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.
What's My Name
Prince Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nothing stays the same anyway
Take my fame, I can't use it
My girlfriend calls me lame, the game was over yesterday
Tell me, what's my name?
Tell me, what's my name?
What's my name?
Take this bass, I can't play it
It only makes me wish for the way it used to be
you could slap my face, but I got to say it
you never would have drank my coffee if I had never served you cream
Now tell me, what's your name?
Tell me, what's your name?
What's your name?
What's your name?
Come on!
Do you dream in color or do you discriminate?
Do you love others, do you love or do you hate?
Do you worship fire or do you worship a dove?
Do you live a liar or do you live for love?
What's your name?
What's my name?
What's your name?
In Prince's song "What's My Name," the lyrics express a sense of detachment from personal identity and fame. The singer asks to have their name, fame, and even their musical instrument taken away, suggesting a desire to shed external labels and expectations. The line "my girlfriend calls me lame, the game was over yesterday" implies that the singer's significant other no longer sees them as successful or interesting, indicating a loss of self-worth.
The chorus repeatedly asks "What's my name?" and "What's your name?" in a confrontational and almost accusatory tone, suggesting a challenge to the listener to confront their own sense of identity and values. The final verse asks a series of philosophical questions about the listener's beliefs and attitudes, suggesting that the search for identity and purpose is ongoing and complex.
Line by Line Meaning
Take my name, I don't need it
Prince doesn't place much value on his name and doesn't mind if someone takes it away from him.
Nothing stays the same anyway
Prince acknowledges that change is inevitable and nothing stays the same forever.
Take my fame, I can't use it
Prince realizes that fame is not something that brings him any joy or feels particularly useful to him.
My girlfriend calls me lame, the game was over yesterday
Prince recounts that his girlfriend called him lame, and he sees that his time in the spotlight has come to an end.
Tell me, what's my name?
Prince seeks confirmation from others about his identity and wants to know if they still recognize him.
Take this bass, I can't play it
Prince has realized that he is no longer proficient at playing the bass and doesn't see the point of keeping it with him.
It only makes me wish for the way it used to be
Prince misses the days when he used to play the bass well and the sound of it reminds him of better times.
You could slap my face, but I got to say it
Prince knows that people can try to bring him down, but he will still say what he has to say.
You never would have drank my coffee if I had never served you cream
Prince acknowledges that he has done a lot for people and provided them with 'cream,' but they never would have noticed him or what he has to offer otherwise.
Now tell me, what's your name?
Prince asks others to reveal their identity as a way of getting to know them and connecting with them better.
Do you dream in color or do you discriminate?
Prince wonders if people have inclusive or exclusive thoughts and beliefs, and if they try to imagine the world in all its vibrancy.
Do you love others, do you love or do you hate?
Prince is curious if people are capable of love and compassion, or if they just feel hate and resentment towards others.
Do you worship fire or do you worship a dove?
Prince asks if people idolize destructive or peaceful things, and if they seek harmony or chaos.
Do you live a liar or do you live for love?
Prince inquires whether people live honestly or deceitfully, and if they show dedication and devotion to the things they care about.
What's your name?
Prince is still curious about other people's identity and wants to connect with them on a deeper level.
What's my name?
Prince wants to know if he is still recognizable and valued in the eyes of others.
What's your name?
Prince's final call to action is to encourage people to share their identity and establish a sense of community with him.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Prince Roger Nelson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind