Sometimes It Snows in April

Album: Parade (1986)
Play Video

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

Editor's Picks

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)Songwriter Interviews

Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai were two of Graham's co-writers for some '80s rock classics.

Chris Isaak

Chris IsaakSongwriter Interviews

Chris tells the story of "Wicked Game," talks milkshakes and moonpies at Sun Records, and explains why women always get their way.

Spot The Real Red Hot Chili Peppers Song Titles

Spot The Real Red Hot Chili Peppers Song TitlesMusic Quiz

The Red Hot Chili Peppers have some rather unusual song titles - see if you can spot the real ones.

U2

U2Fact or Fiction

How did The Edge get his name? Did they name a song after a Tolkien book? And who is "Angel of Harlem" about?

Brandi Carlile

Brandi CarlileSongwriter Interviews

As a 5-year-old, Brandi was writing lyrics to instrumental versions lullabies. She still puts her heart into her songs, including the one Elton John sings on.

Grammar In Lyrics

Grammar In LyricsMusic Quiz

Lyrics don't always follow the rules of grammar. Can you spot the ones that don't?