When Doves Cry

"When Doves Cry" is a profound exploration of the complexities of a troubled romantic relationship, deeply intertwined with the theme of inherited familial trauma. The song's central message is about the fear of repeating the mistakes of one's parents and becoming trapped in the same cycles of dysfunction. The narrator analyzes his tumultuous love affair by comparing his own and his partner's behaviors to those of his father and mother. He posits that his demanding and bold nature mirrors his father's, while his lover's inability to be satisfied reflects his mother's disposition.

The lyrics delve into how these inherited traits create a toxic environment where communication breaks down into screaming matches. The titular phrase, "This is what it sounds like when doves cry," serves as the song's core metaphor. Doves are universal symbols of peace, love, and purity; therefore, the image of them crying represents a state of profound emotional distress where this peace is shattered. The sound of their fighting is so unnatural and painful that it's akin to the sound of peace itself weeping.

Beyond the parental theme, the song also explores possessiveness, insecurity, and pride within the relationship. The narrator grapples with his own demanding nature while questioning his lover's perception of him, creating a landscape of mutual misunderstanding and emotional turmoil. Ultimately, the song is a raw, introspective lament about how love can be poisoned by personal history and the struggle to break free from destructive patterns.

The narrative begins with an evocative and sensual invitation to visualize a past moment of intense intimacy. The speaker asks their lover to picture them locked in a passionate kiss, their bodies so close the sweat of one covers the other. This vivid imagery is followed by a dreamlike scene set in a courtyard filled with an "ocean of violets in bloom," where even animals seem to sense the palpable heat and connection between the two lovers. This opening sequence establishes a foundation of deep, almost primal passion that has since soured.

The tone then shifts dramatically from sensual remembrance to present-day conflict and painful introspection. The core of the song's turmoil is revealed in a series of rhetorical questions and self-doubting comparisons. The narrator wonders if the problems in their relationship are a direct inheritance from the dysfunctional dynamics of their parents. He questions his own nature: Is he too demanding, too bold, just like his father? He then turns the mirror on his partner, suggesting she might be just like his mother, who is perpetually unsatisfied. This fear of repeating a generational cycle of unhappiness and conflict is the central psychological drama of the song.

The screaming and fighting between the couple are then given a powerful, poetic metaphor: this is the sound of doves crying. This central image encapsulates the profound sadness and the destruction of peace within their love. The song's chorus powerfully asks, "Why do we scream at each other?" before answering with the titular line, framing their conflict as an unnatural and heartbreaking phenomenon.

The narrative continues to explore the internal state of the protagonist, touching on his possessiveness and insecurities. He describes a feeling of inner chaos, like "butterflies all tied up," and questions his lover's motives, wondering if she sees him merely as a possession. He also reveals a sense of pride, suggesting that even gentle creatures like doves have their limits and won't beg or be humiliated, perhaps hinting at his own refusal to be vulnerable beyond a certain point.

The song concludes not with a resolution, but with a plea and a haunting repetition. The final lines, "Darling don't cry," are a desperate attempt to soothe the pain and stop the cycle of hurt. This is interwoven with the repeated, lamenting sound of "when doves cry," which ultimately suggests that the conflict is ongoing and the emotional soundscape of their relationship remains one of sorrow and lost peace. The final moments of the song, featuring a virtuosic synthesizer solo, feel like an outpouring of the complex, unresolved emotions that words alone cannot capture.

"When Doves Cry" was a last-minute addition to the 1984 album and film, Purple Rain. The film's director, Albert Magnoli, felt a song was needed for a specific montage sequence depicting the main character's troubled parental relationships and his fraught love affair with Apollonia. Prince reportedly composed the song overnight in response to this request. Biographers have suggested the lyrics were also inspired by his real-life relationship with Susan Moonsie, a member of the group Vanity 6.

On March 2, 1984, Prince entered Sunset Sound studios in Los Angeles and, in a marathon 16-hour session, wrote, produced, arranged, and performed the entire track by himself, with Peggy McCreary serving as the engineer. He played all the instruments: lead guitar, keyboards, synthesizers, and the Linn LM-1 drum machine. The most audacious and revolutionary decision came during the final mixing process. Prince had recorded a bass line for the song, but after listening back, he felt the track sounded too conventional. Following a conversation with singer Jill Jones who encouraged him to have it his way, he muted the bass track entirely. Prince later recalled this decision, stating, "Sometimes your brain kind of splits in two—your ego tells you one thing, and the rest of you says something else. You have to go with what you know is right." This choice gave the song its distinctively sparse, stark, and groundbreaking sound, creating a sonic tension that was highly unusual for a mainstream dance-pop hit of the era. The single was released on May 16, 1984, and became Prince's first number-one hit in the United States.

The primary and most powerful piece of symbolism in "When Doves Cry" is the image of the crying doves.

• Doves: Traditionally, doves represent peace, love, harmony, and purity. In a broader spiritual context, they can also symbolize new beginnings. By choosing such a potent symbol of tranquility, Prince establishes a high stake for its disruption.
• Crying Doves: The act of crying is an expression of deep sorrow and pain. Therefore, when doves cry, it symbolizes the complete breakdown of peace and the death of harmony within the relationship. The narrator explicitly states that the sound of him and his lover screaming at each other "is what it sounds like when doves cry." It is a metaphor for a beautiful and peaceful thing being corrupted by conflict and emotional pain, transforming love into something sorrowful and unnatural.

Other significant imagery includes:

• An Ocean of Violets in Bloom: This image, from the song's dreamlike second stanza, evokes a sense of overwhelming passion, beauty, and perhaps a nod to the "purple" theme of the entire project. It paints a picture of a love that was once idyllic and all-encompassing.
• Animals Striking Curious Poses: This surreal imagery adds to the primal, almost Edenic quality of the lovers' initial connection, suggesting their passion is so intense it even affects the natural world around them.

The predominant emotional atmosphere of "When Doves Cry" is one of intense turmoil, angst, and melancholic introspection. It captures the painful emotional landscape of a relationship on the brink of collapse. The song opens with a sensual, nostalgic warmth, remembering a time of passionate connection, but this quickly dissolves into the cold reality of present conflict.

A powerful sense of confusion and desperation permeates the track, particularly in the lyrics where the narrator questions why they fight and fears he is doomed to repeat his parents' toxic dynamic. This creates an emotional background of existential dread and helplessness. The vocal performance is key to establishing this atmosphere. Prince's delivery shifts dramatically from a seductive, low murmur to a vulnerable, melodic plea, and finally erupts into anguished, almost primal screams toward the end. This progression mirrors an emotional breakdown, moving from controlled reflection to an uncontrollable outpouring of pain and frustration.

The music itself, particularly the stark arrangement lacking a bassline, contributes to a feeling of hollowness and instability, reflecting the fragile state of the relationship. The relentless drum machine beat provides a tense, unyielding pulse, while the soaring guitar and synth solos feel like cries of pure, wordless emotion.

"When Doves Cry" was a monumental cultural phenomenon upon its release and its legacy endures. As the lead single from the massively successful 1984 album and film Purple Rain, it became Prince's first-ever #1 single on the Billboard Hot 100, where it remained for five weeks. It was the top-selling single of 1984 in the US and was certified Platinum by the RIAA for shipping over two million units.

Its musical innovation, particularly the radical decision to omit a bass line from a dance track, was groundbreaking and has been a subject of study and admiration by musicians ever since. The song's unique blend of funk, synth-pop, psychedelia, and rock solidified Prince's status as a genre-defying visionary. The accompanying music video, which Prince also directed, was a staple on MTV but also generated controversy for its sexual imagery, further cementing his reputation as a provocative artist.

The song is consistently ranked among the greatest songs of all time by publications like Rolling Stone and is included in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. It has been covered by numerous artists, with a notable version by Quindon Tarver featured in Baz Luhrmann's 1996 film Romeo + Juliet, introducing it to a new generation. Following Prince's death in 2016, the song re-entered the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 8, a testament to its timeless appeal and enduring impact on music and popular culture.

The rhythmic structure of "When Doves Cry" is one of its most innovative and defining elements. The song's foundation is a syncopated, persistent beat programmed on a Linn LM-1 drum machine. Instead of a standard 4/4 pop beat with a backbeat on the 2 and 4, the rhythm is more complex and unsteady, which contributes to the song's overall feeling of tension and unease. This unconventional drum pattern, combined with the stark absence of a bass line to anchor the harmony, creates a unique sonic space that feels both empty and propulsive. The rhythm is relentless, driving the song forward with an almost mechanical, yet funky, insistence.

Lyrically, the song is structured in free verse, largely abandoning a conventional, predictable rhyme scheme in favor of a more narrative and conversational flow. This lack of formal rhyming allows the emotional weight of the words to take precedence, making the delivery feel more like a direct, introspective confession. The rhythm of Prince's vocal delivery often plays against the strict rhythm of the drum machine, creating a dynamic interplay. He moves fluidly between spoken-word passages, melodic singing, and raw, emotional ad-libs, allowing the lyrical rhythm to be dictated by the dramatic arc of the story rather than by formal poetic constraints.

"When Doves Cry" is renowned for its innovative and unconventional stylistic choices, both musically and lyrically.

Musical Techniques:

• Absence of a Bass Line: The most defining feature is the complete lack of a bass guitar. In a dance-funk track from the 1980s, this was a radical and audacious choice that creates a feeling of emptiness and tension, leaving the rhythmic foundation to the drum machine and the low-end of the synthesizers.
• Linn LM-1 Drum Machine: The song's rhythm is driven by a heavily processed Linn LM-1 drum machine. Prince manipulated the stock sounds, tuning a cross-stick snare down to create a unique "knocking" percussion that gives the beat a distinctive, almost tribal feel.
• Layered Synthesizers: The song features a prominent and iconic synthesizer riff that serves as its main hook. The elaborate, Baroque-style synth solo in the outro was reportedly recorded at half-speed and an octave lower, then sped up to create its impossibly fast and articulate sound.
• Virtuosic Guitar Solo: The track opens with a searing, Hendrix-inspired guitar solo that immediately establishes a tone of rock and emotional intensity, which returns in the song's climax.
• Vocal Layering and Delivery: Prince employs a wide range of vocal techniques, from a sensual spoken-word intro to impassioned, gospel-inflected ad-libs and anguished screams in the latter half of the song. The choruses feature layered vocal harmonies that create a rich, choral effect without traditional backing singers.

Literary Techniques:

• Metaphor: The central literary device is the metaphor of "doves crying" to represent the sound of a relationship falling apart.
• Imagery: The song uses vivid, sensory imagery, such as "The sweat of your body covers me" and "An ocean of violets in bloom," to create a strong atmospheric and emotional setting.
• Rhetorical Questions: The chorus is built around the question, "Why do we scream at each other?", which serves to highlight the couple's frustrating and seemingly unsolvable conflict.
• Free Verse: Lyrically, the song does not adhere to a strict rhyme scheme, which lends it a more conversational, direct, and introspective quality.

What is the meaning behind Prince's song 'When Doves Cry'?

The song is about a tumultuous relationship where the narrator fears he is repeating the dysfunctional patterns of his parents. The 'crying doves' are a metaphor for the sound of peace and love being destroyed by conflict, as he and his lover 'scream at each other.'

Why is there no bass line in 'When Doves Cry'?

Prince intentionally removed the bass line at the last minute during mixing. He felt the track sounded too conventional with it and that removing it created a more unique, sparse, and tense atmosphere. He reportedly said to his engineer, 'Ain't nobody going to believe I did this.'

Who played the instruments on 'When Doves Cry'?

Prince wrote, produced, arranged, composed, and played every single instrument on the track himself. This includes the vocals, lead guitar, keyboards, synthesizers, and the programming for the Linn LM-1 drum machine.

When was 'When Doves Cry' released and how did it perform on the charts?

Released on May 16, 1984, 'When Doves Cry' became Prince's first #1 hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, staying at the top for five weeks. It was the best-selling single of the year 1984 in the United States.

Was 'When Doves Cry' written for the movie Purple Rain?

Yes, it was the last song written for the film. The director, Albert Magnoli, asked Prince for a song to underscore a montage dealing with parental conflict and a troubled love affair, and Prince composed 'When Doves Cry' overnight in response.

What does the line 'Maybe I'm just like my mother, she's never satisfied' refer to?

This line is central to the song's theme of inherited trauma. The narrator is introspectively analyzing the relationship's failure, suggesting his partner's unhappiness mirrors his mother's, while his own demanding nature reflects his father's, creating a toxic cycle.