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“When Doves Cry”
Artist: Prince and the Revolution
Music / Lyrics by Prince
Label: Warner Brothers, 1984
Like Duke Ellington, Muddy Waters, Little Richard, and James Brown, Prince understood that the
most profound roots of great African-American pop music were to be discovered in the place
where a flamboyant stage personality met the timeless pop themes of sex and death. Like Duke,
Muddy, and James Brown, Prince drew on all avenues of great black music to forge an utterly
personal, compositional style and public persona bigger, badder, blacker (and sometimes
stranger) than life. In Prince’s musical empire, rhythm was the foundation and funk was the key.
Into this, he folded the virtuosic guitar pyrotechnics of Hendrix, the superhuman precision of the
James Brown rhythm section, the timbral diversity and idiosyncrasy of Ellington, and a theatrical,
gymnastic, compelling stage presence dripping with androgynous sexuality.
Musical style notes
Prince is known for his top-notch, virtuosic bands. In the studio, Prince can also be an “army of
one,” functioning as composer, arranger, and studio producer in addition to playing a number of
instruments himself. Every single note played and every single word sung on “When Doves Cry”
was arranged, composed and performed by Prince – a masterpiece of multi-instrumental
virtuosity, breathtaking vocal flexibility and phrasing, and creative studio-produced soundlayering. The synthesized drums and string-sound place the song right at the beginning of the
1980s. Prince’s varied musical influences come out in his complex, virtuosic arrangements: the
Hendrix-like guitar solos; the switched-on-Bach keyboard solo at the end; the sensitive,
expressive vocals overlaid with yips, howls and improvised vocal phrases crying out with gospel
intensity.
Like many of Prince’s songs, the lyrics weave sensuality and spirituality together into a deeply
personal expression that is never quite made explicit in its literal meaning or intent. This is true
even in a song like “When Doves Cry,” which was written expressly to fit the plot of the film Purple
Rain, but somehow ends up seeming autobiographical.
Musical “Road Map”
Timings
0:00-0:33
Comments
Introduction
Lyrics
Guitar pyrotechnics and synth-drum track.
At 0:12, we hear a repetitive, almost
cicada-like vocal growl.
0:33-0:49
At 0:18: the short, repetitive keyboard
hook that continues to return just after
each iteration of the line “When Doves
Cry.”
Verse
Note: just vocals and drum track.
0:49-1:04
Verse
Dig if u will the picture
Of u and I engaged in a kiss
The sweat of your body covers me
Can u my darling
Can u picture this?
Dream if u can a courtyard
An ocean of violets in bloom
Animals strike curious poses
They feel the heat
The heat between me and u
1:04-1:34
Chorus
1:34-1:49
1:49-2:05
Keyboard hook returns
Verse
2:05-2:35
Multi-tracked vocals over drum track and
keyboard.
Chorus
2:35-2:50
2:50-3:21
Keyboard hook returns, this time with
vocals added
Chorus
Note the addition of synth strings layered
over the drum track along with an
“obligato” vocal line (meaning an alternate
vocal line that continues at the same time
as the first, creating two interwoven lines).
3:21-3:36
Drum track & synth strings, with
improvised vocals
3:36-4:15
Keyboard hook with electric guitar layered
in; guitar plays solo with vocals added on
top
4:15 – screams over keyboard hook, drum
track and synth strings; vocals continue
Drum track with vocals leads into fast,
almost Bach-inspired keyboard solo
4:15-4:52
4:52-5:15
5:15-5:47
5:47-5:52
How can u just leave me standing?
Alone in a world that's so cold? (So cold)
Maybe I'm just 2 demanding
Maybe I'm just like my father – 2 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 u will my stomach…
How can u just leave me standing?
Alone in a world so cold? (So cold)
Maybe I'm just 2 demanding
Maybe I'm just like my father – 2 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 u just leave me standing?
Alone in a world that's so cold? (world that’s
so cold)
Maybe I'm just 2 demanding
Maybe I'm just like my father 2 bold
Maybe you're just like my mother
She's never satisfied (never, never satisfied)
Why do we scream at each other?
This is what it sounds like–
When doves cry…
When doves cry…
When doves cry…
Don’t cry…
Oh yeah…
Oh oh oh yeah…
When doves cry…
(screams)
Ooo, oh, oh….
Yeah – yeah – yeah
Oooo – oh
When doves cry…
Don’t cry…
Darling…don’t cry…
More vocal improvisation over synthstrings and drum track
Fast-moving keyboard notes ascend to
ending
Thanks to Dr. Chris Smith of Texas Tech University for his contribution to this Listening
Guide.