☝️ Key Points
- The song begins with a passionate description of Prince and his lover, suggesting a deep emotional and physical connection
- Prince reflects on his relationship and questions why his lover leaves him alone in a cold world
- He draws a connection between the problems in his relationship and those of his parents, indicating the complexity of relationships and the impact of family patterns on love
- 'This is what it sounds like when doves cry' is a metaphor for the pain and sadness caused by fights and separation in the relationship
- The song ends with a pleading call to his lover not to cry, which can be seen as an attempt to alleviate the pain and save the relationship
Interpretation
The song 'When Doves Cry' by
Prince is an emotional portrayal of love and relationship issues. The lyrics begin with a passionate description of him and his lover kissing ('Dig - if you will - the picture Of you and I engaged in a kiss'), indicating a deep emotional and physical connection.
The song then leads into a series of questions and self-reflections. Prince questions why his beloved leaves him alone in a cold world ('How can you just leave me standing Alone in a world that's so cold'). He ponders if he is too demanding or perhaps too bold, similar to his father ('Maybe I'm just too demanding / Maybe I'm just like my father too bold').
At the same time, he draws parallels to his mother, who was never satisfied ('Maybe you're just like my mother - she's never satisfied'). This shows that he sees similar patterns and issues in his relationship as his parents had.
The repeated 'This is what it sounds like When doves cry' is a metaphorical expression of the pain and sadness caused by the fights and separation in the relationship. Doves are generally seen as a symbol of peace, and their crying could be a symbol of the end of harmony and love.
Finally, the song ends with a pleading call to his beloved not to cry ('Darling, don't cry...don't cry...don't cry...DON'T CRY'). This can be seen as an attempt to alleviate the pain and save the relationship. Overall, 'When Doves Cry' is an emotional and deep insight into the complexity of relationships and the impact of family patterns on love.