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.
Guitar
Prince & The Revolution Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Like I love my guitar)
(Verse)
Get dirty at the club we're in
Use it around your waist like a chain within
I got that call so I jumped in my car
I love you baby
(Chorus)
No
Not like I love my guitar
(Verse)
You couldn't do it all by yourself
You had to go and get somebody else
You're high enough to call me
But you can't reach the phone
I love you baby
But not like I love my guitar
(Chorus)
No
Not like I love my guitar
Turn it up
(Verse)
I tried to warn you
That it's hard to be a star
Especially when you're driving other peoples' cars
Would've gave you mine girl
But you took it too far
I love you baby
Just not like I love my guitar
(Chorus)
(Verse)
I know you love me
And you want to be friends
And if you don't, at least you need to pretend
We'll still be together
If we don't get that far
I love you baby, but not like I love this guitar
(Outro)
I love you baby and I wish you well
I'll write a letter when I learn how to spell
Until the day you can go to hell
I love you baby you know the rest
In Prince & The Revolution's song "Guitar," the singer expresses his love for his instrument, comparing it to his love for a woman. He starts off by getting dirty and lost in the music while playing his guitar at a club. He then receives a call that presumably is from his lover, but he prioritizes his guitar over her. In the chorus, he emphasizes his deep love for the guitar, affirming that it comes before any romantic relationship.
The second verse starts off with accusations that his lover has sought help from someone else. She calls him, but he doesn't pick up the phone. The singer admits his love for the lover but not as much as for his guitar. Prince warns her of the difficulties of being a star, such as driving other people's cars. He states that his lover crossed a line and took it too far. In the third verse, Prince is ready to compromise with his lover to remain friends or even just pretend. He concludes by wishing her well but affirms that his love for the guitar remains.
Interestingly, "Guitar" was initially written in 1986 as a response to Prince's failure to win a Guitar Player Award in 1985. His disappointment was so severe that he did not attend the ceremony the following year when he won the award.
Line by Line Meaning
(Ow)
Expression of Prince's excitement and enthusiasm for what's to come
(Like I love my guitar)
Prince's declaration of the intensity of his passion for his guitar
Get dirty at the club we're in
Going out and enjoying oneself in a carefree manner
Use it around your waist like a chain within
Suggesting that the guitar has the same powerful hold on him as a chain would
I got that call so I jumped in my car
Prince dropping everything to rush to the aid of a loved one
I love you baby
Prince professing his love for someone
But not like I love my guitar
Prince asserting that his passion for the guitar transcends his love for this person
No
Reiteration of Prince's refusal to equate his love for this individual with his passion for his guitar
You couldn't do it all by yourself
Prince calling out this person's need for assistance
You had to go and get somebody else
Prince expressing his disappointment and sense of betrayal that this person has turned to someone else for help
You're high enough to call me
Prince acknowledging that this person may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol
But you can't reach the phone
Prince pointing out the irony of this person being unable to communicate despite reaching out
Turn it up
Prince instructing someone to increase the volume or intensity of the music
I tried to warn you
Prince indicating that he had foreseen the consequences of this person's actions
That it's hard to be a star
Prince highlighting the challenges of being in the public eye and achieving fame
Especially when you're driving other peoples' cars
Prince suggesting that this person may be living beyond their means or is not entirely self-sufficient
Would've gave you mine girl
Prince indicating his desire to help this person by offering his own car
But you took it too far
Prince concluding that this person has overstepped his boundaries or has done something unforgivable
I know you love me
Prince acknowledging that this person has feelings for him
And you want to be friends
Prince being open to maintaining a friendship with this person
And if you don't, at least you need to pretend
Prince acknowledges that this person may not want to remain friends but may still have to maintain appearances
We'll still be together
Prince indicating that their shared experiences will keep them connected
If we don't get that far
Prince pointing out that their relationship may not go beyond a friendship
I love you baby, but not like I love this guitar
Prince reiterating that his passion for the guitar supersedes his love for this person
I love you baby and I wish you well
Prince expressing his affection for this person while acknowledging that it is time to move on
I'll write a letter when I learn how to spell
Prince making a lighthearted comment about his own writing skills
Until the day you can go to hell
Prince indicating that this person's actions have caused irreparable damage to their relationship
I love you baby you know the rest
Prince concluding by saying that his feelings are clear and need not be stated further
Contributed by London P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ApolloTchize
Just sitting here with mouth open. Didn't move for the last minutes, just got goosebumps all around and tears start to roll. Nearly forgot to swallow and to breathe and was about to drool on the desk. How would you describe something like this to others without sound and video?
This is so raw, so passionate, so, well, intimidating because of sheer talent and genius and somehow down to what anything in universe is all about.
It's hard to find words for this. So raw, so passionate, so incredible skillful, that it marks and expands somehow the borders of human beings, as no human being could transport that in a ridiculous suit with a ridiculous guitar, but when you are Prince everything falls in place and it feels as natural as it can be. This is way beyond, what any other person I've ever heard of on earth could do.
Never seen anything like this and most probably never will.
Whoever this strange, little man was: He was much more than a man,., He was Prince. And whatever that is, is more, than we deserved. I feel like every cell of my useless existence is loaded now with his energy. Still. Sometimes he made me think, he is an evolutionary proof of concept of Human 2.0.
And although I wrote all this crazy stuff, I still feel speechless.
And when I look at this next time, it'll be the same. And again. And again. This will last for ages.
@warp1geon
Just an incredibly special era. Great music, no cellphones, no internet - just living in the moment.
@reginakellum270
Full resonance ❤
@cruisinguy6024
I feel so bad for the people that never got to actually experience a concert. I cannot imagine just standing there with thousands of others just holding a phone out / facetiming someone instead of getting lost in the moment.
My best concert memories were all before smart phones came out. Side note, I also worked as a medic at a major live concert venue so I've been at a TON of concerts / music festivals.
@patriciajordanwoods2003
I hear you! His converts were the best ever!
@shethingsd
No cell phone is quite right. Experience.
@h4x0rrrr
the internet existed in 1985
@johnteresi
You Think your a Tough Guy until This tune brings you to Tears. Most soulful performance ever. Prince played for the audience and leaves it all out there.
@uwesvneider4540
I LOVE THIS SONG !GREAT SOLO GOD BLESS HIM
@JosephDiamond-jx8sm
That's himself!!
@briangall8442
Take our hearts through the stone! English Cash COOL! With a touch of Algonquin Blue truth!