No matter how much they say that excellent wives come out of former women of easy virtue, one can hardly wish someone to fall in love with one of them. Even in literature and cinema, such novels rarely end with a happy ending. What is the probability that such a story turns out to be happy in real life is not difficult to guess.
In music, this topic has also been repeatedly touched upon. One of the most famous love songs for a prostitute is Roxanne by The Police.
The story of creation and the meaning of the song Roxanne
Sting wrote it in October 1977 in Paris, where he and his colleagues were playing at the Nashville club and living in some shabby hotel. Near him, priestesses of love constantly offered their services. They inspired Sting.
The song is performed on behalf of a man who lost his head from love for a prostitute Roxana. The name Sting borrowed from the play “Cyrano de Bergerac” after seeing an advertising poster in the lobby of the hotel.
Roxanne’s tune was originally written in a bossa nova style, but the band’s drummer Stuart Copeland convinced Sting to remake it in a tango rhythm. It was in this form that it was released as a single in 1978 and included in the album Outlandos d’Amour.
Release and accomplishments of Roxanne
Members of The Police did not consider Roxanne a successful song, but producer Miles Copeland III saw a potential hit in it, became the group’s manager and signed a contract with A&M Records. The composition did not immediately win the hearts of listeners, but after a re-release in 1979, it reached number 12 in the British charts and 32 in the Billboard Hot 100.
Since starting his solo career, Sting has regularly sung “Roxanne” in concert. In 2007, the reunited band performed it at the Grammy Awards.
Roxanne is ranked #398 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Video of Roxanne – The Police
Three music videos were made for the song. We limited ourselves to one of them above in the article, but we suggest you also watch an excerpt from the film Moulin Rouge!, which features a great cover version of the song called El Tango de Roxanne. It includes elements of the Tanguera composition by the Argentinean composer Mariano Mores.
Interesting Facts
- Roxanne was played infrequently on the radio, as few of the listeners ordered a song in which they sing out of love for a representative of an ancient profession.
- In the UK, there is a game where men drink a glass of alcohol when the name Roxanne is mentioned in the song, and women respond in kind to the words “red light”.
- At the fourth second of the song, an atonal chord is heard, followed by laughter. This is Sting sitting on the piano keys during the recording.
- In an episode of the television series Friends, Phoebe begs Ross to get tickets to Sting’s concert by singing “Ross can” to the tune of the chorus.
Roxanne Lyrics by The Police
Roxanne, you don’t have to put on the red light
Those days are over
You don’t have to sell your body to the night
Roxanne, you don’t have to wear that dress tonight
Walk the streets for money
You don’t care if it’s wrong or if it’s right
chorus:
Roxanne, you don’t have to put on the red light
Roxanne, you don’t have to put on the red light
Put on the red light
Put on the red light
Put on the red light
Put on the red light
Put on the red light, oh
I loved you since I knew ya
I wouldn’t talk down to ya
I have to tell you just how I feel
I won’t share you with another boy
I know my mind is made up
So put away your make up
Told you once I won’t tell you again it’s a bad way
Chorus
Roxanne Lyrics by The Police Alternate
Roxanne, you don’t have to turn on the red light.
Those days are in the past
You don’t have to sell your body to the night
Roxanne, you don’t have to wear that dress tonight
Go out for money
You don’t care if it’s right or wrong
Chorus:
Roxanne, you don’t have to turn on the red light.
Roxanne, you don’t have to turn on the red light.
Turn on the red light, turn on the red light
Turn on the red light, turn on the red light
Turn on the red light, oh
I have always loved you
I never talked down to you
I had to explain how I feel
I don’t want to share you with another guy
I made a decision
So wash off your makeup
I already told you and I won’t repeat that it’s wrong
Chorus
