Song Lyric Sunday #13

I really like that Jim Adams of Song Lyric Sunday Challenge gives us plenty of notice about each Sunday’s prompts. Today it’s Hold/Pause/Stop/Wait. As usual, it took me a while to think of an appropriate song but eventually I chose a track from one of my favourite artists, the late great Prince (1958-2016) whom I was fortunate to see in concert a number of times.

Someone as prodigiously talented as Prince really needs very little introduction though it may be worth just emphasizing the depth of his talent. An American singer-songwriter, musician, record producer, dancer, actor, and filmmaker, he’s widely regarded as one of the greatest musicians of his generation. A multi-instrumentalist who was considered a guitar virtuoso, he was well known for his eclectic work across multiple genres, flamboyant and androgynous persona, and wide vocal range.

Prince’s innovative music integrated a wide variety of styles, including funk, R&B, rock, new wave, soul, synth-pop, psychedelia, pop, industrial and hip hop. He was also known for his prolific output, releasing 39 albums during his life, with a vast array of unreleased projects left in a vault at his home after his death; it is believed that the vault contains dozens of fully produced albums and over 50 music videos that have never been released, along with various other media.

He released hundreds of songs both under his own name and multiple pseudonyms during his life, as well as writing songs that were made famous by other musicians, such as “Nothing Compares 2 U” and “Manic Monday”. Estimates of the complete number of songs written by Prince range anywhere from 500 to well over 1,000 – that’s some catalogue!

He sold over 130 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.

We’re going way, way back to an early single. Still Waiting is the seventh track on Prince’s second album Prince and, five months after the album’s release, Still Waiting was released as the album’s third single. Unusually, the original vinyl version of the album contained a version of the track with a longer fade-out, some 12 seconds longer than on later releases.

It was Prince’s first ballad to be released as a single but only reached #65 on the US R&B chart in 1980. The ballad speaks from the perspective of a young man who hasn’t yet found love but yearns for it. The track is mainly piano, acoustic guitar and synth-based and was often played live with extended instrumental solos and much audience teasing. The song is a more traditional R&B ballad, before Prince established himself with trademark songs such as “Do Me, Baby” and “International Lover”.

Lyrics: Still Waiting

All my friends tell me
About the loves they’ve had
Can’t they see what they’re doing to me?
It makes me feel so bad
‘Cause I’m so alone
And brokenhearted
It ain’t like my life is ended
But more like it never started
The love my friends rap about I keep anticipating
I try so hard but don’t you know, my patience is fading away, away<
Still waiting
I’m waiting for that love
Still waiting
I wish on every star above
Still waiting
Waiting for the love to come around
Oh, love
Waiting for the love to come around
People say that I’m too young
Too young to fall in love
But they don’t know, they really don’t know
That’s all that I’ve been dreaming of
‘Cause I spend my nights just a-crying
And I spend my days just a-trying
To find that love to call my own
‘Cause I’m sick and tired of being alone
Still waiting
Waiting for that love
Still waiting
I wish on every star above
Still waiting
I’m waiting for the love to come around
(Waiting for the love) don’t you know that I’m waiting
(Waiting for the love) say
(Waiting for the love) to come around now
I need somebody to hold on to baby
Waiting and waiting, don’t you know that I’m
Still waiting
I’m waiting for the love, sugar
Still waiting
If you’re out there girl, please come to me
Still waiting
Don’t make me cry no more
Still waiting
If you’re out there, baby, please come to me
Still waiting
Wishing and wishing for days, baby
Still waiting

Source: http://www.lyricfind.com
Songwriters: Prince Rogers Nelson
Still Waiting lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Challenge Rules

• Post the lyrics to the song of your choice, whether it fits the theme or not. If it does not fit, then please explain why you chose this song.
• Please try to include the songwriter(s) – it’s a good idea to give credit where credit is due.
• Make sure you also credit the singer/band and if you desire you can provide a link to where you found the lyrics.
• Link to the YouTube video, or pull it into your post so others can listen to the song.
• Ping back to Jim’s post or place your link in his comments section.
• Read at least one other person’s blog, so we can all share new and fantastic music and create amazing new blogging friends in the process.
• Feel free to suggest future prompts.
• Most of all, have fun and enjoy the music.