Clean Heart

Clean heart Clean and sharp Clean dream Bad start He loved his brother and his sister Luke and tony called him mister They made him feel much more Like a man He loved his daddy though he never told him And he loved his mother He loved He loved her like an italian

She's saying that this man has a good heart...and his dream was a pure dream, but he started it off wrong. He got caught up in the mafia. He was high up which is why his associates call him "Mister". It also validated his sense of worth to have power. he was a REAL Italian man..the kind who respected his father but loved his mother beyond all reason

Little jane said, you look so fine So fine Something in his smile Made them feel like strangers And then he straightened his belt With a lover's touch And he said I'm gonna bring home The things that are out of your clutch

I think here she's saying that his girlfriend is telling him how goo he looks, but there is something behind his eyes that is different. he is becoming someone she doesn't know because of his activity. However, all he sees is that he is providing her with things. Pretty baubles that she or he would otherwise ever be able to afford, if it wasn't for his illicit activities.

Seemed like the hottest night in summer A heat that makes you feel like dying

Somewhere in the next block There was a baby crying Finger on the trigger for the years to come

She's saying that it was a night like any other summer night...but the repercussions of it would ring out for years

Finger on the trigger for the years to come

And as the moon slid up over the restless streets Sirens mocking and people stop to see Their greedy eyes don't realise He's someone else's son Finger on the trigger for the years to come

The man is dead. The sirens are sounding off and people are gathering around like it is the sound of a dinner bell. they are looking at him like he's another casualty of violence and not like he was a person..someone's son.

I'm pretty sure I think that's what that song means. :) Finger on the trigger for the years to come

I agree with DarqBeauty for the most part. Although the song could technically apply to any gang activity, not just the Mafia. I guess the Italian line would make that make sense, but really anyone can love their mother deeply and I think that is put there just as a way of saying that-- not to specify his ethnicity. Otherwise, I think that was a great interpretation of powerful song unlike all other Sade songs. I do think that the most important part of it is when she sings, "Their greedy eyes don't realize he someone's son". Her voice changes so beautifully on 'son', almost in anguish.

Good person/ bad company

A good person whose life took a bad turn