Prince and the Revolution

Released: April 22, 1985

Songwriter: John L. Nelson Lisa Coleman Wendy Melvoin Prince

Producer: Prince

Once upon a time in the land of Sin-a-plenty
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
For him each day she had a smile
But it didn't matter
The king was looking for the ladder

[Chorus 1]
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

A feeling of self-worth (everybody's looking)
Will caress you (for the answers)
The size of the whole wide world will decrease (how the story started)
(and how it will end)
The love of God's creation will undress you
And time spent alone my friend, will cease

[Chorus 2]
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

[Repeat Chorus 1 and 2 until fade out]

“The Revolution” was originally the live backing band for Prince in the early years of his career. They first appeared in a studio capacity on 1999, but it wasn’t until 1984’s Purple Rain when they were officially credited. The band is noted for its diverse range of musicians, which wasn’t very common in the 1980s and inspired by what Sly Stone did with The Family Stone.

The most famous line-up consisted of Prince on lead vocals, guitar, and piano, Wendy Melvoin on guitar and vocals, Brown Mark on bass guitar and vocals, Lisa Coleman on keyboards, piano, and vocals, Matt “Doctor” Fink on keyboards and vocals, and Bobby Z on drums and percussion. The last albums where the Revolution was credited was 1985’s Around the World In A Day & 1986’s Parade.

more tracks from the album

Around the World in a Day

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Around the World in a Day (1985)

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Prince and the Revolution

Around the World in a Day