The band went nameless for almost three years while supporting Prince live and appearing in his music videos. Chapman and Cymone left in the early 1980's and were replaced by Lisa Coleman on keyboards and Brownmark on bass. The first album on which The Revolution performed was the 1982 Prince release, 1999, which has the band's moniker written in reverse on the back cover.
When the 1999 Tour ended in 1983, Dez Dickerson left the band for religious reasons and was replaced by Lisa's childhood friend and soon-to-be lover Wendy Melvoin on guitar. The first album officially released as Prince & The Revolution was Purple Rain in 1984, which sold over 16 million copies in the United States alone.
The band's sound incorporated heavy metal, pop, funk, R&B and hard rock elements. Wendy Melvoin & Lisa Coleman formed a particular creative bond with Prince and greatly influenced the band's output during the rest of their tenure. The band achieved two number-one Billboard 200 albums (Purple Rain & Around The World In A Day), six top ten singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and won three Grammy Awards.
In 1985, members of the soon-to-be-defunct group The Family (which, in turn, included former members of another group, The Time) joined The Revolution, along with people from Sheila E.'s band. This included the addition of three dancers/vocalists/comic foils (known as The Bodyguards).
The last lineup of Prince & the Revolution was informally known as the Counter-Revolution and consisted of:
- Jerome Benton (The Bodyguards)
- Atlanta Bliss (trumpet)
- Greg Brooks (The Bodyguards)
- Lisa Coleman (keyboards, piano and vocals)
- Doctor Fink (keyboards and vocals)
- Eric Leeds (saxophone)
- Brown Mark (bass guitar and vocals)
- Susannah Melvoin (backing vocals)
- Wendy Melvoin (guitar and vocals)
- Prince (lead vocals, guitar, and piano)
- Wally Safford (The Bodyguards)
- Miko Weaver (guitar)
- Bobby Z. (drums)
The Revolution was officially disbanded by Prince in 1986 after the Hit N Run tour, which supported Parade, the soundtrack for the movie Under the Cherry Moon. Melvoin and Coleman went on to a successful career as Wendy & Lisa.
Erotic City
Prince & The Revolution Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Erotic City
Erotic City
All of my purple life
I've been looking for a dame
That would want to be my wife
That was my intention, babe
If we cannot make babies, maybe we can make some time
Thoughts of pretty you and me, Erotic City come alive
We can fuck until the dawn, making love 'til cherry's gone
Erotic City can't you see, thoughts of pretty you and me
Every time I comb my hair
Thoughts of you get in my eyes
You're a sinner, I don't care
I just want your creamy thighs
If we cannot make babies, maybe we can make some time
Thoughts of pretty you and me, Erotic City come alive
We can fuck until the dawn, making love 'til cherry's gone
Erotic City can't you see, thoughts of pretty you and me
All of my hang-ups are gone
How I wish you felt the same
We can fuck until the dawn ('til the dawn) (until the dawn)
How I wish you were my dame (baby, won't you call my name?)
If we cannot make babies, maybe we can make some time
Thoughts of pretty you and me, Erotic City come alive
We can fuck until the dawn, making love 'til cherry's gone
Erotic City can't you see, thoughts of pretty you and me
Uh, whoa-whoa
Whoa-whoa
Whoa-whoa-whoa
Whoa-whoa
Whoa-whoa
Whoa-whoa-whoa
Whoa-whoa
Whoa-whoa
Whoa-whoa-whoa
Baby, you're so creamy
If we cannot make babies, maybe we can make some time
Thoughts of pretty you and me, Erotic City come alive
We can funk until the dawn, making love 'til cherry's gone ('til the dawn)
Erotic City can't you see, thoughts of pretty you and me
If we cannot make babies, maybe we can make some time (you and me)
Some time, some time, some time, Erotic City
If we cannot make babies, maybe we can make some time
Thoughts of pretty you and me, Erotic City come alive
We can funk until the dawn, making love 'til cherry's gone (Come alive)
Erotic City can't you see, thoughts of pretty you and me
We can funk until the dawn, making love 'til cherry's gone
Erotic City
Ah, ah, ah, ah, Erotic City
"Erotic City" is a song by Prince and The Revolution, released in 1984 as the B-side of the "Let's Go Crazy" single. The lyrics express Prince's desire for a sexual partner who is willing to indulge in sexual fantasies with him, even if they are not interested in having children. He suggests that instead, they can make time to engage in eroticism in "Erotic City," where they can have sex until the dawn and make love until the cherry's gone. The song is a celebration of sexuality and sexual freedom, and its suggestive language and explicit content exemplify Prince's risk-taking approach to music.
The song's lyrics are fascinating because they push the boundaries of what is traditionally considered "appropriate" for a pop song. The phrase "cream thighs" is particularly notable as an innovative and bold way of expressing desire. Prince often used his lyrics to challenge social norms and push the envelope of what was acceptable and this song is no exception.
Line by Line Meaning
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Erotic City
Erotic City
The singer is excitedly introducing the song 'Erotic City.'
All of my purple life
I've been looking for a dame
That would want to be my wife
That was my intention, babe
The singer has been looking for a woman who would be interested in marrying him.
If we cannot make babies, maybe we can make some time
Thoughts of pretty you and me, Erotic City come alive
We can fuck until the dawn, making love 'til cherry's gone
Erotic City can't you see, thoughts of pretty you and me
The singer suggests that if they can't have children, they should still enjoy each other's company intimately. He expresses his desires for her and talks about their potential sexually fulfilling relationship.
Every time I comb my hair
Thoughts of you get in my eyes
You're a sinner, I don't care
I just want your creamy thighs
The singer is distracted by thoughts of the woman, and doesn't care about her supposed sins. He is focused on his attraction to her physical features, particularly her thighs.
All of my hang-ups are gone
How I wish you felt the same
We can fuck until the dawn ('til the dawn) (until the dawn)
How I wish you were my dame (baby, won't you call my name?)
The singer has let go of any inhibitions he had and wishes that the woman he desires also felt the same. He expresses his longing for her and his desire for her to call his name.
Uh, whoa-whoa
Whoa-whoa
Whoa-whoa-whoa
Whoa-whoa
Whoa-whoa
Whoa-whoa-whoa
Whoa-whoa
Whoa-whoa
Whoa-whoa-whoa
This is a vocalization without any discernible meaning.
Baby, you're so creamy
If we cannot make babies, maybe we can make some time
Thoughts of pretty you and me, Erotic City come alive
We can funk until the dawn, making love 'til cherry's gone ('til the dawn)
Erotic City can't you see, thoughts of pretty you and me
The singer is once again expressing his desire for the woman and suggesting that they still enjoy intimacy, even if they can't have children.
If we cannot make babies, maybe we can make some time (you and me)
Some time, some time, Erotic City
If we cannot make babies, maybe we can make some time
Thoughts of pretty you and me, Erotic City come alive
The singer repeats the idea that they should still spend time together even if they can't have children, and emphasizes the idea that their thoughts about each other are what creates the erotic atmosphere of the titular city.
We can funk until the dawn, making love 'til cherry's gone (Come alive)
Erotic City can't you see, thoughts of pretty you and me
We can funk until the dawn, making love 'til cherry's gone
Erotic City
Ah, ah, ah, ah, Erotic City
The song repeats its chorus to reinforce its message of intimacy and desire.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Prince Rogers Nelson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind