When Doves Cry Lyrics

[Intro]
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

[Verse 1]
Dig, if you will, the picture
Of you and I engaged in a kiss
The sweat of your body covers me
Can you, my darling?
Can you picture this?

[Verse 2]
Dream, if you can, a courtyard
An ocean of violets in bloom
Animals strike curious poses
They feel the heat
The heat between me and you


[Chorus]
How can you just leave me standing
Alone in a world that's so cold? (So cold)
Maybe I'm just too demanding
Maybe I'm just like my father, too bold
Maybe you're just like my mother
She's never satisfied (She's never satisfied)

Why do we scream at each other?
This is what it sounds like
When doves cry

How to Format Lyrics:

  • Type out all lyrics, even repeating song parts like the chorus
  • Lyrics should be broken down into individual lines
  • Use section headers above different song parts like [Verse], [Chorus], etc.
  • Use italics (<i>lyric</i>) and bold (<b>lyric</b>) to distinguish between different vocalists in the same song part
  • If you don’t understand a lyric, use [?]

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About

Genius Annotation

“When Doves Cry” is a Prince song that was inspired by his relationship with Vanity 6 member Susan Moonsie.

It is also a song Prince composed specifically for the soundtrack of his semi-autobiographical film Purple Rain. He was asked by director Albert Magnoli to write a song to match the theme of a particular segment of the film – one which involved intermingled parental difficulties and a love affair. The next morning, Prince had reportedly composed two songs, one of which was “When Doves Cry”.

(Source: Purple Rain DVD)

“When Doves Cry” is a rare song that does not feature bass guitar. It creates a tension and sense of “something missing” that fits with the lyrical theme.

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

What did Prince and the Revolution say about "When Doves Cry"?
Genius Answer

Prince wrote virtual liner notes in the mid-90s for some of his biggest hits as a feature on one of his first websites. Here’s his entry for “When Doves Cry”:

originally recorded with bass, backing 2 sets of keys and guitar. Frustrated with the mix, [Prince Rogers Nelson] sat discouraged in the studio (Sunset Sound). [Former Prince backing vocalist and protege] Jill Jones came 2 visit, saw the long face and asked what was wrong. PRN was said to have said, “if. had my way the song would sound like this.” He then shoved down the bulk of the instrument faders and left up only the drums and the xylophone, when the voices began to sing the chorus. Jill then asked PRN why he thought he couldn’t have his way with the mix. There was no reply. Everyone who passed by the studio was enthralled by the strange sound coming out of Studio 3 that day. The next time Jill heard the song it was on the radio and it was bassless and stark. PRN had his way.

Did this track receive any accolades?
Genius Answer

Yes, Rolling Stone ranked it number 52 on their list of the ‘500 Greatest Songs of All Time.’ Additionally, it was included in the ‘Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll’.

Translations
Genius Answer
Credits
Produced By
Written By
LM-1 Drum Machine
Electric Guitar by
Oberheim Synth
Mastering Engineer
Vocals
Recorded At
Sunset Sound Factory, Los Angeles, CA (March 1-3, 1984)
Release Date
May 16, 1984
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