Listening to the opening of a 1993 LIVE set, this line took on a whole new meaning for me triggered by Prince’s tone and emphasis beyond the superficial sensationalist period tabloid drama suggestion that it was about some feud between him and the “king” of pop.

“To whomever it may concern:

You must come to your senses.
There are no kings on this earth only princes.”

It made me think of the lyrics in his “Freedom Train” tour performances of “Face Down” where he rapped:

“This song is dedicated to all the muthafuckas that want to rule you. No man needs a ruler tonight. No man needs a ruler tomorrow. No man needs a ruler as long as he’s on the mf face of the Earth. Two words: ‘Face Down.’ And you tell them they can bury you face down so they can kiss yo' ass!”

It struck me that Prince was not talking about any one dude but all the the oligarchs running this world as supposed “kings” and — instead of us bending knee to them — we should remember that we are all “princes” that is sons of the one great King of King’s: GOD. (Obviously o(+> using shorthand male titles to represent both males&females; which most folks seem to get one way of the other.) So it seems running theme of “freedom” in his lyrics clarifies that the initial quote as an “open letter” — not to some king or government but to each and all of us to free ourselves from the sense (or “senses”) that we need to have masters, governors/governments (or “kings”) ruling our lives and just live freely, embracing our god-given rights with LOVE/GOD as our only ruler.

[Edited 12/24/19 17:37pm]

Interesting observations.

Would these findings affect the image we have of his worldview?

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[Edited 12/25/19 6:03am]

Oh, come on. The line in "My Name is Prince" was a direct response to Michael Jackson, who declared himself one year before as the "kinf of pop".

ludwig said:

Oh, come on. The line in "My Name is Prince" was a direct response to Michael Jackson, who declared himself one year before as the "kinf of pop".

Didn't MJ only declare himself the 'King of Pop' from 1993 onwards? And I think initially it might've been Elizabeth Taylor who said it, not him.

ChickenMcNuggets said:

ludwig said:

Oh, come on. The line in "My Name is Prince" was a direct response to Michael Jackson, who declared himself one year before as the "kinf of pop".

Didn't MJ only declare himself the 'King of Pop' from 1993 onwards? And I think initially it might've been Elizabeth Taylor who said it, not him.

Wrong. Read this:
https://calendar.songfacts.com/november/11/18167

Case closed.

Like many of Prince's songs, a double meaning exists here, and it surely was done on purpose.

To Prince, no kings = christ is the only king, and, a direct reference to the title MJ was holding for himself.

Kings are greater than Princes.

Why in the world would that be the primary emphasis beyond comic word play?

“I'm less than MJ!” or “MJ is my Daddie!” Sounds not only silly but innacurate, no disrespect to MJ intended at all.

ludwig said:

Oh, come on. The line in "My Name is Prince" was a direct response to Michael Jackson, who declared himself one year before as the "kinf of pop".

ludwig said:

Oh, come on. The line in "My Name is Prince" was a direct response to Michael Jackson, who declared himself one year before as the "king of pop".

That's correct.A few years later,Prince wrote another lyric directed at MJ.

"so-called King gives birth to so-called Prince"---from "Fascination" on 'The Truth' CD.

callimnate said:

at those on here who think Prince gave a shit about what MJ did or said.

"My voice is getting higher and I ain't never had my nose done. That's the other guy."

- From "Life O' The Party"

He absolutely did care and grieved heavily when MJ passed according to Tavis Smiley.

leadline said:

Like many of Prince's songs, a double meaning exists here, and it surely was done on purpose.

To Prince, no kings = christ is the only king, and, a direct reference to the title MJ was holding for himself.

I think you are correct. For the keen observer, Prince many times had double meanings for us to digest. I think that is why he almost never publicly explained what his lyrics meant. I mean, why spoil it for the true fans, and if you were not one, you didn't deserve an explaination anyway?!