| Sting – King Of Pain Lyrics | 1 year ago |
| This song is about Sting's cheating on his wife Francis and the aftermath as he's seeking forgiveness and reconciliation. They had a great marriage (this is metaphorically the "sun") but it was marred by him cheating one time with his wife's best friend (this is the "little black spot" one day). Now that it's out and they've separated, he's seeking forgiveness for the pain that he's caused her. This is why he feels like he's the "King Of Pain". But the only one who can take that away is his wife - if she forgives him - hence "ending his reign". Several other songs reference the feelings and sequelae of his initial cheating and separation/divorce - notably Every Breath You Take, If You Love Somebody, Set Them Free, and Fortress Around Your Heart. | |
| The Police – Every Breath You Take Lyrics | 1 year ago |
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The song is about the feelings one has after separating from a spouse/partner due to cheating, hoping to possibly get back together but only with fidelity. I'm sure it was based on real-life experience of Sting, who married Francis Tomelty in 1976 and had 2 children with her (born Nov1976 and Apr1982) as he soared into fame and fortune with The Police. But he had an affair with Trudie Styler (starting in 1981) who was Francis's best friend living next door, that continued through the pregnancy and birth of the married couple's second child (1982). Apparently Sting had flings with other woman/groupies on tour, but he said much later that he "fell in love" with Trudie from the beginning. In summer 1982, Sting confessed his affair to Francis, who took it hard, and Sting felt horrible about what he had done. They separated (Francis probably hoping temporarily). Sting then was in Jamaica when he wrote this song and many of the tracks on Synchronicity (he actually brought Trudie to Jamaica with him, and he has remained a partner to Trudie since then). Official divorce came in early 1984 when it was clear Sting and Trudie would have their first child together (Sting's marriage to Trudie came eventually in 1992 - they are still happily married). As to this particular song, Sting was feeling very guilty for his betrayal and knew he screwed up Francis's life and their family. This song was borne from the various feelings he was experiencing and thinking about at the time. Although Sting writes it lyrically entirely in the first person perspective (many would assume his perspective), the lyrics make the most sense as a projection of the words/thoughts of what his wife would have been thinking about him at the time, probably with the intent to get back together in the early period after the affair was revealed. Francis would have still wanted him, but pushed him away for what he had done, and if there had been some hope of reconciliation, she would have been looking at his every move, analyzing his words, spying on him, seeing where he stays at night - hoping he would be faithful and come back. She would have the feeling that he still "belongs" to her via their marriage, and would be aching for him and begging him to "please" be faithful to his vows and return. These feelings of possession/obsession are a typical reaction to finding out about an affair - it takes time for it to really sink in and realize that the relationship may have to end because the cheater is in love with another woman. This song is about how Francis felt. Although neither Sting, Francis or Trudie ever revealed if Francis kicked Sting out or if Sting just confessed his affair and left, there likely was a period where Sting might have still given Francis hope that he could drop Trudie completely and they could reconcile and move on with their family. This song suggests this was the case, and as mentioned above, is about how Francis would have been feeling about Sting at that time. Sting wrote other songs directly related to the pain/tragedy of his affair and separation/divorce. "Fortress Around Your Heart" was likely about his trying to reconcile with Francis after the separation (at least platonically). "If you Love Somebody, Set Them Free" is another projection about how he thought it might be better for everyone if Francis could just set him free to leave and be happy with Trudie (and he admitted in an interview that it was intended to imply a converse reaction to being possessive as in Every Breath). "King of Pain" can be interpreted as how he felt given his affair caused so much pain in Francis's life (and probably others around him). "Wrapped Around Your Finger" is also a projection of Trudie's lust for the married Sting and how she gained the upper hand later (made him "wrapped around her finger" eventually, which was somewhat true at the time written, but literally came to pass with their marriage in 1992). |
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