That Moment Police debuted on ‘Top Of The Pops’ performing ‘Roxanne’ 1979

That Moment Police debuted on ‘Top Of The Pops’ performing ‘Roxanne’ 1979 | Society Of Rock Videos

Roxanne, Roxanne

At the time of ‘Roxanne’ was released, British rock band The Police were struggling. An earlier independent label release was a flop, and as their first major label release, ‘Roxanne’ had to be successful – and it was! The hit reggae/rock fusion song about a man who falls in love with a prostitute named Roxanne became an overnight success after it jumped to #12 on the US Billboard charts.

A Happy Accident In The Studio

The intro to the song contains one of the great happy accidents in rock history. Sting sat on an open piano while tape was rolling for his vocals, and the thud and his subsequent laughter were kept in the song!

Who knew that a careless, absentminded mistake would make it into one of the best songs in rock history?

‘Roxanne’ is one of those songs that makes you want to get up and dance and if you can’t, you often find yourself dancing along in your chair.

Sting and The Police had such a great way of writing songs that were catchy without being obnoxious, and over time they’ve made their way into our collective conscious. That right there, ladies and gentlemen, is what you call a musical legacy!

+ Roxanne lyrics +

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
I 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
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)
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 (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)

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