I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Roxanne
You don't have to put on the red light
Those days are over
You don't have to sell your body to the night
Roxanne
You don't have to wear that dress tonight
Walk the streets for money
You don't care if it's wrong or if it's right
Roxanne
You don't have to put on the red light
Roxanne
You don't have to put on the red light
(Roxanne) Put on the red light
(Roxanne) Put on the red light
(Roxanne) Put on the red light
(Roxanne) Put on the red light
(Roxanne) Put on the red light
Oh
I loved you since I knew ya
I wouldn't talk down to ya
I have to tell you just how I feel
I won't share you with another boy
I know my mind is made up
So put away your make-up
Told you once, I won't tell you again it's a bad way
Roxanne
You don't have to put on the red light
Roxanne
You don't have to put on the red light
You don't (Roxanne) have to put on the red light
(Roxanne) Put on the red light
(Roxanne) Put on the red light
(Roxanne) Put on the red light
(Roxanne) Put on the red light
(Roxanne) Put on the red light
(Roxanne) Put on the red light
(Roxanne) Put on the red light
(Roxanne) Put on the red light
(Roxanne) Put on the red light
You don't (Roxanne) have to put on the red light
(Roxanne) Put on the red light
You don't (Roxanne) have to put on the red light
(Roxanne) Put on the red light
(Roxanne) Put on the red light
You don't have to put on the red light
Those days are over
You don't have to sell your body to the night
Roxanne
You don't have to wear that dress tonight
Walk the streets for money
You don't care if it's wrong or if it's right
Roxanne
You don't have to put on the red light
Roxanne
You don't have to put on the red light
(Roxanne) Put on the red light
(Roxanne) Put on the red light
(Roxanne) Put on the red light
(Roxanne) Put on the red light
(Roxanne) Put on the red light
Oh
I loved you since I knew ya
I wouldn't talk down to ya
I have to tell you just how I feel
I won't share you with another boy
I know my mind is made up
So put away your make-up
Told you once, I won't tell you again it's a bad way
Roxanne
You don't have to put on the red light
Roxanne
You don't have to put on the red light
You don't (Roxanne) have to put on the red light
(Roxanne) Put on the red light
(Roxanne) Put on the red light
(Roxanne) Put on the red light
(Roxanne) Put on the red light
(Roxanne) Put on the red light
(Roxanne) Put on the red light
(Roxanne) Put on the red light
(Roxanne) Put on the red light
(Roxanne) Put on the red light
You don't (Roxanne) have to put on the red light
(Roxanne) Put on the red light
You don't (Roxanne) have to put on the red light
(Roxanne) Put on the red light
(Roxanne) Put on the red light
Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae
Roxanne Lyrics as written by Gordon Sumner
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
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This is probably my favourite song about prostitution. I think its cleaver how he tries to sympathise and help the prostitute. Great song
@thrashgrunge4life While you are right, this song is about prostitution? putting up a red light means another thing in English opposed to giving you the green light.<br /> <br /> She does not want to quit her job, even if she is a whore.
Alright, I know other people have said this, but it seems like some people still don't get it (not being snarky- just honest).
It's understandable that a lot of people don't get that "putting on a red light" refers to going out and being a prostitute.
The Roxanne the song refers to is a prostitute. The speaker has decided he is in love with this prostitute, and he wants her to quit. He is telling her that he could support her, so she doesn't have to put on the makeup and the dress she usually wears to sell herself. When he says, "You don't have to put on the red light," he means that she doesn't have to go out and sell herself anymore, he is going to take good care of her and respect her.
Of course, this is just my humble interpretation, but I hope I have helped some of you guys understand it.
@DaynaRix Dah
classic.
good song. it's pretty much about prostitution and how roxanne doesn't have to do it anymore. anyone ever heard of the red light district? yep..
Its actually 'a red light district' considering theres RLD's all around the world, not just one dude, why does everyone think the only one is in amsterdam or england lol wtf?
A song about a man who claims to be in love with a prostitute and decides to show his boundless love by making her quit her job and, one has to assume, become financially dependant on his income, because of his emotional issues with regards to jealousy and possessiveness. (or, maybe he's simply the kind of guy who doesn't want his womenfolk working at all...)
My original critique is a little too vague so here's another one:<br /> <br /> The person the song is sung about sounds like a complete jerk in the middle of the song - he implies she should be grateful he didn't disrespect her (wow, what a stand-up guy...) but tells her to put her stuff away and to stop working because "it's a bad way" (perhaps he's highly religious and his beliefes tell him so?) and he doesn't want to "share" her (which implies he's either very jealous and thinks she'll magically fall in love with a client - highly unlikely as this is just business for them, in the same way that that lady that sold me my car isn't really THAT interested in my personnal life - or perhaps he doesn't seem to understand that prostitutes deal in sex not love - pretend love, yes, but real love? For a woman, or anyone, to be like that you'd basically have to fall in love with people at the drop of a hat - someone like that would more likely end up in a dead-end marriage that fizzled out than at a red light district...)<br /> <br /> <br /> In summary, this song is about the types of men who think they can "save" prostitutes.... from what? their independence and financial security?
Are you for real? "Independence and financial security"? Unless they are the high paid call girls, the percentage of those who are on the streets due to drug addictions and or child abuse at the hands of a parent is staggering. It was once 80% (early 80's). Most women/girls who have any self-confidence PLUS choices, would not choose to risk death; disease; being beaten and robbed; pregnancy; etc. Most women/girls do not dream of having some stranger's penis in their mouths or stuck up their backsides for $10 so they can get high after he leaves. Geesh!
Yes, it is "I loved you since I knew you." Damn, some people aren't aware of obvious things; I'm only 14 and I knew what "putting on the red light" meant. Great song.
The red light could mean two things in my opinion: I agree that it definately has something to do with prostitution and a "red light district" but it could also mean the red on traffic lights. In other words, a metaphor telling her to stop: "Put on a red light".
This song is about a man who falls in love with a prostitute and is trying to convince her to stop selling her body.
Why would he say 'you don't have to stop'? considering he actually says 'you don't have to put on a red light' & you think red light is a metaphore for stop? pretty sure you are as wrong as you could get if you actually think its the opposite to what he's saying lol.
@unplannedautopsy No, that's what what he was saying at all. He was saying pointing out how red light can have a double meaning. Through the verses he says 'you don't have to put on the red light', referencing prostitution. But through the chorus, Sting sings 'put on the red light' over and over. This can just be a shortened form of the same phrase, cutting out the 'you don't have to', but there's a possibility it has a double meaning, and in the chorus by saying 'put on the red light' he is telling her to stop what's she's doing, like a car stops for a red light.
The remake by Fall Out Boy is useless!, no one can improve on a Sting song...
Roxanne is obviously about prostitution, and how sting cant stand having his true love share other men as her job..
great song though :)
Its about a whore... plain and simple.
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.