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.
When Eye Lay My Hands on U
Prince Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Miscellaneous
When I lay my hands on you
The message you're about to hear is not meant for transmission
Should only be access to the privacy of your mind
The words are intense so my dear if you dare to listen
Take off your clothes
Are you ready for the touch that makes you go insane
Breast to lips to cheek to mane
I pull your hair, you will feel no pain
Are you ready for the only forever we'll both obtain
The only joy in this forsaken game
Feel ashamed and ordained
When I lay my hands on you
The touch you're about to feel is the one you've been wishin' for
It's been here like an echo inside your space and time
It's about to get freaky cause of places that I'll be kissin'
Are the places that no one, no man could ever find
Are you ready for the touch that makes you go insane
Breast to lips to cheek to mane
I pull your hair, you will feel no pain
Are you ready for the only forever we'll both obtain
The only joy in this forsaken game (God forbid)
Feel ashamed and ordained (God forbid)
When I lay my hands on you
Nobody knows
Like God knows
Where the deepest part of your river flows
Snap Snap
Unto these nylon hose
Around your thigh my finger goes slowly
Like a cat tip-toes
Until I reach the cap nose
I will touch thee in the softest manner
Like Europa in the hands of Santana
Are you ready for the touch that makes you go insane
Breast to lips to cheek to mane
I pull your hair, you will feel no pain
Are you ready for the only forever we'll both obtain
The only choice in this forsaken game
Feel ashamed and ordained
When I lay my hands on you
When I lay my hands on you
In Prince's song, "When Eye Lay My Hands on U," the lyrics suggest an intimacy between two individuals. The message is intense and not meant for transmission, as it is only for the privacy of one's own mind. The song begins with an invitation to remove one's clothes and meet between the lines. The lyrics describe the touch that brings about all-consuming passion and drives one insane. The words "breast to lips to cheek to mane" evoke imagery of a passionate embrace, followed by a release of pain.
The song moves on to the idea of experiencing joy in a game that is forsaken, indicating that the intimacy between the two individuals is not accepted by society. The lyrics describe the places that the artist will be kissing, places that nobody else has dared to go. The words suggest that the artist is taking their time, exploring every inch of their partner's body in a gentle, almost sensual way.
The lyrics also suggest a spiritual or God-like connection, where the artist knows every detail of their partner, even the deepest parts of their river flows. The lyrics become more poetic as Prince describes touching his partner in the softest manner, like Europa in the hands of Santana. Overall, the lyrics evoke feelings of passion, intimacy, and a deep spiritual connection.
Line by Line Meaning
The message you're about to hear is not meant for transmission
This communication is only for you and should not be shared
Should only be access to the privacy of your mind
It is personal and private; meant only for you to hear
The words are intense so my dear if you dare to listen
The message is powerful and emotional; listen only if you are ready
Take off your clothes
Get naked; be vulnerable
Meet me between the lines
In the hidden, intimate spaces that words can't describe
Are you ready for the touch that makes you go insane
Prepare yourself for a mind-altering physical experience
Breast to lips to cheek to mane
I will kiss and caress you all over
I pull your hair, you will feel no pain
I will be rough, but it will feel good; there will be no pain
Are you ready for the only forever we'll both obtain
We will experience a connection that lasts a lifetime
The only joy in this forsaken game
This is the only pleasure in an otherwise miserable existence
Feel ashamed and ordained
Experience a mix of guilt and divine blessing
The touch you're about to feel is the one you've been wishin' for
This is what you've always wanted but never had
It's been here like an echo inside your space and time
This desire has been with you for a long time
It's about to get freaky cause of places that I'll be kissin'
I will kiss you in unexpected and exciting places
Are the places that no one, no man could ever find
These are spots that are unique to you and that no one else knows about
Nobody knows
No one else knows your body like I do
Like God knows
I know you in a way that is divine and all-knowing
Where the deepest part of your river flows
I understand the most intimate and hidden parts of your sexuality
Snap Snap
The sound of my fingers running over your nylon stockings
Unto these nylon hose
Your silky stockings are part of the experience
Around your thigh my finger goes slowly
I will tease you with a slow, circular motion
Like a cat tip-toes
I will be gentle and precise in my movements
Until I reach the cap nose
I will continue to tease you until you can't take it anymore
I will touch thee in the softest manner
I will be gentle and loving with you
Like Europa in the hands of Santana
I will treat you like a goddess and cherish your body
The only choice in this forsaken game
Our only option in this otherwise difficult existence is to find pleasure in each other's bodies
When I lay my hands on you
When I touch you
Contributed by Asher M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.