I see faces as they pass beneath the pale lamplight
I've no choice but to follow that call
The bright lights, the people, and the moon and all
I pray everyday to be strong
For I know what I do must be wrong
Oh you'll never see my shade or hear the sound of my feet
While there's a moon over Bourbon Street
It was many years ago that I became what I am
I was trapped in this life like an innocent lamb
Now I can never show my face at noon
And you'll only see me walking by the light of the moon
The brim of my hat hides the eye of a beast
I've the face of a sinner but the hands of a priest
Oh you'll never see my shade or hear the sound of my feet
While there's a moon over Bourbon Street
She walks everyday through the streets of New Orleans
She's innocent and young, from a family of means
I have stood many times outside her window at night
To struggle with my instinct in the pale moonlight
How could I be this way when I pray to God above?
I must love what I destroy and destroy the thing I love
Oh you'll never see my shade or hear the sound of my feet
While there's a moon over Bourbon Street
Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner (born 2 October 1951), known as Sting, is an English musician, activist and actor. He was the frontman, songwriter and bassist for new wave band the Police from 1977 until their breakup in 1986. He launched a solo career in 1985 and has included elements of rock, jazz, reggae, classical, new-age, and worldbeat in his music.
As a solo musician and a member of the Police, Sting has received 17 Grammy Awards: he won Song of the Year for "Every Breath You Take", three Brit Awards, including Best British Male Artist in 1994 and Outstanding Contribution in 2002, a Golden Globe, an Emmy, and four nominations for the Academy Award for Best Original Song. In 2019, he received a BMI Award for "Every Breath You Take" becoming the most-played song in radio history. In 2002, Sting received the Ivor Novello Award for Lifetime Achievement from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors and was also inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Police in 2003. In 2000, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for recording. In 2003, Sting received a CBE from Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace for services to music. He was made a Kennedy Center Honoree at the White House in 2014 and was awarded the Polar Music Prize in 2017. In May 2023, he was made an Ivor Novello Fellow.
With the Police, Sting became one of the world's best-selling music artists. Solo and with the Police combined, he has sold over 100 million records. In 2006, Paste ranked him 62nd of the 100 best living songwriters. He was 63rd of VH1's 100 greatest artists of rock, and 80th of Q's 100 greatest musical stars of the 20th century. He has collaborated with other musicians on songs such as "Money for Nothing" with Dire Straits, "Rise & Fall" with Craig David, "All for Love" with Bryan Adams and Rod Stewart, "You Will Be My Ain True Love" with Alison Krauss, and "Desert Rose" with Cheb Mami. In 2018, he released the album 44/876, a collaboration with Jamaican musician Shaggy, which won the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album in 2019.
Check out Rick's channel anyway as he covers a lot of classic rock, some jazz, and a little classical.
I'd second this - Rick Beato is a brilliant communicator, knows a great deal about music theory, production etc. and comes across as a really nice guy.
Uploading? This is a radio station. ;-)
You do know that you can upload music for consideration to be included in the playlist?
If you want to see someone who does great videos that are simultaneously music appreciation and music theory, go check out Rick Beato on youtube. He does a great one on how Sting is uncopyable because of his unusual and sophisticated sense of melody.
Check out Rick's channel anyway as he covers a lot of classic rock, some jazz, and a little classical.
why would he choose Bourbon Street? Moon over Bourbon St? More like Dacquiri vomit mixed with off season carnival throws tossed by imbecile drunk tourists shouting "show your tits"
Oh dear, looks like Grampa's off his meds again.
why would he choose Bourbon Street? Moon over Bourbon St? More like Dacquiri vomit mixed with off season carnival throws tossed by imbecile drunk tourists shouting "show your tits"
Well, I interpret the lyrics to be spoken by a vampire, so Bourbon Street is an excellent setting. Thoughts?
Sting is a truly talented musician, but his lyrics are even better!
Think he wrote this as a nod to Anne Rice's vampire novels or the character of Lestat specifically.
If you want to see someone who does great videos that are simultaneously music appreciation and music theory, go check out Rick Beato on youtube. He does a great one on how Sting is uncopyable because of his unusual and sophisticated sense of melody.
Check out Rick's channel anyway as he covers a lot of classic rock, some jazz, and a little classical.
It is absolutely a nod to Anne Rice's "Interview with the Vampire" and Lestat, per the liner notes of the album, and this song got me reading Anne Rice, so thanks, Sting, thanks liner notes, thanks Washington County library for lending me the book and not sending the feds when I didn't return it. That book came with me from southwestern Pennsylvania to France, where I donated it to another library some 20 years later.
And I agree about Rick Beato. His video about Seal's "Kiss from a Rose" sucked me in and pulled me under.
Wouldn't that be Bill or Rebecca?
Think he wrote this as a nod to Anne Rice's vampire novels or the character of Lestat specifically.
If you want to see someone who does great videos that are simultaneously music appreciation and music theory, go check out Rick Beato on youtube. He does a great one on how Sting is uncopyable because of his unusual and sophisticated sense of melody.
Check out Rick's channel anyway as he covers a lot of classic rock, some jazz, and a little classical.
The thing about Rick Beato is that he's both a multi-instrumentalist musician and a top-tier record producer. He's an expert, and a teacher in the mold of Carl Sagan - capable of distilling complex ideas down into bits understood by the beginner or layman.
why would he choose Bourbon Street? Moon over Bourbon St? More like Dacquiri vomit mixed with off season carnival throws tossed by imbecile drunk tourists shouting "show your tits"
evergreen
It was ever that way when I was there from 1984 through 2004, but you left off the pick pockets and scammers ("Bet I can tell ya where ya got dem shoes, mista!")
Take it from a "country-boy" raised on a farm in the E US and initially of the opinion that New Orleans would be 120% horrible: it's one of the most interesting cities, definitely unique with the US. I grant you: there are some very rough, dangerous edges, but there are also areas of the city that are true gems that I really, really love.
If Bourbon Street is not your cup of ... tea
And I meant to add - this song, as others have mentioned, is a nod to Anne Rice / Interview with a Vampire, no doubt about it. Mentioning Royal St above ... in the mid-90's, closer to Esplanade Ave., that was the place to get a good look at the "Goth" kids, some of whom did their level best to look like vampires.... My wife and I were approached by one of these kids, who asked if we had any spare change for a "hungry vampire" .... we got a good laugh <chuckle>
Take it from a "country-boy" raised on a farm in the E US and initially of the opinion that New Orleans would be 120% horrible: it's one of the most interesting cities, definitely unique with the US. I grant you: there are some very rough, dangerous edges, but there are also areas of the city that are true gems that I really, really love.
If Bourbon Street is not your cup of ... tea