The song ranked number 52 on the Rolling Stone list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and is included in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.[7]
Following Prince's death, the song re-charted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart at number eight, its first appearance in the top 10 since the week ending September 1, 1984. As of April 30, 2016, it has sold 1,385,448 copies in the United States.
When Doves Cry
Prince Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Of you and I engaged in a kiss
The sweat of your body covers me
Can you my darling
Can you picture this?
Dream if you can a courtyard
An ocean of violets in bloom
They feel the heat
The heat between me and you
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
Touch if you will my stomach
Feel how it trembles inside
You've got the butterflies all tied up
Don't make me chase you
Even doves have pride
How can you just leave me standing?
Alone in a world so cold? (World 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 can you just leave me standing?
Alone in a world that's so cold? (A world that's so cold)
Maybe I'm just too demanding (maybe, maybe I'm like my father)
Maybe I'm just like my father too bold (you know he's too bold)
Maybe you're just like my mother (maybe you're just like my mother)
She's never satisfied (she's never, never satisfied)
Why do we scream at each other? (Why do we scream? Why?)
This is what it sounds like
When doves cry
When doves cry (doves cry, doves cry)
When doves cry (doves cry, doves cry)
Don't cry (don't cry)
When doves cry
When doves cry
When doves cry
When doves cry (doves cry, doves cry, doves cry)
Don't cry
Darling don't cry
Don't cry
Don't cry
Don't, don't cry
"When Doves Cry" by Prince & The Revolution is a song that begs for the audience's imagination to be captured from start to finish. The song begins with a very visual opening stanza that invites the listener to imagine two lovers in a kiss with the sweat of one partner's body covering the other. The second verse changes the scene which now features a courtyard with an ocean of blooming violets and animals posing curiously while feeling the heat between the two lovers. The chorus begins and highlights the singer's confusion and pain of abandonment, wondering how his partner could leave him alone in the cold world. In the third verse, the singer asks his partner to touch his stomach and feel how he trembles.
The rest of the song continues with the chorus, mirroring the confusion and desperation of the singer. The title "When Doves Cry" can be interpreted in various ways. It refers to a sense of purity or innocence, that even these birds who are known for their gentle coos and beautiful feathers can cry. The song also shows how some of the most beautiful things in the world - love, nature, and music, can become chaotic and painful. The words "how can you just leave me standing?" make it clear that the singer has been suddenly abandoned, and none of his efforts to save the relationship were enough.
Line by Line Meaning
Dig if you will the picture
Imagine the scene I'm describing
Of you and I engaged in a kiss
We're kissing and it feels great
The sweat of your body covers me
We're both hot and sweaty from being intimate
Can you my darling
Can you visualize it too?
Can you picture this?
Can you imagine what I'm describing?
Dream if you can a courtyard
Imagine a beautiful courtyard
An ocean of violets in bloom
There are lots of purple flowers in the courtyard
Animals strike curious poses
Some animals are acting strange
They feel the heat
The heat between us is making them behave differently
The heat between me and you
Our attraction is strong and people notice it
How can you just leave me standing?
Why did you leave me alone like this?
Alone in a world that's so cold? (So cold)
I feel isolated in this cruel world
Maybe I'm just too demanding
Maybe I'm asking for too much
Maybe I'm just like my father too bold
I might be stubborn like my dad
Maybe you're just like my mother
Perhaps you're similar to my mom in some way
She's never satisfied (she's never satisfied)
My mom is always wanting more
Why do we scream at each other?
What's causing all of our fights?
This is what it sounds like
The sound of our arguments
When doves cry
Even gentle creatures like doves experience sadness
Touch if you will my stomach
Put your hands on my belly
Feel how it trembles inside
I have butterflies in my stomach from being nervous
You've got the butterflies all tied up
You're making me feel even more nervous
Don't make me chase you
Don't play hard to get
Even doves have pride
I have a sense of dignity too, even though I'm vulnerable with you
A world that's so cold
The world can be cruel and unforgiving
Maybe, maybe I'm like my father
It's possible that I'm similar to my dad
You know he's too bold
My dad can be stubborn and headstrong
She's never, never satisfied
My mom always needs more than what she has
Why do we scream? Why?
What's causing our arguments and fights?
When doves cry, doves cry
Even gentle creatures experience sadness and pain
Don't cry
Please don't shed tears over our problems
Darling don't cry
Please don't be upset
Don't, don't cry
Please don't cry
Lyrics ยฉ Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Prince Rogers Nelson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@chaudcola
I know everyone is talking about purple rain but, for me, this is my favorite song from Prince
@tbinus7857
Without a doubt.
@user-sw2se7pf2s
By far
@cdoc1388
My Favorit is kiss =D
@ThogDontCare
Purple rain is one of my least favorite prince songs.
@sillyguy9828
Me too
@bassreeves2410
fun fact: prince not only played every instrument in the song,he also arranged, produced and completed it in 12 hours. Genius
@markkavanagh7377
What happened to Minneapolis since they lost their Mozart? :(
@batman1169
mark kavanagh looting and shooting!
@milkshakemainz7361
Genius, talented af