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.
Sea of Everything
Prince Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm not here to lecture, just letting you know
I know you're busy, the world's calling you
If you don't answer what will you do?
You wander the wilderness
Searching for a king
Will you settle for a prince
I read your letter, every word
No one writes better, at least none that I've heard
You sound so happy or is this a charade?
Will you still feel the same when the spotlight fades?
Will you wander the wilderness
Searching for a king?
Will you settle for a prince
And a sea of everything?
You and me are like two ships passing
Never reaching shore
If we ever, ooh, if we ever did
We'd just want more
No reason to care what people say
For the keys are so far, so far, so far away
No need to say, no need
To say I'd die without you, without you
Because I made, I made, what will you do?
Will you wander the wilderness
Searching for a king
Or will you settle for this
And a sea of everything?
Will you wander the wilderness
Searching, searching for a king
Or will you settle for this
And a sea of everything?
I see your picture wherever I go
I'm not here to lecture, just letting you know
I know you're busy, the world's calling you
In Prince's song "Sea of Everything," the lyrics touch upon themes of recognition, choices, and the fear of missing out. The opening lines convey the singer's constant awareness of the person they are addressing. They acknowledge that they are not trying to give advice or lecture, but simply want to make their presence known. The next lines bring attention to the person's busy life, indicating that the world is calling out to them. There is a sense of urgency, as the singer questions what the person will do if they don't respond to the world's demands.
The second verse introduces the idea of the person wandering the wilderness, metaphorically representing their search for fulfillment or something greater. The reference to searching for a king suggests that they may be seeking a dominant and powerful figure. However, the singer proposes the alternative of settling for a prince and a "sea of everything." This phrase captures the vastness and abundance of possibilities that can be found by being content with what is available.
The third verse refers to a letter, possibly written by the person being addressed. The singer emphasizes that the letter's content is well-written, perhaps indicating that it reveals the person's happiness. However, the singer hesitates and questions whether this happiness is genuine or simply a façade that fades when the spotlight is no longer shining. It suggests that the person's true feelings may only be known when they are not in the public eye.
The chorus repeats the question of whether the person will continue searching for a king or choose the singer, who is portrayed as a prince and a representative of a vast sea of everything. This choice represents the contrast between seeking something grand and settling for what is available. The final lines remind the person that they and the singer are like two ships passing, never reaching shore. Even if they were to finally come together, it would only lead to a desire for more.
Line by Line Meaning
I see your picture wherever I go
Your presence is always in my mind, no matter where I am.
I'm not here to lecture, just letting you know
I don't intend to give you advice, just informing you of my thoughts.
I know you're busy, the world's calling you
I understand that you have numerous commitments and responsibilities.
If you don't answer what will you do?
If you choose not to respond, what course of action will you take?
You wander the wilderness
You roam through life's challenges and uncertainties.
Searching for a king
Seeking someone extraordinary and influential.
Will you settle for a prince
Will you be content with someone who may not be as powerful as a king?
And a sea of everything?
And a vast abundance of experiences, opportunities, and possibilities?
I read your letter, every word
I thoroughly read and absorbed the content of your letter.
No one writes better, at least none that I've heard
I haven't encountered anyone who has superior writing skills.
You sound so happy or is this a charade?
Your words convey happiness, but I wonder if it is genuine or an act.
Will you still feel the same when the spotlight fades?
Will your emotions remain unchanged once the attention and fame diminish?
You and me are like two ships passing
We seem to exist alongside each other without ever truly connecting.
Never reaching shore
We are unable to reach a point of stability or fulfillment in our relationship.
If we ever, ooh, if we ever did
If by chance we did manage to come together...
We'd just want more
...we would still long for something greater or additional.
No reason to care what people say
There is no justification for being concerned about the opinions of others.
For the keys are so far, so far, so far away
Because the means to achieve our desires seems distant and unattainable.
No need to say, no need
There is no necessity to express or vocalize ourselves.
To say I'd die without you, without you
To utter the sentiment that I would not survive without your presence.
Because I made, I made, what will you do?
Since I created something, what course of action will you take in return?
Or will you settle for this
Alternatively, will you find contentment with what we currently have?
And a sea of everything?
And the vast range of experiences and opportunities that awaits?
Will you wander the wilderness
Will you continue to navigate through the uncertainties and challenges of life?
Searching, searching for a king
Continuing the quest for an extraordinary and influential figure.
Or will you settle for this
Or will you find satisfaction with what we currently have?
And a sea of everything?
And embracing the abundance of experiences and possibilities.
Will you wander the wilderness
Will you keep exploring life's challenges and uncertainties?
Searching, searching for a king
Seeking someone remarkable and powerful.
Or will you settle for this
Or will you choose contentment with what we currently share?
And a sea of everything?
And being surrounded by countless experiences and opportunities.
I see your picture wherever I go
Your image occupies my thoughts regardless of my location.
I'm not here to lecture, just letting you know
I have no intention of giving a lengthy speech, just informing you.
I know you're busy, the world's calling you
I understand that you have numerous responsibilities and obligations.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PRINCE ROGERS NELSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind