Roxanne

The Police

A tense fusion of reggae and rock that paints a desperate, impassioned plea to a woman in the red-light district.

Song Information

Release Date November 2, 1978
Duration 03:11
Album Outlandos D'Amour (Remastered 2003)
Language EN
Popularity 82/100

Song Meaning

"Roxanne" tells the story of a man who falls in love with a prostitute and implores her to leave that life behind. The lyrics convey a mixture of love, desperation, and protectiveness. The narrator is not judgmental of Roxanne's profession but is tormented by the thought of her selling her body. The central theme is a plea for redemption, not just for Roxanne, but for the narrator's own peace of mind, as he cannot bear to "share" her with others. The repeated phrase "You don't have to put on the red light" is a direct reference to the red lights used to signify brothels, and it serves as the song's emotional and thematic core. It explores the complexities of a love that defies social norms and the internal conflict of a man who wants to 'save' the woman he loves from a life he views as self-destructive.

Lyrics Analysis

The narrative unfolds from the perspective of a man who has fallen deeply in love with a woman named Roxanne. He directly addresses her, his words a desperate and impassioned plea for her to abandon her profession as a prostitute. He insists that she no longer needs to "put on the red light" or "sell her body to the night." This refrain underscores his central message: her days of walking the streets for money are over in his eyes. He doesn't judge her past, stating he doesn't care if what she does is considered right or wrong; his feelings for her transcend societal judgments.

His love for her is presented as genuine and profound, having existed since he first knew her. He speaks to her with respect, promising he "wouldn't talk down to ya," and feels compelled to express the depth of his emotions. A strong sense of possessiveness and a desire for a monogamous relationship emerge as he declares, "I won't share you with another boy." He is resolute, stating his mind is made up, and urges her to put away her makeup, a symbol of the persona she adopts for her work. He frames her profession as a "bad way" and reiterates his plea, his voice escalating with emotion. The repetition of her name, "Roxanne," becomes a desperate cry, a mantra of his love, hope, and anguish. The song leaves his plea unanswered, fading out on his repeated, frantic calls for her to stop putting on the red light, leaving the listener in a state of unresolved tension, mirroring the narrator's own emotional turmoil.

History of Creation

Sting, the band's frontman, wrote "Roxanne" in October 1977. The inspiration came when The Police were staying in a seedy hotel in Paris to perform at the Nashville Club. From his hotel, Sting observed prostitutes in the nearby red-light district, which fascinated him as he had never been exposed to it before. He began to imagine being in love with one of these women. The song's title was inspired by a poster of the play Cyrano de Bergerac hanging in the hotel foyer; Roxanne is the name of the object of the main character's unrequited love. Sting initially conceived the song as a bossa nova, but drummer Stewart Copeland suggested changing the rhythm to a tango, which ultimately defined the song's unique feel. An iconic part of the recording is the atonal piano chord and Sting's subsequent laughter at the very beginning. This was an accident; a tired Sting inadvertently sat on a piano keyboard in the studio, and the band decided to keep the candid moment in the final mix. The band was initially hesitant about the song, feeling it was out of place with the furious punk scene of the time. However, Stewart's brother and their soon-to-be manager, Miles Copeland III, was immediately enthusiastic, recognizing its hit potential and securing them a record deal with A&M Records on the strength of the track.

Symbolism and Metaphors

The most prominent symbol in "Roxanne" is the "red light." This has a literal meaning, referring to the red lights historically used to signify houses of prostitution in red-light districts. It visually represents Roxanne's profession and the world the narrator wants her to leave. Metaphorically, the red light symbolizes danger, a transactional life devoid of genuine love, and the societal barriers that separate the narrator and Roxanne. His plea to "put on the red light" is a plea for her to extinguish this part of her life. Another symbolic element is the act of putting away her "make up." This symbolizes shedding a false persona, the mask she wears for her clients, and revealing her true self to the narrator, who loves her for who she is, not the role she plays.

Emotional Background

The emotional landscape of "Roxanne" is a tumultuous mix of longing, love, desperation, and anguish. The verses, with their softer dynamics and reggae feel, convey a sense of intimate, tender pleading. However, this gentleness is fraught with underlying tension. This tension explodes in the chorus, where the shift to a driving rock beat and Sting's high-pitched, strained vocals unleash the narrator's raw frustration and impassioned pain. There is a sense of helplessness and obsession in his repeated cries of her name. The song creates a powerful emotional arc, starting with a seemingly calm appeal and building to a climax of desperate, almost angry yearning. The final fade-out, with the frantic, repeated pleas, leaves the listener with a feeling of unresolved conflict and lingering sadness for the narrator's unrequited and tormented love.

Cultural Influence

Despite its iconic status, "Roxanne" was not an immediate hit. Upon its initial release in 1978, it failed to chart in the UK, partly because the BBC refused to playlist the song due to its controversial subject matter of prostitution. The band even tried to leverage this by advertising it as "Banned by the BBC." The song's fortunes changed when it was released in North America in early 1979, gaining airplay on radio stations, notably in Texas and Boston, and climbing to number 32 on the Billboard Hot 100. This success prompted a UK re-release in April 1979, where it peaked at number 12, becoming The Police's breakthrough hit. "Roxanne" is now considered The Police's signature song, a staple of their live shows, and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2008. Its distinctive fusion of rock and reggae was highly influential, paving the way for other bands to experiment with similar genre blends. The song has been widely featured in popular culture, most famously in the 2001 film Moulin Rouge! in a dramatic tango sequence, and has been covered by numerous artists, including George Michael.

Rhyme and Rhythm

The song's rhythmic structure is one of its most defining features, creating a stark contrast between sections. The verses employ a rhythm inspired by bossa nova and tango, driven by Stewart Copeland's distinctive drumming and Andy Summers' off-beat guitar chords, giving it a reggae-like feel. This creates a spacious, almost hesitant groove. In stark contrast, the chorus explodes into a driving, straight-ahead rock rhythm, with the kick on the first and third beats and the snare on the second and fourth, reflecting the surge of the narrator's frustration and passion. The lyrical rhyme scheme is relatively simple, often using couplets (AABB), such as "night" and "right," which makes the lyrics direct and memorable. The repetition of the name "Roxanne" and the title phrase acts as a rhythmic and lyrical hook, anchoring the song's structure and emphasizing the narrator's obsession.

Stylistic Techniques

"Roxanne" is renowned for its innovative fusion of genres, blending a sparse, reggae-influenced rhythm in the verses with a more explosive, straightforward rock chorus. This stylistic shift mirrors the narrator's emotional journey from a gentle, pleading verse to an anguished, desperate chorus. Sting's vocal performance is a key stylistic element; his delivery is in a high, strained register, conveying a profound sense of urgency and emotional turmoil. Andy Summers' guitar work is characterized by a clean, jangly, and syncopated reggae-style chording, avoiding the heavy distortion common in rock at the time. The arrangement is minimalistic, particularly in the verses, creating a sense of space and intimacy that highlights the vulnerability in the lyrics. The song is written in the key of G minor, which adds to its moody and emotionally charged atmosphere. The use of a second-person narrative ("You don't have to...") creates a direct, intimate, and conversational tone, as if the listener is eavesdropping on a deeply personal plea.

Emotions

longing love sadness tension bittersweet

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the story behind The Police's song 'Roxanne'?

Sting was inspired to write 'Roxanne' in October 1977 after seeing prostitutes in the red-light district near the band's cheap hotel in Paris. The name 'Roxanne' was taken from a poster for the play 'Cyrano de Bergerac' that was hanging in the hotel.

What does 'put on the red light' mean in the song Roxanne?

The phrase 'put on the red light' is a direct reference to the practice of using red lights to advertise brothels in a red-light district. In the song, it's a metaphor for engaging in prostitution, which the narrator pleads with Roxanne to stop.

Was 'Roxanne' banned by the BBC?

While the band advertised the single as 'Banned by the BBC,' the network simply chose not to add it to their playlist due to the controversial theme of prostitution. Sting later lamented that the song was not smutty, but a real song with a heartfelt lyric.

What is the piano sound at the beginning of 'Roxanne'?

The atonal piano chord and laughter at the start of the song were an accident. During the recording session, a tired Sting unintentionally sat on the studio piano's keyboard, thinking the lid was closed. The band loved the spontaneous sound and decided to keep it on the track.

When was 'Roxanne' by The Police released and did it do well?

The single was first released on April 7, 1978. It initially failed to chart in the UK but became a hit in North America in 1979. It was then re-released in the UK, where it reached number 12, becoming the band's major breakthrough.

What musical genres are blended in 'Roxanne'?

The song is famous for its unique blend of musical styles. The verses have a sparse, syncopated feel influenced by bossa nova and reggae, while the chorus erupts into a more traditional, driving rock format.

Who has famously covered the song 'Roxanne'?

Many artists have covered 'Roxanne.' One of the most famous versions is by George Michael, who released it on his 1999 album 'Songs from the Last Century.' A dramatic tango version titled 'El Tango de Roxanne' was also a centerpiece of the 2001 film 'Moulin Rouge!'.

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