Wednesday, September 29, 2010

don't stand so close to me


anyone who knows me knows that i love the police. i used to spend a lot of time walking around school singing their songs and writing lyrics on my desk.

this song, in particular, makes for a tasty (after)school lunch special. the tale of illicit attraction between student and teacher could have been ripped from the headlines or sting's own experience as a teacher. the comparison to lolita is a fitting one; and probably led to a lot of people looking for that famous book.

the song was at the top of the charts in the united kingdom this week in 1980. it only made it to number ten in the united states. it won a grammy in 1981 for best rock performance by a duo or group with vocal.  one of two for 'zenyatta mondatta'.  

here's the original video featuring the boys goofing off in a classroom:





young teacher, the subject
of schoolgirl fantasy
she wants him so badly
knows what she wants to be
inside her there's longing
this girl's an open page
book marking - she's so close now
this girl is half his age

don't stand
don't stand so
don't stand so close to me

her friends are so jealous
you know how bad girls get
sometimes it's not so easy
to be the teachers pet
temptation, frustration
so bad it makes him cry
wet bus stop, she's waiting
his car is warm and dry


don't stand
don't stand so
don't stand so close to me

loose talk in the classroom
to hurt they try and try
strong words in the staff room
the accusations fly
it's no use, he sees her
he starts to shake and cough
just like the old man in
that book by nabakov

don't stand
don't stand so
don't stand so close to me

don't stand
don't stand so
don't stand so close to me


don't stand
don't stand so
don't stand so close to me




http://vevo.ly/gg6wmN




in 1986 the band remade the song in a more somber tone:

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