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.

Slave 2 The System
Prince Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

(Slave) (repeat in song)

Slave, yeah (x2)

Slave 2 the system here before I was born
Slave 2 the master, workin' me till I'm worn
The only penthouse I can count on's a big black ball and chain
Slave 2 the system, the future's all arranged

Oh, U better fetch that water, boy (x2)
Slave 2 the system

Thompson's my last name, but my daddy's name is Lloyd
The farther back I trace it, the more it becomes null and void
All my life I've struggled just 2 be called a boy
Slave 2 the system, oh what a joy

Oh, U better fetch that water, boy
Hell if I do!
(Oh, U better fetch that water, boy)
Oh, I'm just a slave 2 the system

Here before I was born
Slave 2 the master, workin' me till I'm worn

Slave 2 the system

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Slave 2 The System" by Prince highlight the struggles and oppression faced by the African American community. The song begins by addressing the fact that even before the artist was born, he was already a slave to the system. He refers to himself as a slave to the master, who works him until he's worn out. He feels trapped and restricted by the system, and the only thing he can rely on is the large black ball and chain that signifies his enslavement.

The second verse delves deeper into the artist's family history, revealing that his last name is Thompson, but his father's name was Lloyd. As he traces his family's lineage, he discovers that the further back he goes, the more it becomes null and void. He has struggled all his life to be called a boy, but he is still nothing more than a slave to the system. The refrain "Oh, U better fetch that water, boy" is a reminder of the painful reality of slavery and racism in America.

The song ends with Prince acknowledging that he is still a slave to the system, powerless to break free from the shackles that bind him. Overall, "Slave 2 The System" is a powerful and poignant social commentary that highlights the struggles of African Americans and their ongoing fight for freedom and equality.

Line by Line Meaning

Slave, yeah (x2)
Acknowledging the state of being enslaved to the system.

Slave 2 the system here before I was born
Born into a system of oppression with no escape or choice.

Slave 2 the master, workin' me till I'm worn
Enslaved to a master who works them until they cannot work anymore.

The only penthouse I can count on's a big black ball and chain
Metaphorically speaking of being trapped and unable to escape.

Slave 2 the system, the future's all arranged
The system dictates one's future and there's no way to change it.

Oh, U better fetch that water, boy (x2) Slave 2 the system
Being ordered around by those who hold power over them, enforcing their status as a slave to the system.

Thompson's my last name, but my daddy's name is Lloyd
Identifying their familial past and the generational impact of being enslaved to the system.

The farther back I trace it, the more it becomes null and void
The realization that tracing back their ancestry has little to no meaning or impact on their current situation as a slave to the system.

All my life I've struggled just 2 be called a boy Slave 2 the system, oh what a joy
Despite the struggles and hardship, their status as a slave to the system remains unchanged, bringing little joy.

Hell if I do! (Oh, U better fetch that water, boy) Oh, I'm just a slave 2 the system
Refusing to comply with the treatment of being ordered around, yet recognizing that they still remain a slave to the system.

Contributed by Victoria V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS