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.
Welcome 2 America
Prince Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Welcome to America
Where you can fail at your job, get fired, rehired
And get a seven hundred billion dollar tip
Come on in, sit right down
And fill up your pockets, yeah
Mass media, information overload
(The following message is brought to you by Viacom)
Distracted by the features of the iPhone
(Got an application for each of situation)
In other words, taken by a pretty face
Somebody's watching you (I see you, I see you)
Welcome to America
Hook up later at the iPad
And we can meet at my place (welcome to America)
Welcome (welcome to America)
To America
Where everything and nothing that Google says is hip
(The sales tax for the following items)
(Will be raised immediately, cigarettes)
We will not raise your taxes
Read our lips
Welcome to America (America)
Welcome to the big show (to America)
Everybody's looking for something
When there ain't no place to go (welcome to America)
Except inside America (America)
That's the only place I know (to America)
Transformation happens deep within, yes or no?
Yes
Welcome to America
One of our greatest exports was a thing called jazz
You think today's music will last?
(Dismantle all monopolies)
(Dismantle all monopolies)
Welcome to America
Welcome
Hope and change, everything takes forever
And truth is a new minority (truth)
Oh, welcome to America
Welcome to America
Today we'd like to discuss America's plan to fix the educational system
The pledge of allegiance will now read as follows
I pledge allegiance to the earth of the United States of the Universe
Welcome to America
There is no arguing with the book (when am I gonna learn something new?)
There is no arguing with the book (who's gonna teach it to me, you?)
There is no arguing with the book (what's that outside my windowsill)
There is no (could it be?) Arguing (our free will?)
You say yes, I say no, yet love flows
America can provide many opportunities
For the young female who wishes to work (for the state)
For her own advancement up from the underclass to become one
Welcome to America
Go to school to become a celebrity
(F-A-M-O-U-S) but don't be late
And everybody and they mama got a sex tape
Welcome to America
We snatch bass players, not purses
Keep playing, it gets worse
Land of the free, home of the brave
Oops, I mean
Land of the free, home of the slave
Get down on your knees, hit me
Welcome to America
Welcome to the big show
Everybody's looking for something
When there ain't no place to go (that's it y'all)
Except inside America
That's the only place I know (Chinese)
Transformation happens deep within, yes or no? (Or get down on your knees)
The song Welcome 2 America by Prince is a commentary on the modern American society and its many idiosyncrasies. The song's sarcastic tone is evident in its opening lines, where the lyrics talk about the country's economic system where people can make mistakes and still get huge bailouts. The song then shifts to the media-saturated culture, where people are distracted by gadgets, pretty faces, and social media. The song seems to be highly critical of the educational system, governmental policies, and American lifestyle in general. The lyrics detail how everything is becoming homogenized as technology takes over and humans lose touch with each other and reality.
The song's chorus, "Welcome to America," is ironically repeated at various points throughout the song, highlighting a sense of sarcasm and disillusionment with the country's so-called freedom and opportunities. Prince talks about the state of music, wondering whether the current generation's music will last as long as jazz has. The song ends with a call to transformation and self-realization.
Overall, the song's message is clear, and Prince's lyrics seem to criticize the American society's many failings. The song highlights the importance of questioning the status quo and realizing the importance of individuality and inner transformation.
Line by Line Meaning
Welcome
Prince is greeting the listener and introducing them to America.
Welcome to America
Where you can fail at your job, get fired, rehired
And get a seven hundred billion dollar tip
In America, it's possible to fail multiple times yet still receive a huge financial reward.
Come on in, sit right down
And fill up your pockets, yeah
Mass media, information overload
Welcome to America
(The following message is brought to you by Viacom)
America is a place where there's constant media bombardment, but you're free to sit down, relax and make money. The media will be promoting itself, as in this example Viacom.
Distracted by the features of the iPhone
(Got an application for each of situation)
In other words, taken by a pretty face
Somebody's watching you (I see you, I see you)
Welcome to America
Americans often distract themselves with new technologies and beautiful interfaces. Prince comments on how this use of technology can become an obsession.
Hook up later at the iPad
And we can meet at my place (welcome to America)
Welcome (welcome to America)
To America
Prince highlights how technology can bring people together and welcomes the listener to America once again.
Where everything and nothing that Google says is hip
(The sales tax for the following items)
(Will be raised immediately, cigarettes)
We will not raise your taxes
Read our lips
Welcome to America (America)
Prince comments on the authority of Google and how easy it is to manipulate people. He also mentions how politicians make promises but rarely tell the truth to their constituent people.
Welcome to the big show (to America)
Everybody's looking for something
When there ain't no place to go (welcome to America)
Except inside America (America)
That's the only place I know (to America)
Transformation happens deep within, yes or no?
Yes
Prince is saying that even though the citizens of America are all searching for something, the only place true transformation can happen is within themselves. He also prompts the listener to answer whether they agree or not, with the expected answer being yes.
Welcome to America
One of our greatest exports was a thing called jazz
You think today's music will last?
(Dismantle all monopolies)
(Dismantle all monopolies)
Welcome to America
Prince compares the classic music genre of jazz to today's music and wonders if it will last as long. He then advocates for the dismantling of all monopolies, both in the entertainment industry and beyond.
Hope and change, everything takes forever
And truth is a new minority (truth)
Oh, welcome to America
Welcome to America
Prince comments on the reality that making progress is difficult and that telling the truth is not always popular in America.
Today we'd like to discuss America's plan to fix the educational system
The pledge of allegiance will now read as follows
I pledge allegiance to the earth of the United States of the Universe
Welcome to America
Prince voices his skepticism about the government's efforts to fix the education system, and suggests a new national pledge that unites all of humankind.
There is no arguing with the book (when am I gonna learn something new?)
There is no arguing with the book (who's gonna teach it to me, you?)
There is no arguing with the book (what's that outside my windowsill)
There is no (could it be?) Arguing (our free will?)
Prince comments on the importance of learning from books and the impossibility of challenging what is written in them. He also wonders about the impact of what he's seeing outside his window on his own free will.
You say yes, I say no, yet love flows
America can provide many opportunities
For the young female who wishes to work (for the state)
For her own advancement up from the underclass to become one
Welcome to America
Prince notes that differences in opinion do not stop love from existing, and comments on how opportunities for women from low-income areas exist in America.
Go to school to become a celebrity
(F-A-M-O-U-S) but don't be late
And everybody and they mama got a sex tape
Welcome to America
Prince remarks on how popular celebrity culture is in America, and comments on the many sex scandals that frequently occur in the entertainment industry.
We snatch bass players, not purses
Keep playing, it gets worse
Land of the free, home of the brave
Oops, I mean
Land of the free, home of the slave
Get down on your knees, hit me
Welcome to America
Prince mentions how valuable bass players are to America, and also comments on how police brutality is on the rise in America.
Welcome to America
Welcome to the big show
Everybody's looking for something
When there ain't no place to go (that's it y'all)
Except inside America
That's the only place I know (Chinese)
Transformation happens deep within, yes or no? (Or get down on your knees)
Prince reiterates how America is like a big show and how people search for meaning in their lives with very few answers. Prince also prompts the listener once again to answer whether transformation happens within or not, or suggests getting down on your knees in case they're not sure.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Prince Rogers Nelson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@suzeesix
TRACKLIST
1. Welcome 2 America
2. Running Game (Son Of A Slave Master)
3. Born 2 Die
4. 1000 Light Years From Here
5. Hot Summer
6. Stand Up And B Strong
7. Check The Record
8. Same Page, Different Book
9. When She Comes
10. 1010 (Rin Tin Tin)
11. Yes
12. One Day We Will All B Free
@TalWilkenfeld
Honored to have played bass on this masterful song. I think this is some of Prince's greatest writing & his earnest words couldn't have come at a better time. I only hope he sees us laughing in the Purple Rain. I sure miss him 💜☔️
@cornlit3664
💜!💜!💜!💜!💜!💜!💜!💜!💜!💜!💜!💜!💜!💜!💜!💜!💜!💜!💜!💜!💜!💜!💜!💜!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@rakabash2081
Salute for your contributions to this song. You're an incredible musician. Prince's legacy is in safe hands. Great musicians like yourself pushing music forward!
@agentxchannel6640
well done; contributing to his music must feel absolutely f l a m e
@oscarprado8320
First thing I noticed was how awesome the bass sounds. Congratulations! I'm checking your other stuff.
@mcdflint
Wow, I didn't know you played on this track! I absolutely love your work with Jeff Beck.
@tonianderson6267
I'm 57 and been a fan since I was about 17. I have always said he was ahead of his time. A very insightful man. Miss you Prince 💜🕊
@edbramfitt2300
me too ... 57 take care
@Enrico3121
Me 62. Fan since Dirty Mind. Grew up with the man's music. Still do!
@santelder
Me too 78 miss him