When Doves Cry
Prince & The Revolution Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

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?

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

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

Overall Meaning

"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 © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Prince Rogers Nelson

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@ritaandleo

Only Man on Earth that can wear Eyeliner, Heels and Lace and still get tons of Women, and still have and show masculinity! R.I.P Prince.

@kalaong

No, David Bowie could rock the sparkle as well.

Bishonen never die. They simply become too fabulous for the mere mortals to comprehend.

@archeraimsaarrow3864

They both be purple and orange that's why

@sophieallchorne7594

So true 🎵💙

@pauladulisse1553

Poppop lol 0

@gregplitt6629

Good point…

478 More Replies...

@JustaComment93

The scene of him riding the motorcycle is the most badass moment ever recorded in the history of the human race. How is he so cool ?

@mrstephenpariah

Lots of hairspray

@JustaComment93

@@mrstephenpariahI could use twenty bottles of hairspray and still wouldn’t have an ounce of his Swagger.

@someonelovesyouhere

SOMEONE LOVES YOU HERE

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