1999 by Prince

Meaning of the song 1999 by Prince

When Prince recorded the hit song 1999, he would go all day and all night without resting and eating as it would make him tired. The song 1999 came out in 1982.

The single’s first release didn’t make the Top 40, but Prince put it out again after “Little Red Corvette,” and it was finally a hit, reaching the Top 20 in 1982.

1999's critical and commercial success propelled Prince and marked the beginning of heightened fame.

"1999", is a protest song against nuclear proliferation and reached the Billboard Hot 100 peaking at number 12. It has since become one of Prince's most recognizable compositions.

According to Prince’s then drummer, Bobby “Z” Rivkin, the inspiration for the song came from an documentary Prince and his band watched one night on tour.

Titled The Man Who Saw Tomorrow, it was “about Nostradamus and the prediction of the end of the world, 1999, and we’re all blown away by this thing”, Rivkin told Minneapolis radio station The Current in 2018.

“You could feel it in the hotel room. Just glued to the TV.” Recalling how the documentary became a talking point the next day, Rivkin noted that Prince’s reaction was to write a song about it.

“We’re all going ‘wow’ and then he just embodied the whole thing with 1999… So there explains the difference between mere mortals and Prince.”

1999 offers six minutes of hedonistic revelry in the face of Armageddon.

Speaking to Larry King as the 1990s came to a close, Prince recalled the documentary that had inspired the song, and how his response differed to those of his bandmates.

“I just found it real ironic how everyone that was around me whom I thought to be very optimistic people were dreading those days, and I always knew I’d be cool,” he told the TV host.

“So I just wanted to write something that gave hope, and what I find is that people listen to it. And no matter where we are in the world, I always get the same type of response from them.”

Lyrics of 1999 by Prince

Don't worry, I won't hurt you

I only want you to have some fun

I was dreamin' when I wrote this

Forgive me if it goes astray

But when I woke up this morning

Could have sworn it was judgement day

The sky was all purple

There were people runnin' everywhere

Tryin' to run from the destruction

You know I didn't even care

'Cause they say

2000, zero-zero, party over, oops, out of time

So tonight I'm gonna party like it's 1999

I was dreamin' when I wrote this

So sue me if I go too fast

But life is just a party

And parties weren't meant to last

War is all around us

My mind says, "Prepare to fight"

So if I gotta die

I'm gonna listen to my body tonight

Yeah

They say

2000, zero-zero, party over, oops, out of time

So tonight I'm gonna party like it's 1999

Yeah, yeah, shh

Lemme tell ya somethin'

If you didn't come to party

Don't bother knockin' on my door, oh

I got a lion in my pocket

And baby he's ready to roar, yeah, yeah

Everybody's got a bomb

We could all die any day, oh

But before I'll let that happen

I'll dance my life away

Oh

They say

2000, zero-zero, party over, oops, out of time

(We're runnin' outta time)

So tonight I'm gonna party like it's 1999

So tonight we gonna, we gonna, oh

Say it one more time

2000, zero-zero, party over, oops, out of time

No, no

Tonight I'm gonna party like it's 1999

So tonight we gonna, we gonna, woo

Alright, 1999

You say it, 1999

Ooh, 1999, oh, 1999

Don't stop, don't stop, say it one more time

2000, zero-zero, party over, oops, out of time

Yeah, yeah

Tonight I'm gonna party like it's 1999

So tonight we're gonna, we're gonna, woo

Yeah, 1999

Don'tcha wanna go? (1999)

Don'tcha wanna go? (1999)

We could all die any day (1999)

I don't wanna die

I'd rather dance my life away 1999

Listen to what I'm tryin' to say

Everybody, everybody say, "Party"

C'mon now, you say, "Party"

That's right, everybody say "Party"

Can't run from the revelation, no (Party)

Sing it for your nation y'all, "Party"

Tell me what you're singin', baby say, "Party"

Telephone's a-ringin', mama (Party)

C'mon, c'mon, you say, "Party"

Everybody, two times, "Party"

Woo, work it down to the ground, say, "Party"

Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh (Party)

Come on, oh, take my body, baby (Party)

That's right, c'mon, sing the song (Party)

(Oh) (Party)

That's right (Party)

Got a lion in my pocket mama, say, "Party"

Oh, and he's ready to roar (Party)

Ah

Mommy, why does everybody have a bomb?

Mommy, why does everybody have a bomb?