When Doves Cry

by Prince
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How to Play This Song

Learn a simple version, phrase by phrase: the melody, then easy chords.

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Lyrics

(Am)Dig, if u will, the pic ture

of u and I en gaged in a (E7)kiss.

The (Am)sweat of your bod y cov (G)ers me.

Can u, my dar ling, (E7)can u pic ture this?

(Am)Dream, if u can, a court yard, an o cean of vi ’lets in bloom.

(Am)An got i mals strike (G)cu ri ous pos es.

They feel the heat, the (E7)heat be tween me and (Am)How can u just leave me stand ing a lone in a world that’s so (E7)cold?

(Am)May be I’m just 2 de mand ing.

May be I’m just like my (E7)fa ther, 2 bold.

(Am)May be you’re just like my moth er.

She’s nev er sat is fied.

(Am)Why do we scream at each oth (G)er?

This is what it sounds like when doves cry.

(Am)Touch, if u will, my stom ach.

an Feel how it trem bles in side.

(Am)You’ve got the but ter (G)flies ri all pos up.

Don’t make me chase u.

(E7)E be ven doves have (Am)u.

can u just leave me stand ing

a lone in a world that’s so (E7)cold?

(Am)May be I’m just 2 de mand ing.

May be I’m just like my (E7)fa ther, 2 bold.

(Am)May be you’re just like my moth er.

She’s nev er sat is fied.

(Am)Why do we scream at each oth (G)er?

This is what it sounds like when doves cry.

when doves cry.

When Doves Cry — Easy Piano Notes for Beginners

5 people have learned this song

Learn "When Doves Cry" on piano with easy notes — perfect for absolute beginners. Large color-coded note names show exactly which keys to press. No music reading required. Key of A, 150 BPM.

Tip: Start at 50% speed to get comfortable with the fingering, then work your way up to full tempo.

About “When Doves Cry”

Can I play "When Doves Cry" without reading sheet music?
Yes — Easy Notes mode prints the letter name (C, D, E…) directly on each note in big color-coded labels, so you can match colors to your keyboard without any traditional notation. The whole arrangement of "When Doves Cry" is playable in minutes, even for first-time players.
What key is "When Doves Cry" by Prince played in?
When Doves Cry is arranged in the key of A on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "When Doves Cry"?
The arrangement plays at 150 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "When Doves Cry" easy to play on piano?
Yes — this is one of our beginner-friendly arrangements with simplified chords and color-coded notes.
Can I download sheet music for "When Doves Cry"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "When Doves Cry"?
"When Doves Cry" was originally performed by Prince. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What other songs by Prince can I play here?
Try "CALL MY NAME", "DARLING NIKKI", "NOTHING COMPARES 2 U". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Can a complete beginner play "When Doves Cry"?
Absolutely! The Beginner mode shows large color-coded notes with letter names (C, D, E...). Just match the colors to your keyboard — no music reading needed. "When Doves Cry" is perfect for first-time players.
Do I need to read music to play "When Doves Cry"?
No! Our Beginner mode replaces traditional notation with color-coded letter names. Each note shows exactly which key to press. You can start playing "When Doves Cry" in minutes, even if you've never touched a piano before.