The Truth (Prince song)

"The Truth" is a song recorded by American recording artist Prince for his twenty-first and eponymous studio album, The Truth (1997). The track was released as the record's lead single by NPG Records on February 14, 1997. Being issued as a CD single, the recording was paired with previously unreleased track "Don't Play Me". "The Truth" was solely written and produced by Prince, who also provided the track's entire instrumentation. Musically, the recording is an acoustic rock and folk song that lyrically has Prince claiming that there is "no more truth" left in the world.

"The Truth" received generally positive reviews from music critics, who noticed Prince's change of artistry through the recording, which was perceived positively. The song was minimally promoted, including the singer performing "The Truth" live for the only time at a promotional concert venue in 2002.

Release and composition

Crystal Ball (1998), a box set featuring Prince's twentieth and twenty-first studio albums, was originally announced in 1987, but delayed due to contract issues with Warner Bros. Records.^[1] After being released on March 3, 1998, Prince stated that the collection contained material "recorded over the period of a decade".^[2] Subsequently, "The Truth" was physically released on February 14, 1997 as a CD single via mail-order through Prince's fan club exclusively.^[3] The material on the CD consisted of the album version of the single, in addition to previously unreleased "Don't Play Me", which would later be included on the fourth disc of Crystal Ball.^[4] The release's liner notes hinted the then-upcoming box set, and encouraged fans to "call 1-800-NEW-FUNK" for future merchandise distributed solely by Prince's fan club.^[3]

"The Truth" was written and produced solely by Prince. The singer also provided all instrumentation for the recording, while musician HM Buff handled the track's engineering.^[3] Described as an acoustic rock and folk song, Prince provides vocals which are reminiscent of Tracy Chapman's works. Lyrically, the single portrays Prince responding to questions regarding "responsibility and honesty", in addition to him announcing that "there is no more 'truth'" left.^[5] Furthermore, he expresses themes of salvation, spirituality, and sexuality, and also reveals that anyone can be in "control over one's own creativity".^[6]

Reception and promotion

"The Truth" was positively received by music critics. Rolling Stone's James Hunter applauded the track for being unlike "his usual musical constructs", a tactic which he found "interesting". Hunter went on finding the recording reminiscent of the music on Prince's seventeenth studio album, The Gold Experience (1995).^[5] Chris Nelson from MTV News agreed and positively noted the singer's evolution of artistry, which he also found evident on album tracks "Don't Play Me" and "Third Eye".^[6] "The Truth" was performed live for the first and only time on June 24, 2002, alongside American singer and songwriter Norah Jones. The promotional concert was featured as part of promotion for Prince's twenty-sixth studio album, Xpectation (2003).^[7]

Track listing

CD single^[3]
No.	Title	Length
1.	"The Truth"	3:32
2.	"Don't Play Me"	2:50

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of The Truth.^[8]

Prince – vocals, lyrics, production, instruments
Hans Martin Buff – sound engineer
Parke – design

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label
United States^[3]	February 14, 1997	CD single	NPG Records

References

↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Prince – Crystal Ball". AllMusic. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
↑ Wiener, Moses (October 19, 2014). "A Visual History of Prince's Album Covers: Crystal Ball (1998)". Complex. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
1 2 3 4 5 "The Truth" (CD liner notes). The Artist (Formerly Known As Prince). NPG. 1997. IFPI 2F44.
↑ Crystal Ball (CD liner notes). The Artist (Formerly Known As Prince). NPG. 1997. IFPI 2F58.
1 2 Hunter, James (August 5, 1998). "Prince: Crystal Ball". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
1 2 Nelson, Chris (February 17, 1998). "Exploring Prince's Crystal Ball Album". MTV News. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
↑ Billboard staff (May 29, 2002). "Prince Opens Up For 'Xenophobia'". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
↑ The Truth (CD liner notes). The Artist (Formerly Known As Prince). NPG. 1997. IFPI 2F47.

External links

Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics

Prince singles

1970s	"Soft and Wet" "Just as Long as We're Together" "I Wanna Be Your Lover"

1980s	"Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad?" "Still Waiting" "Sexy Dancer" "Bambi" "Uptown" "Dirty Mind" "Do It All Night" "Controversy" "Let's Work" "Do Me, Baby" "Sexuality" "1999" "Little Red Corvette" "D.M.S.R." "Delirious" "Automatic" "Let's Pretend We're Married" "When Doves Cry" "Let's Go Crazy" "Purple Rain" "I Would Die 4 U" "Take Me with U" "Paisley Park" "Raspberry Beret" "Pop Life" "America" "Kiss" "Mountains" "Anotherloverholenyohead" "Girls & Boys" "Sign "O" the Times" "If I Was Your Girlfriend" "U Got the Look" "I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man" "Alphabet St." "Glam Slam" "I Wish U Heaven" "Batdance" "Partyman" "The Arms of Orion" "Scandalous!"

1990s	"The Future" "Thieves in the Temple" "New Power Generation" "Gett Off" "Cream" "Diamonds and Pearls" "Money Don't Matter 2 Night" "Insatiable" "Thunder" "Sexy MF" "My Name Is Prince" "7" "Damn U" "The Morning Papers" "Pink Cashmere" "Nothing Compares 2 U" "Peach" "Pope" (remix) "Come" "Letitgo" "Space" "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World" "P Control" "Dolphin" "Endorphinmachine" "I Hate U" "Gold" "Dinner with Delores" "Betcha by Golly Wow!" "The Holy River" "Somebody's Somebody" "Face Down" "The Truth" "Extraordinary" "The Greatest Romance Ever Sold"

2000s	"U Make My Sun Shine" (with Angie Stone) "When Will We Be Paid?" (with Audio Stepchild) "Supercute" "The Work, pt. 1" "Days of Wild" "Musicology" "Cinnamon Girl" "Controversy (Live in Hawaii)" "S.S.T." "Te Amo Corazón" "Black Sweat" "Fury" "Guitar" "F.U.N.K." "Dance 4 Me"

2010s	"Extraloveable" "Rock and Roll Love Affair" "Screwdriver" "Fixurlifeup" "Breakfast Can Wait" "Pretzelbodylogic" "Fallinlove2nite" "Breakdown" "Clouds" "Baltimore" "Hardrocklover" "This Could B Us" "Free Urself"

Promotional singles	"When You Were Mine" "D.M.S.R." "Another Lonely Christmas" "Erotic City" "Hot Thing" "Trust" "Willing and Able" "Nothing Compares 2 U" "Pope" "Love Sign" (with Nona Gaye) "Come" "P. Control" "Dolphin" "Endorphinmachine" "Slave" "Somebody's Somebody" "Face Down" "The Rest of My Life" "5 Women" "It's About That Walk" "Baby Knows" "Man'O'War" "She Loves Me 4 Me" "Last December" "One Nite Alone... Live EP" "Live at the Aladdin Las Vegas" "Call My Name" "The Song of the Heart" "Beautiful, Loved & Blessed" (with Tamar Davis) "Chelsea Rodgers" "Future Baby Mama" "The One U Wanna C" "U're Gonna C Me"

Airplay-only songs	"International Lover" "Shhh" "Satisfied" "Better with Time"

Internet downloads	"One Song" "Cybersingle" "Bataclan" "Glass Cutter" "Live from Paisley Park" "Strange Relationship" (Live in Minneapolis) "Guitar" (original "demo" version) "Love" (acoustic version) "Rock and Roll Love Affair" (Remix 7) "Screwdriver" (Remix) "Boyfriend" (Demo) "That Girl Thang" "Live Out Loud" "Ain't Gonna Miss U When U're Gone" "Extraloveable Reloaded" "Menstrual Cycle" "Octopus Heart" "Groovy Potential" "The Sweeter She Is" "Something in the Water" (Paisley Park Rehearsal) "Da Bourgeoisie" "What If" "The X's Face"

Streams	"U're Still the One" "Xylophone" "In a Large Room with No Light" "Purple and Gold" "Cause and Effect" "Hot Summer" "Rich Friends" "Same Page Different Book" "Stare"

EP's	The Scandalous Sex Suite EP New Power Generation Remixes Gett Off Remix EP Cream Remixes My Name Is Prince Remixes 7 Remixes The Beautiful Experience Letitgo Remixes Space Remixes I Hate U Remixes 1999: The New Master The Greatest Romance Ever Sold Remixes Breakfast Can Wait

Other songs	"I Feel for You" "When You Were Mine" "Head" "Private Joy" "How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?" "17 Days" "The Beautiful Ones" "Computer Blue" "Darling Nikki" "Baby I'm a Star" "4 the Tears in Your Eyes" "Sometimes It Snows in April" "Adore" "Don't Talk 2 Strangers" "I Can't Make U Love Me" "La, La, La Means I Love U" "One of Us" "Everyday Is a Winding Road" "A Case of U"

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