This song absolutely kills, and it's slightly distracting for one to visit this page to share in the magic of this track and suddenly be sidetracked by several of the head-scratching comments above. I suggest ignoring the hunger diatribes and focusing on the fking music.
Most of us already know the backstory of when and why Sting wrote it (inspired while touring in the States after viewing starving West African children on the motel telly).
One may claim it's a bit contrived and soppy, but I'd argue a contrary view - he was young. and shedding tears to starving African children (in all likelihood he was all fcked up, late-night, and he was strung out after having just finished their 12th show in 13 days), is more than forgivable, if not heroic.
Back to the music: Straight ahead beat & bass, that shiny Andy Summers guitar in perfect reggae rhythm and one of his truly all-time great solos.
And the transition from Driven to Tears into "When the World is Running Down, You Make the Best of What's Still Around" is one of the greatest in recorded music.
This song absolutely kills, and it's slightly distracting for one to visit this page to share in the magic of this track and suddenly be sidetracked by several of the head-scratching comments above. I suggest ignoring the hunger diatribes and focusing on the fking music.
Most of us already know the backstory of when and why Sting wrote it (inspired while touring in the States after viewing starving West African children on the motel telly).
One may claim it's a bit contrived and soppy, but I'd argue a contrary view - he was young. and shedding tears to starving African children (in all likelihood he was all fcked up, late-night, and he was strung out after having just finished their 12th show in 13 days), is more than forgivable, if not heroic.
Back to the music: Straight ahead beat & bass, that shiny Andy Summers guitar in perfect reggae rhythm and one of his truly all-time great solos.
And the transition from Driven to Tears into "When the World is Running Down, You Make the Best of What's Still Around" is one of the greatest in recorded music.