Sometimes It Snows in April by Prince

Album: Parade (1986)

License This Song

lyrics

artistfacts

Songfacts®:

Written by Prince along with Wendy & Lisa, this introspective acoustic ballad finds the Purple musician recounting memories of Christopher Tracy, the gigolo character he portrayed in Under the Cherry Moon. During the third verse he sings of his hope of rejoining Tracy in heaven.
Prince's engineer Susan Rogers told Uncut that for "Sometimes it Snows in April," Prince wanted to set a tone:

"He didn't normally do that," she said. "We lit candles, the lights were dimmed. Lisa was on piano, with Wendy right next to her. We wanted him to play it - all he would do was the vocal.

We realized that the chair that Wendy was sitting in was really creaky," she added. "I went out to change it, and Prince said, 'No, leave it, I want it like that.' It was done live, in a darkened room. Quite stunning."
The song was recorded on April 21, 1985, exactly 31 years before the date of Prince's passing. This meant that "Sometimes It Snows in April" received significant attention after Prince's death, resulting in it charting in several countries. In France it peaked at #14 and in Portugal #30.

Comments: 1

Annabelle from Eugene, OrWhen I told my mom that this song referred to Christopher Tracy, she asked me, "Is that his real name?". When she asked me this, she was referring to Prince. I got so mad, and said (with commas for emphasis) "No it was Prince, Rogers, Nelson!". She thought I had hurt her feelings the way I said that, as I was a bit snippy snappy that day, but I'm sure Prince would have responded the same way if she asked him that to his face! She probably wishes I could have said that to her in a nicer way. I wonder how I could have responded.

see more comments

More Songfacts:

I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)Meat Loaf

In Meat Loaf's "I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)" what he won't do is a list of six items in the lyrics, including "Forget the way you feel right now" and "Be screwing around."

Boom ClapCharli XCX

Before recording "Boom Clap" herself, Charli XCX offered the song to Hilary Duff. However, the singer's people turned down the tune declaring it wasn't "cool enough for Hilary."

Going HomeKenny G

A 1989 track by Kenny G, "Going Home," is the unofficial national closing song in China. The tune is played at the end of train rides, the end of school days, and when malls are about to close.

Start Me UpThe Rolling Stones

One of the first hit songs used in a major marketing campaign was "Start Me Up" by The Rolling Stones. Microsoft paid $3 million to use it in commercials for Windows '95.