Weekend Song – Sting

Here’s a great pop song, and it ticks a lot of my happy boxes. Mandolin, saxophones, bittersweet lyrics. Sad shire horses in the sodium light.

I often wonder what would have happened if my family had stayed in Liverpool. I guess I like thinking about the connections we don’t know.

I’m a complex and flawed individual, and like songs that are sad but sound happy. Many Rivers To Cross by Jimmy Cliff is one, same with Northern Sky by Nick Drake.

I make no bones about liking Sting. He has written some great solo songs for his solo catalogue. Fortress Around Your Heart, I Hung My Head, Fields Of Gold.

He has also worked with some great musicians, including Larry Adler, who I once had the pleasure of meeting. This one has Vinnie Colaiuta on drums, who is an incredible pop drummer. Get something soft and fluffy under your jaw and check him out on Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation album – he does more things with cymbals than most people do with their lives.

I can’t listen to this song without at least miming the words “I looked out across” at the beginning. And the bass in the chorus is lovely. I like how all the choruses are different lengths. It’s just a great song.

Everyone? Y’all ready? Watch me, now… On me… Key change!

Teachers told us the Romans built this place.
They built a wall and a temple and an edge of the empire garrison town.
They lived and they died, they prayed to their gods but the stone gods did not make a sound.
And their empire crumbled ’til all that was left were the stones the workmen found.

Listen – All This Time