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.
We Can Funk #1
Prince Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We can funk
I'm testing positive for the funk
I'll gladly pee in anybody's cup
And when your cup overflow I'll pee some more
I could tell you stories 'til you get tired.
But you'd probably say that I was a liar
So I won't waste your time
I'm scared 'cause though we just met there's this energy between us,
Let's just go somewhere, we can funk
I'm testing positive for the funk
I'll gladly (we can funk) pee in anybody's cup
And when your cup overflow
I'm testing (we can funk) positive and I'll pee some more
Bump 'em and funk 'em, jump 'em and funk 'em,
Pump 'em and funk 'em, pump 'em and funk 'em
Every time I could, I would compliment you on the things,
The things that you be, honey doll, we should make the real noise, just you and me
I could tell you things to get you excited, things you never heard
You know the Kama Sutra? I could re-write it with half as many words
But I'm scared, cause if I don't kiss ya, I'm gonna go mad baby
Take off my clothes. We can funk
I'm testing positive for the funk
I'll gladly pee in anybody's cup
And may your cup overflow I'll pee some more
We can funk [Repeat: x3]
Wait a minute. Let me turn on some lights. we can funk.
Yeah, come here.
You can blow the candle off baby. (candle)
You can turn the candle on.
Which ever one you choose is alright,
Cause we're going to do it all night long
(Sex) Sex between to people is alright
If all the love in the world is what they got
As long as they're not trying to hurt nobody
Just as long as it's hot
Good lord, baby, I want to make love to you two times maybe three
Yeah, if you want to go four or five, baby that's alright with me
Listen, I said I will be your little baby
Yeah, I can be your big strong man
I can be your girl or boy, I can be your toy
Alright, let's dance.
It's up to you can funk me baby. I'll funk you.
We can funk one another.
Whatever you want to do.
You got electric ass baby
You got electric thighs baby
I can't wait no longer child
It's getting stronger, baby
Open up your eyes
See this gold chain around my waist
I want to give it to you
Yeah, people tell me I got no taste
Then blow the candle out, let's see if it's true
We be funkin' over here, and over there ain't shit
We be funkin' over here, and over there ain't shit
The lyrics to Prince and George Clinton's song, "We Can Funk," reflect a sexually charged invitation to engage in uninhibited, pleasure-centered experiences. The repetition of "jump 'em and funk 'em, pump 'em and funk 'em" speaks to the idea of no rules and no inhibitions. The repeated refrain, "I'm testing positive for the funk," suggests that the funk is an infectious quality that the singer is eager to share with others. The line "Let's just go somewhere, we can funk" implies a desire for escapism and an adventure in hedonism.
Prince's verse delivers seductive promise with a hint of danger: "I could tell you stories 'til you get tired. I could play with your mind. But you'd probably say that I was a liar so I won't waste your time." Here, Prince is acknowledging that he is a risk-taker, willing to push boundaries but aware that not everyone is willing or able to follow.
The verses by George Clinton are even more overt in their sexuality, with lines like "Every time I could, I would compliment you on the things, the things that you be" and "You know the Kama Sutra? I could re-write it with half as many words." Clinton's verse also displays vulnerability, with the line "But I'm scared, cause if I don't kiss ya, I'm gonna go mad baby." Overall, "We Can Funk" is a song that celebrates pleasure and indulgence while acknowledging the risks and fears that come with such experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Jump 'em and funk 'em, pump 'em and funk 'em
We can funk
Let's dance and have fun together.
I'm testing positive for the funk
I'll gladly pee in anybody's cup
And when your cup overflow I'll pee some more
I'm feeling the groove and I'm willing to share it with others. We can keep dancing all night long.
I could tell you stories 'til you get tired.
I could play with your mind.
But you'd probably say that I was a liar
So I won't waste your time
I can entertain you with tales, but you might not believe me. Let's not dwell on that and just enjoy each other's company.
I'm scared 'cause though we just met there's this energy between us,
Let's just go somewhere, we can funk
I feel a connection with you, even though we're strangers. Let's take a chance and dance together.
Bump 'em and funk 'em, jump 'em and funk 'em,
Pump 'em and funk 'em, pump 'em and funk 'em
Let's keep dancing and enjoying the music.
Every time I could, I would compliment you on the things,
The things that you be, honey doll, we should make the real noise, just you and me
You have many admirable qualities, and I think we should make sweet music together.
I could tell you things to get you excited, things you never heard
You know the Kama Sutra? I could re-write it with half as many words
I could tell you many seductive things, and I'm well-versed in the art of lovemaking.
But I'm scared, cause if I don't kiss ya, I'm gonna go mad baby
Take off my clothes. We can funk
I'm hesitant to make a move, but if I don't, I'll go crazy. Let's take things to the next level and enjoy ourselves.
Wait a minute. Let me turn on some lights. we can funk.
Yeah, come here.
You can blow the candle off baby. (candle)
You can turn the candle on.
Which ever one you choose is alright,
Cause we're going to do it all night long
(Sex) Sex between to people is alright
If all the love in the world is what they got
As long as they're not trying to hurt nobody
Just as long as it's hot
Good lord, baby, I want to make love to you two times maybe three
Yeah, if you want to go four or five, baby that's alright with me
Listen, I said I will be your little baby
Yeah, I can be your big strong man
I can be your girl or boy, I can be your toy
Alright, let's dance.
It's up to you can funk me baby. I'll funk you.
We can funk one another.
Whatever you want to do.
Let's set the mood and do whatever feels right. I want to be intimate with you and explore different roles in our relationship. Let's dance and enjoy each other's company all night long.
You got electric ass baby
You got electric thighs baby
I can't wait no longer child
It's getting stronger, baby
Open up your eyes
You have a magnetic physical presence, and I'm drawn to you. I'm growing more attracted by the second, so let's take things to the next level.
See this gold chain around my waist
I want to give it to you
Yeah, people tell me I got no taste
Then blow the candle out, let's see if it's true
I want to shower you with gifts to prove my affection. Don't listen to naysayers, let's focus on each other and see where the night takes us.
We be funkin' over here, and over there ain't shit
We be funkin' over here, and over there ain't shit
We're having a great time and nothing else matters. Let's dance the night away and live in the moment.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GEORGE JR CLINTON, . PRINCE (US 1)
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Drispella Wain
wow, this is an absolute gem and so glad you have found it and given it your masterful treatment. thank you again for sharing
Bryan Gray
Thank you Jason!!! Much appreciation for you!!! Love this song and wouldn’t have figured it out without you!!!
Jennifer Sabado
Could you do “I love you in me” by Prince and Andy Allo? please and thank you :) This video is great btw. Thank you
Andy Camargo
Hi Jason. first I'd like to thank you very much for u great lessons. Just wondering, I can use those same licks and chords to play just like the 86 version made by Prince? actually that version of the 80s it's more slow, but I'm not sure If is in the same key as this one, I don't have too much musical knowledge. But this version is great too! Thanks in advance amigo! Cheers
lajas44
Thanks so much Jason, for all of these great Prince tutorials.
J J
Thank you Jason! This made my day so far! Much Love, Josh
J J
Attempting this 2nite!
J J
Jason Read Yaaaay, aw wicked- that's awesome mate! Are you available for a cheeky Skype lesson sometime soon, btw?
Jason Read - Guitar Lessons
I've got the other one worked out too :)
Shia *
love it😍👍🏻