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.
Time Is On My Side
Prince Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You know me yeah
Ay yeah
What you wanna do in your spare time
Your spare time
Actin' like you know me yeah
You know me yeah
Ay yeah
Your spare time
Your spare time
If we got the bottles and we got the drank
Ain't nobody here on my kind of rank
Fuck with me cause you like how I sang
This shit so Hollywood go out with a bang
A Bitch be passing by you know I'm fly
Singing My, my, my like why, why, why
You acting prety when the drinks are free
Now you, Actin' like you know me yeah
You know me yeah
Ay yeah
What you wanna do in your spare time
Your spare time
Your spare time
You know me yeah
You know me yeah
You know me yeah
You know me yeah
You know me yeah
You know me yeah
You know me yeah
Ooh, watch out she a killa
Ooh, she fuck with the singa
Ooh, tryna bring back Thriller
Ooh, ring on the finger
That bitch ain't loyal
And she act like she royal
Dirty Diana gone princess
Wants to fuck the Island Prince and nothing less
Sending my girl swisher sweets
If she wanna meet at the hotel suite
Love in elevator Call it high life
At least it something to build up to the hype
She a friend of a friend
To me she a ten she a ten
Don't know if I should be about this
But I'll let her finish
A Bitch be passing by you know I'm fly
Singing My, my, my like why, why, why
acting prety when the drinks are free
Actin' like you know me yeah
You know me yeah
Ay yeah
What you wanna do in your spare time
Your spare time
Your spare time
You know me yeah
You know me yeah
You know me yeah
You know me yeah
You know me yeah
You know me yeah
You know me yeah
I know you want me, and I want you by me
Maybe you want me, and I want you right here by my side
By my side
By my side
By my side
Said it's over baby over baby
Said it's over baby over baby
Said it's over, over
Said it's over baby
The lyrics to Prince's song "Time Is On My Side" depict a situation where the singer is being approached by someone who seems to be familiar with them. The opening lines suggest that the singer is being recognized by these people, as they are acting like they know them. The repeated phrase "Actin' like you know me" highlights this theme of strangers assuming a close acquaintance with the singer.
As the song progresses, Prince introduces some elements of fame and celebrity. He mentions bottles and drinks, indicating a luxurious lifestyle, and suggests that people are attracted to him because of his singing abilities. The line "This shit so Hollywood go out with a bang" implies that the singer is living a glamorous and exciting life. However, there is also a sense of skepticism or caution present, as the singer refers to people as "dirty Diana gone princess" and implies that their loyalty is questionable.
Prince continues to explore the themes of attraction and temptation, using metaphors and wordplay. He mentions a girl who is a "friend of a friend" and describes her as a perfect ten. Despite expressing uncertainty about whether to engage in this situation, the singer allows her to continue, perhaps succumbing to the allure. The song concludes with the repeated phrase "You know me yeah," which can be interpreted as the singer's understanding that their fame and reputation have led to this familiarity from strangers.
Overall, "Time Is On My Side" delves into the complexities of celebrity, fame, and the blurred lines between genuine connection and superficiality. It exposes the challenges and temptations that arise when individuals try to navigate relationships in the spotlight.
Line by Line Meaning
Actin' like you know me yeah
Pretending to be familiar with me
You know me yeah
You are aware of my presence
Ay yeah
Expressing agreement or approval
What you wanna do in your spare time
What activities do you prefer to engage in during your free time
Your spare time
The time that is not occupied by other duties or responsibilities
If we got the bottles and we got the drank
If we possess bottles and alcoholic beverages
Ain't nobody here on my kind of rank
No one in this place holds the same superior status as me
Fuck with me cause you like how I sang
Engage with me because you enjoy my singing
This shit so Hollywood go out with a bang
This situation is very flashy and exciting
A Bitch be passing by you know I'm fly
An attractive woman walks by acknowledging my stylish appearance
Singing My, my, my like why, why, why
Continuously repeating 'my' and questioning the reason behind it
You acting prety when the drinks are free
You are behaving nicely when beverages are provided at no cost
Now you, Actin' like you know me yeah
Currently pretending to have familiarity with me
Ooh, watch out she a killa
Be cautious, she is dangerous
Ooh, she fuck with the singa
Oh, she engages in sexual activity with me, the singer
Ooh, tryna bring back Thriller
Attempting to revive the popularity of the album 'Thriller'
Ooh, ring on the finger
Oh, there is a ring on her finger indicating she is engaged or married
That bitch ain't loyal
That woman is unfaithful
And she act like she royal
And she behaves as if she is of noble bloodline
Dirty Diana gone princess
Dirty Diana has transformed into a princess-like figure
Wants to fuck the Island Prince and nothing less
Desires to engage in sexual activity with the Island Prince exclusively
Sending my girl swisher sweets
Sending my female companion cigars called 'swisher sweets'
If she wanna meet at the hotel suite
If she desires to have a meeting in a suite at a hotel
Love in elevator Call it high life
Romantic involvement in an elevator, referring to a luxurious lifestyle
At least it something to build up to the hype
At the very least, it is something to generate excitement
She a friend of a friend
She is an acquaintance of a mutual friend
To me she a ten she a ten
To me, she is incredibly attractive, scoring a perfect ten
Don't know if I should be about this
Uncertain if I should be involved in this situation
But I'll let her finish
However, I will allow her to conclude her actions
I know you want me, and I want you by me
I am aware that you desire me, and I desire to have you near me
Maybe you want me, and I want you right here by my side
Perhaps you desire my presence, and I desire to have you right next to me
Said it's over baby over baby
Stated that the relationship or situation has concluded
Said it's over baby over baby
Repeatedly stated that the relationship or situation has concluded
Said it's over, over
Reiterated that it is definitively finished
Said it's over baby
Stated that the relationship or situation has ended
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Marcus Kielman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind