Interpretation:

Darryl: This classic song demonstrates one more of the dangers of prostitution. If you're going to be a successful prostitute, you better learn how to deal with obsessive psychopaths. And Sting definitely fits the description. Lines like, "I know my mind is made up" and, "Told you once I won't tell you again" are pretty good indicators that Roxanne better deal with him, and fast!

Jerry: Darryl you are, once again, an idiot. Though you do have a small point. Sting usually goes towards the stalking type role as in one of his other songs Every Breath You Take. You, however, are still an idiot. This song is obviously a twisted version of the 'Pretty Woman' type story. Roxanne is, as you said, a prostitute. No denying that. Anyone that can't see that is just stupid or absolutely ignorant of the ways of the world. The singer, however, is not an obsessed fan but a pimp that has spent the years sampling his own goods and finally deciding which one he wants to keep to himself. You wouldn't buy a car without test driving it a few times would you? That, my friend, is what this song is about.

Darryl: Well, you would know better than me, but would you really expect a pimp to tell a hooker that "It's a bad way"? Or, for that matter, I can't imagine a pimp saying, "I wouldn't talk down to you," unless he was actively trying to bed her. No, Sting is trying to convince her that he's NOT a pimp. That he's a better man than that. He sees himself as her night in shining armor.

Jerry: Wow, maybe you are one of the aforementioned ignorant people. First of all, do you think a pimp thinks he is doing a good deed? No. He knows what he does is morally wrong. He's simply telling her that, "Hey bizatch, you be bringin' in the bling bling and you gots mad skillz. Wit dat being said, I want you to myself so stop being a filthy whore!" In case you don't follow the slang I shall translate, "Hello my subservient woman, you have made me quite a bit of money and I have to admit that you can do things with your body that would arouse a corpse. With that being said, I want a monogamous relationship with you so you can, and should, stop being a filthy whore."

Darryl: From my knowledge of pimp psychology, gleaned from years of watching Starsky and Hutch, I seriously doubt a pimp would want to engage in any sort of monogamous relationship. A crazed madman with an unhealthy infatuation of a street tramp, however, could easily envision a monogamous home life with the woman of his dreams. He's upset with the fact that she doesn't, "care if it's wrong or if it's right." Your pimp, on the other hand, wouldn't be likely to care what she thought.

Jerry: Good lord almighty, I'm talking Havarti and your are talking Cheddar. There are plenty of reasons a Pimp would have a change of heart. If you learned your pimp-lore from Starsky and Hutch then you will know the three top most common reasons a pimp would change his tune are a near-death experience, a wild drug trip in which he thinks he found Jesus and finding Jesus. I see no reason to think this song is being sung from a stalker point of view. If a pimp, however, was trying to turn his life around with a woman he knows well I would guess he would be upset if she doesn't "care if it's wrong or if it's right."

Darryl: You know, sometimes the cheese you're eating is just plain old Cheddar. As I said earlier, you know more about pimps and filthy whores than I could ever hope to aspire to, assuming I aspired to that sort of thing. For that matter, you know more than I do about crazed, obsessive, psychopathic, infatuated, madmen as well. Regardless, I'm sticking to my interpretation.

Jerry - Summary: Well, touche. When you are right you are right even if your interpretation is wrong. Speaking of my pimp-lore, I need to get back to my biznatches and make them bring in some more bling bling. Peace out D.

Sting & The Police - Roxanne


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

I loved you since I knew you
I wouldn't talk down to you
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