Prince Rogers Nelson (June 7, 1958 – April 21, 2016), more commonly known m… Read Full Bio ↴Prince Rogers Nelson (June 7, 1958 – April 21, 2016), more commonly known mononymously as Prince, was an American singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer. The recipient of numerous awards and nominations, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest musicians of his generation. He was known for his flamboyant, androgynous persona; his wide vocal range, which included a far-reaching falsetto and high-pitched screams; and his skill as a multi-instrumentalist, often preferring to play all or most of the instruments on his recordings. Prince produced his albums himself, pioneering the Minneapolis sound. His music incorporated a wide variety of styles, including funk, R&B, rock, new wave, soul, synth-pop, pop, jazz, and hip hop.

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.

Poor Little Bastard
Prince Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Poor little bastard
Where is your papa now?
I don't think he'd be too proud
Of people laughing out loud
At his little baby
Shamelessly working the crowd
Poor little baby
Where is your papa now?

Poor little blind one
Can't U see through the lies
Why must U patronize
While I'm waiting by your side
2 make U happy
While others make U cry
Poor little blind one
Why can't I be your eyes?

I've always loved U
Like the stars will love the moon
Like a singer loves a tune that's in her key
U're just right 4 me

Poor little bastard
If there's a place in the sun
Faster than anyone
That's where I would run
Whenever U call

I'll be there 2 break your fall
Poor little bastard - I'll be your papa now {x2}

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Poor Little Bastard" by Prince is a melancholic and empathetic song about someone who is suffering in some way. The song is named after the repeated line "poor little bastard," a phrase that is both sympathetic and slightly profane. The song seems to have two distinct verses, each with its interpretation of the person's misery. The first verse seems to be about a child whose father is absent or dead while the child is forced to perform for an audience that mocks him. The second verse is about someone who is being deceived or mistreated by others, and the singer wants to be the person's guide and protector.

The first verse opens with the question, "Where is your papa now?" suggesting a missing father figure while addressing the suffering of the child who is forced to perform for an audience. The line suggests that the child's father is not present, either physically or emotionally, to protect him from the ridicule of the crowds. The next line, "I don't think he'd be too proud of people laughing out loud," shows how the child's father would likely be embarrassed to see his child's humiliation, which makes the situation more poignant. The third line, "At his little baby shamelessly working the crowd," shows how the child is forced to perform, whether or not he wants to, to please the audience. The phrase "working the crowd" has an almost sinister connotation, which implies that the child is being exploited for the entertainment of others. The second verse talks about someone who is being patronized or deceived by someone else, and the singer wants to be the person's guide and protector.

Line by Line Meaning

Poor little bastard
Addressing someone who has been treated badly

Where is your papa now?
Asking about the person who should be taking care of and protecting the mistreated individual

I don't think he'd be too proud
Speculating that the absent father figure would be ashamed of the situation

Of people laughing out loud
Disapproving of those who are finding joy in someone else's suffering

At his little baby
Referring to the mistreated individual in a dehumanizing way

Shamelessly working the crowd
Judging the individual for trying to make the best out of the bad situation

Poor little baby
Addressing someone who is vulnerable and helpless

Where is your papa now?
Continuing the questioning about the absence of the responsible parental figure

Poor little blind one
Addressing someone who is metaphorically blind to the truth

Can't U see through the lies
Challenging the individual to recognize the reality of their situation

Why must U patronize
Questioning why the individual is pretending that everything is okay

While I'm waiting by your side
Offering support to the blind individual

2 make U happy
Willingness to do whatever it takes to bring happiness to the individual

While others make U cry
Acknowledging that others might hurt the individual, but promising to be there through it all

Poor little blind one
Repeating the address to the vulnerable individual

Why can't I be your eyes?
Offering to guide the blind individual and help them see the truth

I've always loved U
Declaring a deep emotional connection to the addressed individual

Like the stars will love the moon
Comparing the love to the relationship between celestial bodies

Like a singer loves a tune that's in her key
Comparing the love to the passion felt for something that is the perfect match

U're just right 4 me
Affirming the suitability of the individual for a romantic relationship

Poor little bastard
Returning to the original address to the mistreated individual

If there's a place in the sun
Describing a very desirable location

Faster than anyone
Promising quick action to reach the place of optimal conditions

That's where I would run
Expressing a desire to go to the best possible place

Whenever U call
Offering the availability of help

I'll be there 2 break your fall
Promising to offer support and save from hardship

Poor little bastard - I'll be your papa now {x2}
Finishing with a final declaration that the addressed individual will have someone guiding and supporting them like a father would

Contributed by Maria B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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