A previously unheard song from Prince has been released more than three decades after it was recorded.
The track, which dates back to November 1991, was officially released by the singer’s estate on the 10-year anniversary of Prince’s death on April 21, 2016. He was 57 at the time of his death.
Getty“With This Tear” is now available on streaming platforms, including Spotify and Apple Music, and was also uploaded to Prince’s official YouTube channel, where it’s paired with a compilation of archival footage spanning different points in Prince’s career.
The song was originally recorded by the “Purple Rain” singer in 1991 and later released by Céline Dion in 1992, according to Billboard. It had never been released in its original form until now.
‘With This Tear’ Has Been Around for Decades, But Not Like This
GettyPrince recorded the piano-driven track at Paisley Park Studios in Minnesota in November 1991, according to Complex.
The release also highlights his long-standing role as a songwriter for other artists. Over the years, he wrote and produced songs later recorded by performers including Sinéad O’Connor, Chaka Khan, and The Bangles, often keeping his own versions unreleased.
“With This Tear” follows that pattern. But it also has a long history behind the scenes.
It was initially intended for singer Jevetta Steele before being passed along to Dion, according to Prince Vault. Dion recorded her version in January 1992 with producer Walter Afanasieff, who Prince had specifically suggested for the track. The song was ultimately added to her self-titled album that same year at the last minute, replacing another planned recording.
Céline Dion Opens Up About Prince Writing Her a Song in Resurfaced Clip
In a resurfaced interview shared on Dion’s official YouTube channel, Dion—in French—opened up about the experience having received the song from Prince. The video was published on YouTube in 2016, but it appears to be from the 1990s, around the time of the song’s release.
“The first time I listened to it, I was surprised. First, I couldn’t believe it. Funny enough I though it would be a fast song. I was thinking Prince, Rock ‘n’ Roll, guitar, let’s go. I was expecting something fast and actually, the opposite happened,” the “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now” singer said. “But it was a pleasant surprise.
“It’s a really delicate song and, in my opinion, it will be the most sensitive song of the album. I was pleasantly surprised. It’s a great honor to sing Prince’s song.”
For decades, Dion’s recording was the only widely available version. It also resurfaced years later, when Prince re-recorded it in the early 2000s for another project, though that version was never released, Prince Vault added. The original recording was later considered for a separate archival release but ultimately remained in the vault until now.
The song is a nearly four-minute, stripped-down ballad centered on piano and vocals. Its lyrics focus on loss, longing, and memory, including references to calling out for someone who is no longer there.
Prince’s Estate Releases ‘With This Tear’ From the Vault
GettyAccording to a description shared by Prince’s estate on YouTube, the newly released track is a previously unreleased studio recording from the “Kiss” singer’s archive.
Prince wrote, produced, arranged, and performed every instrument on the recording, the estate said.
The track was newly mixed and mastered by Grammy-nominated engineer and longtime collaborator Chris James, the estate said, who previously worked with Prince on multiple projects including “Art Official Age,” released in 2014, and “HITnRUN Phase Two,” released the year after.
“Later recorded and released by Céline Dion, the song now returns in its original form,” he description states.
The release was issued through NPG Records and Legacy Recordings as part of ongoing efforts to open Prince’s archive, according to Billboard. More unreleased recordings are expected to follow later this year as part of a broader rollout from the vault, according to NME.
