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.
The Work Pt.1
Prince Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I see a false picture of myself, another one of you
They try 2 tell us what we want, what 2 believe
Didn't that happen in the Garden
When somebody spoke 2 Eve?
But I'm willing 2 do The Work
Willing 2 do what I gotta do
Tell me now - what about you?
Look around and tell me you're Sun is Risen
When you're brothers and sisters are in the Fall
What is left 2 give when are work is done?
What do we own besides the right 2 crawl?
see we're living in a system that the devil designed
And suffering from this devil's most heinous crime
He's tried 2 keep us from the reason we were born
That is 2 be the living truth in human 4m
But I'm willing 2 do The Work
Willing 2 do what I gotta do
I'm willing 2 do The Work
Tell me now - what about you?
This work is not an easy task
But this is the work we must do 4 Revelation 2 come 2 pass
This work is the kind that turns you're back on the Ruling Class
By putting them in their place just like the past
Taste it, ain't it sweet sweet?
Gotta lotta work 2 do
Taste it, ain't it sweet sweet?
Gotta lotta work 2 do
Nothing can stop us
Whatever's in are way
We got 2 go through it 2 get 2 it
I heard somebody say,
"I'm willing 2 do The Work
Willing 2 do what I gotta do
I'm willing 2 do The Work
Tell me now - what about you?"
Thank you
Prince's song The Work Part 1 appears to be a call to action for individuals to take responsibility for their own lives and the world around them. The opening lines suggest that people are being misled by the media about who they truly are and what they should believe. The reference to the Garden of Eden and the temptation of Eve serves as a metaphor for the ongoing struggle between good and evil in human nature. Prince then declares that he is willing to do the work necessary to make a positive change in the world, and asks the listener if they are willing to do the same.
The lyrics also touch on themes of social inequality and the corrupt nature of power structures. Prince suggests that we are living in a system created by the devil himself, and that our true purpose is to be the "living truth in human form". He calls for a revolution against the ruling class, urging his listeners to take action and "putting them in their place just like the past". Overall, the song seems to be a call to arms for those who are dissatisfied with the current state of the world and are willing to take action to make a change.
Line by Line Meaning
Every time I watch the other people news
Every time I watch the news, I see a false picture of myself and others that is being portrayed by the media.
I see a false picture of myself, another one of you
The media often shows us distorted images and stereotypes of ourselves and others.
They try 2 tell us what we want, what 2 believe
The media tries to control what we think and believe.
Didn't that happen in the Garden
When somebody spoke 2 Eve?
This is similar to the story of the Garden of Eden where someone (the snake) convinced Eve to eat the forbidden fruit and disobey God.
But I'm willing 2 do The Work
Willing 2 do what I gotta do
I'm willing 2 do The Work
Tell me now - what about you?
The artist is willing to put in effort and work towards a greater cause, and is asking if the listener is willing to do the same.
Look around and tell me you're Sun is Risen
When you're brothers and sisters are in the Fall
What is left 2 give when are work is done?
Even if we feel successful, we can't ignore the struggles of those around us. We must continue to work towards a better future for all.
What do we own besides the right 2 crawl?
see we're living in a system that the devil designed
And suffering from this devil's most heinous crime
He's tried 2 keep us from the reason we were born
That is 2 be the living truth in human 4m
The singer is criticizing the system we live in and how it often keeps us from fulfilling our true purpose in life.
This work is not an easy task
But this is the work we must do 4 Revelation 2 come 2 pass
This work is the kind that turns you're back on the Ruling Class
By putting them in their place just like the past
The work that needs to be done is not easy, but is necessary for change and progress to occur. It requires standing up against those in power who may be controlling us unfairly.
Taste it, ain't it sweet sweet?
Gotta lotta work 2 do
Taste it, ain't it sweet sweet?
Gotta lotta work 2 do
The artist is acknowledging that the work that needs to be done may be difficult, but it will ultimately be rewarding.
Nothing can stop us
Whatever's in are way
We got 2 go through it 2 get 2 it
I heard somebody say,
"I'm willing 2 do The Work
Willing 2 do what I gotta do
I'm willing 2 do The Work
Tell me now - what about you?"
The artist is expressing determination to overcome obstacles and do what needs to be done, and is asking if the listener shares the same determination.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PRINCE ROGERS NELSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind