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 the Dawn
Prince Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Are far from what they seem
When the past becomes the future
And time becomes a dream
When the light of God
Is the only thing in life that will redeem
Welcome, welcome 2 the dawn
When the voices U hear commands U
When U do the action unlocks
Thee apocalypse of that you've heard of
When the day lies before U
Seems the darkness in a word
Welcome, welcome 2 the dawn
Every pieces a puzzle and every name a clue
Every charge U make is karma
So be careful what U do
Welcome, welcome 2 the dawn
(Welcome 2 the dawn) (Thank U)
Prince's Welcome 2 the Dawn is a soulful and insightful song that delves into the themes of redemption, time, and the importance of one's actions. The opening verse of the song speaks to the idea that sometimes the things we think we know are not as they appear to be. It presents a view of time as malleable and capable of being rewritten, hence the mention of the past becoming the future and time becoming a dream. The line "When the light of God is the only thing in life that will redeem" seems to suggest that redemption is only attainable through a spiritual awakening.
The song's second verse delves into the idea that our actions have consequences, and they can impact the world around us. This verse speaks to the importance of taking responsibility for one's actions, with the line "Every charge you make is karma, so be careful what you do". The final verse of the song contains the titular phrase, "Welcome 2 the Dawn", which is a message of hope and possibility. The song suggests that by accepting and embracing the new day, we are able to move forward with clarity and purpose.
Overall, Welcome 2 the Dawn is a stirring song that encourages listeners to take control of their lives, make the most of their time, and embrace the potential of each new day.
Line by Line Meaning
When the things U know are right
When you are sure of what you believe is right
Are far from what they seem
But what you believe might not be what actually is
When the past becomes the future
When what has already happened seems to be repeating again
And time becomes a dream
And the concept of time loses its meaning
When the light of God
When the only guiding force in life is the divine power
Is the only thing in life that will redeem
And only the righteousness can save you
Welcome, welcome 2 the dawn
Welcome to the new day, a new beginning
When the voices U hear commands U
When you are called upon to follow the unheard voice from within
2 entertain thee absurd
To express and celebrate the unconventional or absurd ideas
When U do the action unlocks
When the action you take is a turning point
Thee apocalypse of that you've heard of
That marks the beginning of the end of something old
When the day lies before U
When a new day is dawning
Seems the darkness in a word
And it might seem like the darkness is still looming large
Every pieces a puzzle and every name a clue
Every aspect of life is interrelated, like pieces of a puzzle, and every name has a hidden meaning
Every charge U make is karma
Every action has consequences, in this life or the next
So be careful what U do
And hence, one must always be careful and conscious of one's actions
Welcome, welcome 2 the dawn
Welcome to the new day, a new beginning
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PRINCE ROGERS NELSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind