appreciates a sexy groove
Und eine Melodie der alten Schule
And a old school melody
Wenn Gott, sein Sohn und die Liebe zur Familie
When God, his son and the love of family
In der Gemeinde regiert
Ruled in the community
Die Lieder, die du singst
The songs you sing
Hebe dich in den Himmel
Lift you up to heaven
Ein Himmel, an den wir glauben könnenA heaven we can believe in
Alle versinken im Treibsand
Everybody's sinkin' in the quicksand
Erstellt vom Zeitnehmer
Created by the keeper of time
Mit alten Tricks beiseite werfen
Cast aside by using ancient tricks
Das ändert Ihren Geisteszustand
That changes your state of mind
Sie haben dich dazu gebracht, die Launen des Fleisches zu befriedigen
They got you catering the whims of the flesh
Bevor Sie Ihr Papier richtig machen
Before you get your paper right
Nenn mich altmodisch
Call me old fashioned
Aber früher
But back in the day
Es waren keine Shorties in SichtThere wasn't no shorties in sight
Erst kommt der Job, dann kommt die Ehe
First come job then come marriage
Bevor Shorty mit dem Kinderwagen herauskommt
Before shorty come out with the baby carriage
Nenn mich altmodisch
Call me old fashioned
Klatschen Sie einfach in die Hände
Just clap yo hands just clap yo hands
Früher war das Radio vom Mann unberührt
Radio used to be local untouched by the man
Lieder, die wir früher gesungen haben, bedeuteten früher etwas
Songs we used to sing used to mean something
Jetzt sind sie einfach langweilig wie der Schlagzeuger
Now they just bland like the drummer
Wo ist der echte Schlagzeuger? Where's the real drummer?
Michael B.
Michael B.
Neuwertiger Zustand, Morris Day
Mint Condition, Morris Day
Jellybean wünscht Sheila E und Bruder John, manchmal mirJellybean wishin' Sheila E and Brother John, sometimes me
bis zum Morgengrauen'til dawn
Wenn das Weiße Haus schwarz ist
If the White House is black
Wir müssen das Radio zurücknehmen
We gotta take the radio back
Macht dem Volk
Power to the people
Macht dem VolkPower to the people
Setzen Sie dieses Ding auf Wiederholung und gehen Sie zurück zu eins
Put this thing on repeat go back to one
Und bewege einfach deine Füße, sag es deinen Freunden
And just move your feet tell your friends
Prince und der Mplsound sind unschlagbarPrince and the Mplsound we can't be beat
SuckasSuckas
Wendy Myers
I love when I play songs by Prince for people and they say "this doesn't sound like him" I say "OH yes it does"- I feel he was so underrated and unappreciated for all of his talents. I am so thankful that I am able to listen to him everyday. RIP Prince.
The_Chad_2022
It's just ridiculous how awesome he was. Nobody close
Marcel Arthur
Instablaster
Steve Weis
U got that right brother!!
Philip Avery
Bruh... simply RIDICULOUS!!!
Glors
So funky.... every once in a while you need some ol' skool companeeeee 🎵🎤🎸🎷🥁🎹
Evelyn Dlugin
I just love this song..can't stop listening to it. Miss you so. You will never be forgotten.
Rick Ross
I hear you. I've had an ipod with A LOT of PRINCE music on it. FINALLY listened to this one for the first time today. (already played it about a dozen times).
Tess Wonderful
SO FUCKIN FUNKY!!! His guitar parts went straight down my spine.
otakurocklee
Funkiest guitar player ever!