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.
Pearls B4 the Swine
Prince Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
would u come and visit me?
Just 2 slander my name hopin'
that I would pack my bags and leave...
If I did would u remember
2 feed the dove and clean the cage?
And never count in front of the children
lest they die of old age
I don't really know y we have 2 go r separate ways
Whether or not we grow after the seeds r shown
Only time can say...
Can I offer u baklava?
or a bagel with cream cheese?
Will we say grace 2 r father
holding hands down on r knees?
R we better off just fighting?
U on ur side, me on mine
R the words that I keep writing...
only pearls b4 the swine?
What makes men claim that u're a friend
when u're not at all?
They knock u down and then,
they lift u up again, just 2 c u fall...
But like a bird I'll keep on singing...
a song that never leaves ur mind
If nothing else u've taught me one thing...
"Never cast ur pearls b4 the swine"
In "Pearls B4 the Swine," Prince confronts an individual who has shown themselves to be untrustworthy by asking them if they would still visit him if he left his front door open. The lyrics suggest that the individual would only visit him to spread rumors and ultimately force him to leave. Prince goes on to ask if this individual would remember to take care of his pet dove and ensure that children do not witness their arguments.
Prince reflects on the ambiguity of relationships and the challenges of navigating them as he contemplates the possibility of offering his enemy baklava or bagels for breakfast, questioning whether there is any hope for reconciliation. Prince mentions that some people act like they are friends, but really are not, and will knock you down just to lift you up again and watch you fall. However, Prince remains steadfast in his commitment to continue singing, conveying that he has learned that sometimes it is better to keep your pearls to yourself than cast them before those who do not appreciate their value.
Overall, "Pearls B4 the Swine" is a deeply reflective song that highlights the importance of recognizing who is truly your friend, being careful who you trust, and recognizing that sometimes it is better to keep your gifts to yourself.
Line by Line Meaning
If I leave my front door open
If I am vulnerable and honest with you
would u come and visit me?
Will you take advantage of me?
Just 2 slander my name hopin'
Hoping to gain something from spreading lies and hurting my reputation
that I would pack my bags and leave...
To force me out of my own space and make me flee
If I did would u remember
If I were to leave my home due to your actions
2 feed the dove and clean the cage?
Would you take care of my innocent, defenseless pets who were not involved in our conflict?
And never count in front of the children
And please don't expose your greed and selfishness in front of the innocent children who look up to us for guidance
lest they die of old age
Or else their innocence will be ruined by our ungratefulness and heartlessness.
I don't really know y we have 2 go r separate ways
I am not sure why we have to part ways and end our relationship
Whether or not we grow after the seeds r shown
I wonder if we can learn and grow from our mistakes and difficult experiences
Only time can say...
Only time will tell if we can forgive each other and move forward.
Can I offer u baklava?
Can I make a peace offering to you
or a bagel with cream cheese?
in the form of a tasty treat or comfort food
Will we say grace 2 r father
Can we acknowledge a higher power or spirituality to guide our actions
holding hands down on r knees?
And seek unity or solidarity
R we better off just fighting?
Or should we continue with our conflict and try to save face?
U on ur side, me on mine
We are each on our own side and not willing to compromise
R the words that I keep writing...
Are the things I am expressing to you meaningful or just a waste of time?
only pearls b4 the swine?
Am I sharing valuable insights with you or just wasting my time on someone who doesn't appreciate it?
What makes men claim that u're a friend
Why do people pretend to be your friend
when u're not at all?
When they are just using you for their own gain
They knock u down and then,
They deceive you and cause harm
they lift u up again, just 2 c u fall...
Only to offer a false sense of security before betraying you again.
But like a bird I'll keep on singing...
Despite all the hardships and betrayals, I will continue to express myself and persevere
a song that never leaves ur mind
A message or idea that will stick with you, even if you don't want to acknowledge it
If nothing else u've taught me one thing...
Even if this relationship did not work out, I have learned something from it
"Never cast ur pearls b4 the swine"
I have learned to be more careful with sharing valuable things with people who don't appreciate them
Contributed by Mila K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.