Fans of Prince recently received the welcome news that an unreleased album recorded by the purple one, who died five years ago this week at the age of 57 (victim of an accidental overdose of painkillers), is expected to be released in July.
Titled “Welcome 2 America,” the 12-track recording was completed in 2010 but never released and promises to add to the dazzlingly talented musician’s legacy of genre-defying blend of rock, pop, funk, and soul, even if it is from beyond the grave.
In the meantime, we’d like to remember Prince the guitar virtuoso this week.
Performing with a who’s who ensemble of rock stars including Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, and Steve Winwood, at a tribute to George Harrison at the 2004 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, Prince’s participation in ex-Beatle’s classic “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” was entirely unexpected – Harrison’s wife Olivia apparently was not in favour of him participating since the two men never knew each other.
Nevertheless, Prince did perform, and he stole the show with an inspired solo that arguably eclipsed Eric Clapton’s original version (wait for it, he’s lurking at the fringe of the stage, but does take the spotlight about halfway through the song). To this day it’s considered by many to be his best-ever on-stage performance and to others less familiar with Prince, it registered as a veritable a “who knew?” moment. See if you agree.
– Mike
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
I look at you all
See the lover that’s sleeping
While my guitar gently weeps
Still my guitar gently weeps
I don’t know why nobody told you
How to unfold your love
I don’t know how someone controlled you
They bought and sold you
I look at the world
And I notice it’s turning
While my guitar gently weeps
With every mistake
We must surely be learning
Still my guitar gently weeps
I don’t know how you were diverted
You were perverted too
I don’t know how you were inverted
No one alerted you
I look from the wings
At the play you are staging
While my guitar gently weeps
‘Cause I’m sitting here
Doing nothing but aging
Still my guitar gently weeps
Songwriters: John Lennon / George Harrison / Paul James Mccartney
While My Guitar Gently Weeps lyrics © Harrisongs Ltd.