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.
The Ladder
Prince & The Revolution Lyrics
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There lived a king who didn't deserve to be
He knew not where he came from
Nor where he was going
He never once said thank you, never please
Now this king he had a subject named Electra
Who loved him with a passion, uncontested
But it didn't matter
The king was looking for the ladder
Everybody's looking for the ladder
Everybody wants salvation of the soul
The steps you take are no easy road
But the reward is great
For those who want for go
A feeling of self-worth will caress you
The size of the whole wide world will decrease
The love of God's creation will undress you
And time spent alone my friend, will cease
Everybody's looking for the answers
How the story started and how it will end
What's the use in half a story, half a dream
You have to climb all of the steps in between (yeah, we ride)
Everybody's looking for the ladder
Everybody wants salvation of the soul
The steps you take are no easy road
But the reward is great
For those who want to go (I do)
Everybody, everybody's looking (Everybody's looking for the answers)
For the answers
Everybody wants to know how the story (How the story started)
Started and how it will end (started and how it will end)
What's the use in half a story, (What's the use in half a story)
Half a dream (half of a dream)
You, you gotta climb, you gotta climb (you have to climb all)
All of the steps in between (the steps in between)
Everybody
Everybody's looking for that ladder (Everybody's looking for the ladder)
Everybody wants salvation of the soul (Everybody wants salvation of the soul)
The steps you take are no easy road (the steps you take are no easy road)
But the reward is great (the reward is great)
For those who want to go, (for those who want to go)
Those who want to go
Everybody, everybody wants (Everybody's looking for the answers)
An answer
Anyone who know how the story (How the story started)
Started, how it will end (started and how it will end)
Will it be lonely in the world (What's the use in half a story)
What's the use? (half of a dream)
The Ladder by Prince and The Revolution is a song that tells the story of a king who didn't deserve his position and a subject named Electra who loved him deeply but went unnoticed. The king was constantly searching for something, and the ladder symbolizes his search for salvation of the soul. The lyrics imply that everybody is searching for the ladder or the path to transcendence. It's not an easy road, but the rewards are great, providing a feeling of self-worth, connectedness to God's creation, and an end to loneliness.
The song's message is about the human search for self-actualization and transcendence. The lyrics point out that it's a long and difficult path that requires a lot of work and sacrifice. The reward, however, is significant, providing a sense of purpose, self-worth, and a deeper connection with the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Once upon a time in the land of Sin-aplenty
Let me tell you a story about a certain place
There lived a king who didn't deserve to be
In that place there was a king who was unworthy
He knew not where he came from
He didn't know his origins
Nor where he was going
He had no idea about his destination
He never once said thank you, never please
He was ungrateful and impolite
Now this king he had a subject named Electra
There was a person named Electra who served as his subject
Who loved him with a passion, uncontested
She had a deep, unconditional love for him
For him each day she had a smile
She greeted him with joy every day
But it didn't matter
However, her actions had little effect
The king was looking for the ladder
The king was seeking something more
Everybody's looking for the ladder
Everyone is searching for fulfillment
Everybody wants salvation of the soul
Each person desires to find peace within themselves
The steps you take are no easy road
The journey to inner peace is a difficult one
But the reward is great
However, the outcome is worth it
For those who want to go
For people who are truly committed
A feeling of self-worth will caress you
You will experience a sense of value and worthiness
The size of the whole wide world will decrease
The world will seem smaller and more manageable
The love of God's creation will undress you
You will see and appreciate the beauty of the natural world
And time spent alone my friend, will cease
Isolation and loneliness will come to an end
Everybody's looking for the answers
People search for explanations and meaning
How the story started and how it will end
They want to understand the beginning and conclusion
What's the use in half a story, half a dream
However, incomplete knowledge is useless
You have to climb all of the steps in between
It is necessary to work hard and take all the steps
Everybody wants to know how the story started and how it will end
People crave for knowledge of the past and future
What's the use in half a story, half a dream
Incomplete information has little value
You, you gotta climb, you gotta climb
You have to work extra hard
All of the steps in between
In order to achieve inner peace
Everybody wants an answer
Everyone wants explanations
Anyone who know how the story started, how it will end
Those who know the beginning and end
Will it be lonely in the world
Will one be alone in the world
What's the use?
What is the point?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John L. Nelson, Prince Rogers Nelson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind