The US government (though not only the US) is known for its indefatigable desire to “defend the principles of democracy” in regions where it has economic or political interests. So, in the late eighties, it financed the Contras revolutionary movement in Nicaragua, which fought against the regime of President Ortega.
One day, Contra militants attacked a hydroelectric power station under construction in one of the villages and brutally killed American engineer Ben Linder. His death outraged the citizens of the United States, who demanded that politicians answer why the taxes they pay are used to kill their own countrymen.
The history of creation and the meaning of the song Fragile – Sting
The Englishman Sting also took Linder’s death to heart and dedicated the amazing song Fragile to him, which was included in the album …Nothing Like the Sun (1987). The liner notes for …Nothing Like the Sun include Sting saying:
In today’s climate, it is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish “democracy freedom fighters” from apolitical drug gangsters or Peace Corpsmen from Marxist revolutionaries. This confusion led to the assassination of Ben Linder, an American engineer, in 1987.
In the charts, the song Fragile did not achieve much success. In the UK Singles Chart, she only climbed to number 70.
Clip Fragile Sting
Next is the music video for the song Fragile – Sting.
Fragile song in recent history
But everyone remembered her on September 11, 2001 after the tragedy in New York. Sting, having heard about the terrorist attacks, canceled a concert in Tuscany, which was supposed to go live on Yahoo! Broadcast. Of the planned program, he sang only Fragile, having previously spoken with these words:
We sing Fragile as a prayer and tribute to the people who died or are suffering because of the tragedy that happened this morning. After this song, we stop the webcast.
I must say, the news that has been coming from different parts of the world lately makes us remember the history of the Fragile song more and more often.
Interesting Facts
- Fragil was also recorded by Sting in Spanish (“Fragilidad”) and Portuguese (“Frágil”) for the mini-album “Nada Como el Sol”.
- The song Fragile was beautifully performed by Vladimir Minin’s Moscow Chamber Choir.
Fragile Lyrics
If blood will flow
When flesh and steel are one
Drying in the color
Of the evening sun
Tomorrow’s rain
will wash the stains away
But something in our minds
will always stay
Perhaps this final act was meant
To clinch a lifetime’s argument
That nothing comes from violence
And nothing ever could
For all those born beneath an angry star
Lest we forget
How fragile we are
On and on the rain will fall
Like tears from a star
Like tears from a star
On and on the rain will say
How fragile we are
How fragile we are
Fragile – Sting Lyrics
If blood is shed
When flesh and steel are one
Drying in the rays
evening sun,
Tomorrow rain
Wash away stains
But something in our minds
Will stay forever
Perhaps this last deed should have
Finally convince in the eternal argument,
That cruelty leads nowhere
And I could never bring
Those who were born under a cruel star
So that we never forget
How fragile are we
The rain will keep on
Like the tears of a star
Like the tears of a star
And the rain will speak
How fragile are we
How fragile are we
