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.
Shy
Prince Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Streets he roamed in search of a poem amongst the wild and drinkin'
When he sees cool dark skin in hot virgin white
The search was over at least 4 2night
When she co-signed and then told him she was ...
[Chorus]
Shy - Cool dark skin in hot virgin white
Shy - Looks like we're gonna take the long way home 2night
Oh baby (Shy)
After a look much louder than words she said, "I passed my initiation
A friend of mine, he got killed and in retaliation
I shot the boy ("Pop! Pop!"), huh, twice in the head
No regrets, no sorrow - I'm goin' back tomorrow 2 make sure he's dead
'Cause if I don't, they'll call me a chicken, but you can call me ... "
[Chorus]
Shy
Shy - Lips say no but the body say might
Looks like we're gonna take the long way home..
Looks like we're gonna take the long way home..
Looks like we're gonna take the long way home 2night
The girl was rough, but he called her bluff
And he told her not 2 know was better
Fact or fiction he wondered
And that's when the rain and thunder got wetter
And at the top of the page he wrote ...
Shy - Cool dark skin in hot virgin white
Shy - Looks like we're gonna take the long way home 2night
[Chorus]
(Oh, say it now, yeah)
(Shy, shy!)
(Shy)
Ooh baby, don't you want to be alone 2night?
Shy - Yeah (Oh yes)
Shy (Shy)
Shy - Looks like we're gonna take the long way home 2night
The lyrics of Prince’s song “Shy” describe the story of a man who has been alone for a month and is wandering aimlessly through the streets of LA, finding inspiration for his poetry while he drinks. The lyrics make reference to the thrill of seduction and the ambiguity that often accompanies the pursuit of a sexual relationship. The man encounters a cool, dark-skinned woman dressed in white, with whom he immediately feels a connection. Although her lips say no, her body language suggests that she may be open to the idea of a physical relationship. The chorus repeats the word “Shy” and reinforces the mysteriousness of the encounter, making it clear that the man and the woman will be taking the long way home that night.
The lyrics take a dramatic turn when the woman confesses that she has killed someone in retaliation for the murder of a friend. She shows no remorse and intends to kill again the next day, so as not to be seen as a coward. This revelation adds a sense of danger and excitement to the story, making it clear that the man is both attracted to and afraid of this complex woman. The song ends with the repeated chorus of “Shy,” suggesting that although the man may be taking a risk by staying with this woman, he is drawn to her and cannot resist the temptation.
Overall, the lyrics of “Shy” provide an interesting and complex narrative of a fleeting encounter between two strangers, with elements of seduction, danger, and mystery woven throughout the story.
Line by Line Meaning
After a month of just bein' alone he said, "I wonder what L.A.'s thinkin'"
Prince sings about a man who is alone in search of meaning, wondering what people think about the things they create.
Streets he roamed in search of a poem amongst the wild and drinkin'
The man searches for inspiration in the city, wandering around to find something that moves him.
When he sees cool dark skin in hot virgin white / The search was over at least 4 2night
The man discovers a woman who catches his eye, and their connection makes him feel like he's finally found what he's been looking for.
When she co-signed and then told him she was ...
The woman verifies their connection, and the man becomes even more interested.
[Chorus] Shy - Cool dark skin in hot virgin white / Shy - Lips say won't but her body say might / Shy - Looks like we're gonna take the long way home 2night
The woman seems hesitant, but the attraction between them is too strong to ignore. They're going to spend the night together, taking their time getting there.
After a look much louder than words she said, "I passed my initiation / A friend of mine, he got killed and in retaliation / I shot the boy ("Pop! Pop!"), huh, twice in the head / No regrets, no sorrow - I'm goin' back tomorrow 2 make sure he's dead / 'Cause if I don't, they'll call me a chicken, but you can call me ... "
The woman has a dark past, and she shares a story of revenge to show the man what she's capable of. She's tough and unafraid to take matters into her own hands.
Shy - Lips say no but the body say might
The woman may be hesitant, but her desire for the man is evident in the way she responds to him.
Looks like we're gonna take the long way home..
They're going to take their time and enjoy the night together.
The girl was rough, but he called her bluff / And he told her not 2 know was better / Fact or fiction he wondered / And that's when the rain and thunder got wetter / And at the top of the page he wrote ...
The man realizes that the woman has a tough exterior, but he's not intimidated. He wonders if her story is true or if it's just a way to impress him. As they connect more, the intensity of their passion grows.
Shy - Looks like we're gonna take the long way home 2night / [Chorus] (Oh, say it now, yeah) / (Shy, shy!) / (Shy) / Ooh baby, don't you want to be alone 2night? / Shy - Yeah (Oh yes) / Shy (Shy) / Shy - Looks like we're gonna take the long way home 2night
The attraction between the two of them continues to grow, and they're looking forward to spending the night together. They're shy about their desires, but they can't resist the connection they share.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Mary Guettel Rodgers, Marshall Barer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind