I Would Die 4 U

Album: Purple Rain (1984)
Charted: 58 8
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Prince is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice on this Purple Rain track, where he declares a religious level of devotion. The enigma that was Prince is embodied in the opening lines:

    I'm not a woman
    I'm not a man
    I am something that you'll never understand
  • Prince used his LM-1 drum machine to create the rhythm on this track. Released in 1980, the LM-1 was the first programable unit that used real samples, not synthesized sounds. About 500 were made, sold for $5000 each, which kept them in the hands of serious musicians. By 1984, more advanced machines were on the market, but Prince was still using his LM-1. He had a talent for running the beats through guitar effects and embellishing them with other studio tricks, making him one of the best drum machine programmers of his time.
  • On the Purple Rain tour, this was a showcase song for Sheila E., who served as Prince's opening act and also joined him on stage. Her live percussion on "I Would Die 4 U" compensated for the beats that couldn't be generated outside of the studio.
  • The "4 U" is Prince language. Another example is "Nothing Compares 2 U."
  • Purple Rain served as the soundtrack to the movie of the same name. In the film Prince performs it on stage, wowing the crowd.
  • Justin Timberlake performed part of this song at the 2018 Super Bowl halftime show in Prince's hometown of Minneapolis, Minnesota. A projection of Prince ran while a recording of him singing the song was blended with Timberlake.

Comments: 1

  • Chad Eicher from Apple Creek, OhioWhen this song's chorus starts playing in my mind, I'm reminded of the fact that Jesus died for everyone everywhere. Sure, he was a seventh-day adventist before he became a jehovah's witness in 2001. However, the jehovah's witness teachings are different from christianity and their teaching are false.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Randy Houser

Randy HouserSongwriter Interviews

The "How Country Feels" singer talks Skynyrd and songwriting.

Gilby Clarke

Gilby ClarkeSongwriter Interviews

The Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist in the early '90s, Gilby talks about the band's implosion and the side projects it spawned.

Subversive Songs Used To Sell

Subversive Songs Used To SellSong Writing

Songs about drugs, revolution and greed that have been used in commercials for sneakers, jeans, fast food, cruises and cars.

Tom Bailey of Thompson Twins

Tom Bailey of Thompson TwinsSongwriter Interviews

Tom stopped performing Thompson Twins songs in 1987, in part because of their personal nature: "Hold Me Now" came after an argument with his bandmate/girlfriend Alannah Currie.

Krishna Das

Krishna DasSongwriter Interviews

The top chant artist in the Western world, Krishna Das talks about how these Hindu mantras compare to Christian worship songs.

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?Song Writing

A big list of musical marriages and family relations ranging from the simple to the truly dysfunctional.