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.
Rock Hard in a Funky Place
Prince Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, oh, oh
Does anybody know you're here?
This house of ill-repute (oh honey, I'm scared of you)
Tryin' to deal with all your fears
I guess this is what you get for being cute (cute, cute)
Soaked in banana cologne
It's written all over your face
You're just a rockhard in a funky place
Rockhard in a funky place
Here comes a lady so you cover up
She's a freak hot funky electric mama with double cups (okay now, come on, come on, girl, let's see, come on)
See, you, you couldn't cop if you wanted to
Because something near your leg is haunting you
Such a disgrace, you're a rockhard in a funky place
Ow,
Ha ha, y'all
Rockhard in a funky place
You was workin' on the line you could drop on her (uh, uh)
But you couldn't concentrate when your dick saw her (uh, uh)
Maybe if you cop a nut in the car (maybe if you cop a nut in the car)
Maybe you could think about playing guitar
(Rock, rock)
(Rock, rock)
(Rock, rock)
(Rock, rock)
(Rock, rock)
(Rock, rock)
(Rock, rock)
(Rock)
Oh, yeah, yeah
Uh, yeah, yeah
Rockhard in a funky place
All you're looking for is love
Or a reason to believe there's a God above
Pretty soon you'll get enough
And head back to a life so tough
I just hate to see an erection go to waste
I'm just a rockhard in a funky place
Rockhard in a funky place
Say it, rockhard in a funky place
Rockhard in a funky place
Oh, you rockhard in a funky place
You rockhard in a funky place
Say it, y'all
(Rock, rock)
What?
(Rock, rock)
(Rock, rock)
We gotta go, y'all
(Rock, rock)
Tune in next week
(Rock, rock)
Same time, same boogie
Rock hard (rock, rock)
Oh yeah, we will rock, y'all (rock, rock)
But until then keep your finger on the trigger (rock, rock)
That's the only way it'll get bigger
What kinda of fuck end was that?
The song "Rock Hard in a Funky Place" by Prince is a sexually charged and playful song that pokes fun at the pressures and complications that come with sexual desire. The lyrics read like a diary entry of sorts, with Prince painting a picture of a man who is both confident and hesitant in his attempts to engage in sexual activity. The opening lines "Does anybody know you're here? This house of ill-repute (oh honey, I'm scared of you) Tryin' to deal with all your fears I guess this is what you get for being cute (cute, cute)," suggest that the singer is sneaking around in order to satisfy his sexual desires, and that he is scared of being judged for his actions. The reference to "this house of ill-repute" suggests that he is engaging in sexual activity in a place that is considered taboo, which adds another layer of tension to the song.
The song continues with references to the man's attempts to impress a woman who he finds attractive but is ultimately intimidated by. The line "Soaked in banana cologne/No wonder you're all alone/It's written all over your face/You're just a rockhard in a funky place" is a witty commentary on the ways in which men attempt to impress women through their appearance and the use of cologne. This is followed by a description of the woman he is trying to attract, who is "a freak hot funky electric mama with double cups," which suggests that she is confident and unapologetic about her sexuality. The song concludes with the line "I just hate to see an erection go to waste/I'm just a rockhard in a funky place," which is simultaneously humorous and poignant, suggesting that sexual desire can be both liberating and frustrating.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, oh, oh
Prince's vocalization to start the song
Does anybody know you're here?
A rhetorical question asked to someone who is trying to hide from others or the world
This house of ill-repute (oh honey, I'm scared of you)
The surroundings of someone that are questionable, and looking at the person at the center evokes fear
Tryin' to deal with all your fears
The person at the center is struggling to cope with their insecurities
I guess this is what you get for being cute (cute, cute)
Perhaps the person is facing a situation that would not have arisen if they weren't trying to be showy, or maybe it's just ironic
Soaked in banana cologne
The person is wearing an overwhelming amount of cologne with a scent that most people wouldn't choose
No wonder you're all alone
The person's off-putting appearance and smell indicate why they lack companionship
It's written all over your face
The person's emotions are easily readable on their facial expressions
You're just a rockhard in a funky place
They are in a strange spot, standing out like a sore thumb, and just can't relax
Here comes a lady so you cover up
An attractive woman enters the environment, and the person starts to hide their arousal
She's a freak hot funky electric mama with double cups (okay now, come on, come on, girl, let's see, come on)
A possible physical description of the woman that entered, and the person is anticipating her to reveal more of herself
See, you, you couldn't cop if you wanted to
Even if given the opportunity, the person is incapable of seizing the moment
Because something near your leg is haunting you
They cannot take advantage of the scenario because they cannot control their hormones
Such a disgrace, you're a rockhard in a funky place
The situation is quite unfortunate, depicting the person as being unable to control their urge while in a bizarre atmosphere
You was workin' on the line you could drop on her (uh, uh)
The person was attempting to work up the courage to talk to the woman, but he can't seem to focus and ends up doing nothing
But you couldn't concentrate when your dick saw her (uh, uh)
The person was too focused on the woman's physical appearance, and couldn't get his thoughts together
Maybe if you cop a nut in the car (maybe if you cop a nut in the car)
The person contemplates taking care of themselves privately before attempting to talk to the woman
Maybe you could think about playing guitar
The person should focus on their hobbies instead of getting flustered with women
(Rock, rock)
Vocalization from Prince to transition to the next part of the song
All you're looking for is love
The person is attempting to find love but is failing miserably
Or a reason to believe there's a God above
Perhaps people turn to God as an explanation for their troubles or to find hope
Pretty soon you'll get enough
The person is on the brink of giving up because of his repeated failures
And head back to a life so tough
The person contemplates going back to a tough life without love
I just hate to see an erection go to waste
Prince is making light of the unusual situation, and suggests that the person should at least try to make the most of his arousal
I'm just a rockhard in a funky place
Prince is self-acknowledging that he too is in a strange environment, but it doesn't seem to bother him as much
Say it, rockhard in a funky place
The phrase is repeated to maintain the same tempo and theme of the song
Oh, you rockhard in a funky place
Prince is addressing the person at the center of the song
What kinda of fuck end was that?
The final lyrics are unclear in their meaning and might be intentionally left in to suggest that the song might not have a clear message
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ERIC LEEDS, PRINCE ROGERS NELSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MarkDragavon69
I’m 71 years old & I’ve always loved everything Prince has done. He’s the ultimate fusion of funk & jazz, in my humble opinion
@somethingdifferent4u247
And I approve this message.
@lorrainesmarr467
Also approved by this 51 year old!
@marcrigaut6940
J’ai 53 ans et je vis et vécu la même chose. Merci.
@PATYPUS3
Mark, this song was written before viagra.....
@scarygarrysg1903
That's an Artist with a capital "A" ...we are never gonna see another one like Prince!
@CatEyedGoddess
If you are a real Prince fan. You are here!!!
@ItothaGO
Camille's IN DA HOUSE!!!!
@maha77
This was my favorite song from the Black Album
@Blak7uerilla
Definitely the best song on the whole album.