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 U R Mine
Prince Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I gave you all of my money
Time after time
You done me wrong
It was just like a dream
You let all my friends come over and meet
And you were so strange
You didn't have the decency to change the sheets
Oh girl, when you were mine
I used to let you wear all my clothes
You were so fine (so fine)
Maybe that's the reason that it hurt me so
I know (I know)
That you're going with another guy
I don't care (don't care)
'Cause I love you, baby, that's no lie
I love you more than I did when you were mine
When you were mine
You were kinda, sorta my best friend
So I was blind (so blind)
I let you fool around
I never cared (didn't care)
I never was the kind to make a fuss
When he was there
Sleeping in between the two of us
I know (I know)
That you're going with another guy
I don't care (don't care)
'Cause I love you, baby, that's no lie
I love you more than I did when you were mine
When you were mine
you were all I ever wanted to do
Now I spend my time
Following him whenever he's with you
I know (I know)
That you're going with another guy
I don't care (don't care)
'Cause I love you, baby, that's no lie
I love you more than I did when you were mine
When you were mine, yeah, oh no
Love you, baby, love you, baby
When you were mine
In Prince's song When You Were Mine, the lyrics reveal a tale of heartbreak and betrayal. The singer is reminiscing about a past love, a woman who he used to give everything to - including his money, his clothes, and his trust. However, he soon realizes that she was taking advantage of him and cheating on him with another man. The singer is still in love with her, despite the pain she caused him. He continues to love her more than when they were in a relationship. The song's chorus, "When you were mine," highlights a yearning for what once was and the pain of losing it.
The song can be seen as a cautionary tale of how love can blind a person to the actions of their significant other. The singer of the story allowed this woman to use him in every way, and it wasn't until she left him for someone else that he realized the depth of her betrayal. The lyrics show how difficult it can be to move on from a relationship that was so all-consuming and intense, as the singer admits that he continues to love her even though she is with someone else.
In conclusion, Prince's When You Were Mine is a poignant song that captures the complexities of love and heartbreak. The lyrics reveal a story of betrayal, but also a deep sense of longing and love that persists despite the hurt. The song is relatable to anyone who has experienced heartbreak and allows the listener to empathize with the singer's journey.
Line by Line Meaning
When you were mine
The singer is reminiscing about a past romantic relationship.
I gave you all of my money
The singer was very generous with his partner and gave her financial support.
Time after time
The singer feels like he was constantly being wronged by his partner.
You done me wrong
The singer's partner repeatedly betrayed his trust and hurt him emotionally.
It was just like a dream
The singer's relationship with his partner felt too good to be true, like a fantasy.
You let all my friends come over and meet
The singer's partner was very sociable and introduced him to new people.
And you were so strange
The singer's partner's behavior was unpredictable and unusual at times.
You didn't have the decency to change the sheets
The singer's partner was not considerate enough to clean up after having guests over.
Oh girl, when you were mine
The singer addresses his former partner directly and reminisces about their past relationship.
I used to let you wear all my clothes
The singer was very giving and allowed his partner to borrow his personal belongings.
You were so fine (so fine)
The singer was very attracted to his partner's physical appearance.
Maybe that's the reason that it hurt me so
The singer's deep attachment to his partner made their breakup very painful.
I know (I know)
The singer acknowledges a difficult truth about his partner's current romantic situation.
That you're going with another guy
The singer's former partner is currently in a relationship with someone else.
I don't care (don't care)
Despite his pain, the singer still loves his former partner unconditionally.
'Cause I love you, baby, that's no lie
The singer affirms that his love for his former partner is genuine and true.
I love you more than I did when you were mine
The singer's love for his former partner has grown stronger despite the end of their relationship.
You were kinda, sorta my best friend
The singer's partner held a special place in his life beyond just being his romantic interest.
So I was blind (so blind)
The singer failed to see his partner's flaws and shortcomings because of his love for her.
I let you fool around
The singer's partner was unfaithful to him but he still allowed her to continue the behavior.
I never cared (didn't care)
The singer was nonchalant about his partner's infidelity and chose not to confront her about it.
I never was the kind to make a fuss
The singer is not a confrontational person and avoids drama.
When he was there
The singer's partner's other lover was present during intimate moments between them.
Sleeping in between the two of us
The singer's partner slept with both him and her other lover at the same time.
you were all I ever wanted to do
The singer was deeply in love with his partner and desired to spend all his time with her.
Now I spend my time
The singer's focus has shifted since the end of his relationship with his partner.
Following him whenever he's with you
The singer is jealous of his former partner's current lover and tries to keep tabs on their relationship.
Love you, baby, love you, baby
The singer ends the song repeating his love for his former partner despite their breakup.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Prince Rogers Nelson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind