The track was recorded in a 13 April 1967 session produced by Bacharach and David with Bacharach as conductor and arranger.
Bacharach and David had scored a #7 hit in 1965 with Jackie DeShannon's message song hit "What the World Needs Now is Love" but "The Windows of the World" was unique in the composers' canon in being a protest song. Inspired by the songs as "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" and "Blowin' in the Wind", Hal David wrote lyrics for "The Windows of the World" which overtly but gently lament US involvement in the Vietnam War, an especial concern to David who had two young sons, one of them almost of eligible age for the draft. The arrangement for "The Windows of the World" has a subtle Asian flavor featuring strings plucked in the style of a koto and also finger cymbals the latter evoking the sound of raindrops on a window.
"The Windows of the World" represented a thematic departure for Warwick who had built her career as a romantic balladeer and had passed on the chance to introduce "What the World Needs Now is Love" (although her stated objection to the last-named was not its theme but rather that it sounded "too country"). Released in July 1967, "The Windows of the World" was not one of Warwick's biggest hits reaching #32 on the Billboard Hot 100 (#27 R&B/ #32 Easy Listening). However Warwick stated in 2002 that "The Windows of the World" was her favorite of all of her singles.
Warwick's September 1967 album release featured "The Windows of The World" as its title cut (see The Windows of the World). The album cut "I Say a Little Prayer" was released that October as a single and proved to be the track which would re-establish Dionne Warwick as a Top Ten hitmaker.
Dionne Warwick also recorded an Italian language version of "The Windows of the World" as "La Vita Come Va" ([the] life as it should be). The song was covered for one her later albums.
The Windows Of The World
Dionne Warwick Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where is the sunshine we once knew?
Everybody knows when little children play
They need a sunny day to grow straight and tall.
Let the sun shine through.
The windows of the world are covered with rain,
When will those black skies turn to blue?
They start to wonder when their country will call.
Let the sun shine through.
The windows of the world are covered with rain,
What is the whole world coming to?
Everybody knows when men can not be friends
Their quarrel often ends where some have to die.
Let the sun shine through.
The windows of the world are covered with rain,
There must be something we can do.
Everybody knows whenever rain appears
It's really angel tears.
How long must they cry?
Let the sun shine through.
The lyrics of Dionne Warwick's song "Windows of the World" poetically alludes to the universal concern of mankind regarding the state of the world. The "windows of the world" refer to the various people, nations, and societies around the globe. The continuous rain that covers the windows symbolizes the sadness, despair, and challenges that different parts of the world experience. The song suggests that humans need the sunny days of hope, love, and unity to grow straight and tall. The rain represents darkness and division that hinders growth and progress.
The second verse of the song emphasizes the concern of boys who grow up to become men, wondering when their country will call. This emphasizes the broader societal issue of conflicts between nations, which result in some people dying. The third verse of the song highlights the destructive nature of human conflict, wherein the quarrel may often end with people losing their lives. The song suggests that only the sun -symbolic of hope, love, and unity - can break through the darkness of human conflict.
Overall, Dionne Warwick's "Windows of the World" is an insightful and thought-provoking piece that showcases the universal concern of humanity about the state of the world.
Line by Line Meaning
The windows of the world are covered with rain
Current state of the world is bleak and depressing with no hope in sight.
Where is the sunshine we once knew?
What happened to the blissful and joyful world that once existed?
Everybody knows when little children play
They need a sunny day to grow straight and tall
Let the sun shine through
Children need a positive environment to thrive and grow, so we should work to create that environment.
When will those black skies turn to blue?
When will the world become a happier and more positive place?
Everybody knows when boys grow into men
They start to wonder when their country will call
Let the sun shine through
Men often worry about war and conflict, so we should strive for peace to give them hope.
What is the whole world coming to?
The state of the world is so bad that we can't even fathom what will happen next.
Everybody knows when men can not be friends
Their quarrel often ends where some have to die
Let the sun shine through
When conflict arises, people's lives are put at risk, so we should work to create a peaceful world.
There must be something we can do
We can't sit idly by and allow the world to remain in its current state; we need to take action.
Everybody knows whenever rain appears
It's really angel tears
How long must they cry?
Rain is often associated with sadness and despair, but we should work to alleviate the pain and suffering in the world so that the angels can stop crying.
Let the sun shine through
We should work to create a better world where positivity and hope can shine through.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: BURT F BACHARACH, HAL DAVID
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sobaytje
The windows of the world are covered with rain
Where is the sunshine we once knew?
Ev'rybody knows when little children play
They need a sunny day to grow straight and tall
Let the sun shine through
The windows of the world are covered with rain
When will those black skies turn to blue?
Ev'rybody knows when boys grow into men
They start to wonder when their country will call
Let the sun shine through
The windows of the world are covered with rain
What is the whole world coming to?
Ev'rybody knows when men can not be friends
Their quarrel often ends where some have to die
Let the sun shine through
The windows of the world are covered with rain
There must be something we can do
Ev'rybody knows whenever rain appears
It's really angel tears
How long must they cry?
Let the sun shine through
@TheGeonam
When this song was a hit I had just come home from Vietnam missing both legs below the knee. I remember laying in my hospital bed with forty other guys on a ward. Would hear this song and wonder what lay ahead for me and when was the war going to end. I am 79 years old today been married for 48 years two children and four grandchildren. Life has been good.
@Themanwhocameback2
God bless you, sir.
@JohnDaigle-bm9cm
"When boys turn into men, they start to wonder when their country will call"
I was called about a year after this song was released.
I got it then I get it now.
Brings tears to my eyes.
Simple, profound, beautiful & true.
@colleenmacmillan9965
For some reason this song hit my heart very hard today -- just as appropriate today as the day it was written. Love to the artist and composer. Such a magnificent combo.
@hippiechicken3
My Favorite Burt Bacharach/Hal David song. RIP Burt Bacharach. You will always be remembered and missed as one of the best musical composers that there ever was. 😭❤️🙏
@daisyterry9508
Plus, Burt was gorgeous💯💜
@RobertEmmettHenry
AMEN!!! The best. Inspired and real.
@joelnann
This song makes me cry I love the words I love the way Deanna Warwick sings it she has a voice from heaven it's perfect❤ j o e l Namath
@elmoelbow
We lost the composer of this beautiful song … Burt Bacharach😢 … in Los Angeles today. How many beautiful gifts and melodic memories he left us. May your soul find as much peace as your music has brought to others.
@MixedMediaInk
What other songs did he do?