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
In Prince's song "The Work Pt. 1," he denounces the media that tries to control people's beliefs by presenting false pictures of themselves and others. He questions how can people claim to be enlightened when their own brothers and sisters are suffering. He implies that humanity is living in a system devised by the devil and that their purpose is to be the living truth in a human form. This requires an individual's willingness to take on the task of working towards a better future for all, and not just for the ruling class who propagates the system of inequality.
Prince calls for the audience to be prepared to make personal sacrifices, to turn their backs on the ruling class, and put them in their place. He emphasizes that this work is not for the faint of heart, and the path towards change will not be easy, but it will be worth it. He encourages individuals to take a stand and own up to their responsibility in creating a future where everyone is treated fairly, no matter their background or social status.
Overall, Prince's "The Work Pt. 1" takes a stinging critique of the media, the ruling class, and the society that encourages individualism and a lack of responsibility. He articulates a belief that each person should be willing to take on the task of creating a better, more just world.
Line by Line Meaning
Every time I watch the other people news
Whenever I watch news about other people
I see a false picture of myself, another one of you
The image I see of others and myself is inaccurate and untrue
They try 2 tell us what we want, what 2 believe
The media wants to dictate our opinions and desires
Didn't that happen in the Garden
When somebody spoke 2 Eve?
Isn't this similar to what happened in the Garden of Eden when Eve was tempted by the serpent?
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?
I am determined to do the work to break free of societal conditioning; are 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?
How can we claim to be successful when those closest to us are struggling? What is left to attain once everything is taken away?
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 societal system we exist in is unjust and oppressive, and the devil's scheme to stop us from fulfilling our ultimate purpose: to embody the truth as human beings
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
This work is difficult but essential, as it is necessary for a greater change to occur. It requires standing up to the people in power and bringing them down, just as has happened in 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
The satisfaction of completing this work is akin to sweetness, but there is still much work to be done.
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?"
We will not be deterred by obstacles, and we must persevere despite them. Someone once said they are committed to doing the work; are you?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PRINCE ROGERS NELSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind