| The Police – Roxanne Lyrics | 12 years ago |
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Several people seem confused by what "put on the red light" means, here's a little history that should help clear it up: Prostitution often being illegal, "whorehouses" or "houses of ill repute" couldn't openly advertize what they were, So the "code" that developed was that they would replace their regular front light with a red tinted one, Thus men interested in that kind of entertainment could just look for a red light on a front porch. Neighborhoods with a bunch of these houses became known as "Red light districts" So when he says "you don't have to put on the red light" it is not just meant figuratively, That she doesn't have to prostitute herself any more, but also literally, That she doesn't have to put on the red light that advertizes her as a prostitute. |
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| The Police – Roxanne Lyrics | 12 years ago |
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"put on" makes perfect sense. Prostitution being illegal, "houses of ill repute" couldn't actually advertize what they were, So the "code" that developed was that they would replace their regular front light with a red tinted one, Thus men interested in that kind of entertainment could just look for a red light on a front porch. Neighborhoods with a bunch of these houses became known as "Red light districts" So when he says "you don't have to put on the red light" it is not just meant figuratively, That she doesn't have to prostitute herself any more, but also literally, That she doesn't have to put on the red light that advertizes her as a prostitute. By the way the term "Red light district" is not just a British phrase, it is just as common in America too, and I imagine in any English speaking country. |
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