Walking in Your Footsteps

I first learned about The Police in the early 80’s from my sister’s old boyfriend. At that point I must admit I was a total Rock and Roll ignorant snob. If music wasn’t either jazz, Joni Mitchell or old R&B, I couldn’t have cared less! But when I really started to listen, I was blown away by the lyrics, the musicianship and the melodies, not to mention Sting’s wonderful voice. I was very impressed, but still stayed with the other styles as far as my own singing and studying was concerned.

Several years later in 1997 in Japan, my ex-husband Michael and I were walking the streets one early morning. ‘The Language of Flowers’ had just been released in Japan and the Philippines, and we were there doing a concert tour for promotion. We were discussing what we should do for my next project. I wanted to record a collection of songs all written by one Artist or songwriter. Up until that point I had written several of the songs on all of my CD’s, and I wanted to try something different. Michael, being the man that loves a great challenge, blurted out ‘The Police, not the new Sting stuff, but the old Police tunes!’

Thus we started the long process of picking songs and ‘trying them on’ so to speak, and seeing which ones seemed to fit me best, which songs hit me in that special way. Then Russell got very busy and came up with these amazing arrangements, each one so unique in connecting the stories to the rhythm and the harmonies. He was able to bring the songs into a color and context that connected not only with my singing but also with our band!

Message In A Bottle

I have struggled with the disease of depression for most of my life. This story describes the struggle, the pain and the feelings of isolation that are a huge part of the disease. I appreciate that in the last verse he finally knows that he is not alone. The relief in realizing that hope is out there and that other people know exactly the way depressed people feel is very important! I have a memory I would like to share with you of a performance we gave of this song. We were on tour with Al Jarreau as his opening band in Germany. As maybe some of you know I am half German and spent my childhood in West Berlin which at the time was still surrounded by the Wall. On tour we were in Leipzig, which used to be in East Germany playing in this amazing half round old theater so that the audience nearly surrounded the stage. A huge pipe organ dominated the space, I could sense the spiritual experiences this theater held over the years. When we started to play this song I became so filled with compassion and pain for these people who had spent most of their lives living on a kind of Island, unable to leave when they wanted to and separated from loved ones and family. I remembered my childhood years spent in a similar place, only I had had an American Passport, I could have left if I had wanted to! Russell played the most touching solo. It was a moment I will never forget! Oh, the power of music!

Lyrics

Just a castaway
An island lost at sea
Another lonely day
With no one here but me
More loneliness
Than any man could bear
Rescue me before I fall into despair

I’ll send an SOS to the world
I’ll send an SOS to the world
I hope that someone gets my
I hope that someone gets my
I hope that someone gets my
Message in a bottle

A year has passed since I wrote my note
But I should have known this right from the start
Only hope can keep me together
Love can mend your life
But love can break your heart

I’ll send an SOS to the world
I’ll send an SOS to the world
I hope that someone gets my
I hope that someone gets my
I hope that someone gets my
Message in a bottle

Walked out this morning
Don’t believe what I saw
A hundred billion bottles
Washed up on the shore
Seems I’m not alone at being alone
A hundred billion castaways
Looking for a home

I’ll send an SOS to the world
I’ll send an SOS to the world
I hope that someone gets my
I hope that someone gets my
I hope that someone gets my
Message in a bottle

Wrapped Around Your Finger

Sting has such a gift with words. His lyrics have been a huge source of inspiration to me for many years. He is able to put words to feelings that most of us experience but have never been able to adequately express. This is what I believe to be the essence of the art of writing! This song touched me because it describes people coming out from underneath the thumb of someone they respect a lot and coming into their own. Maybe this song is just about growing up and being able to recognize self worth and strength! Russell made this arrangement reflect that struggle and then the ultimate victory.

Lyrics

You consider me a young apprentice
Caught between the Scylla and Charibdes,
Hypnotized by you if I should linger
Staring at the ring around your finger

I have only come here seeking knowledge,
Things they would not teach me of in college
I can see the destiny you sold
Turned into a shining band of gold

I’ll be wrapped around your finger
I’ll be wrapped around your finger

Mephistopheles is not your name
But I know what you’re up to just the same
I will listen hard to your tuition
And you will see it come to it’s fruition

I’ll be wrapped around your finger
I’ll be wrapped around your finger

Devil and the deep blue sea behind me
Vanish in the air you’ll never find me
I will turn your face to alabaster
Then you’ll find your servant is your master,

And you’ll be wrapped around my finger
I’ll be wrapped around your finger
You’ll be wrapped around my finger
I’ll be wrapped around your finger

Every Breath You Take

This song was of course a must! The way Sting brings his lyrics to life makes them so easy to sing. I tried to honor and respect his melodies which is easy to do when the melodies make sense and are so musical. At first glance this appears to be just a sweet love song about a man who just watches his lover so carefully. But it soon becomes clear that this is a very obsessed man, who does not love in the true sense, but who has crossed the fine line between love and obsession! I love the way Russell took this song to church. I have never claimed to be a gospel singer, so this was a huge stretch for me, but one that showed me a new side of myself I enjoy visiting regularly now!

Lyrics

Every breath you take
Every move you make
Every bond you break
Every step you take
I’ll be watching you

Every single day
Every word you say
Every game you play
Every night you stay
I’ll be watching you

Oh can’t you see
You belong to me
How my poor heart aches with every step you take

Every move you make
Every vow you break
Every smile you fake
Every claim you stake
I’ll be watching you

Since you’ve gone I’ve been lost without a trace
I dream at night I can only see your face
I look around but it’s you I can’t replace
I feel so cold and I long for your embrace
I keep crying baby, baby please

Every move you make
Every vow you break
Every smile you fake
Every claim you stake
I’ll be watching you

Murder By Numbers

What a clever little song! This lyric will unfortunately continue to be relevant for years to come. His use of humor in the light of such a serious context is genius. Russell’s reharmonizations and string parts give the song even more tension for me to feed off of as I blaze my way through the tune! This one is a blast to play live!

Lyrics

Once that you’ve decided on a killing
First you make a stone of your heart
And if you find
That your hands are still willing
Then you can turn a murder into art

There really isn’t any need for bloodshed
You just do it with a little more finesse
If you can slip a tablet into someone’s coffee
Then it avoids an awful lot of mess

It’s murder by numbers one two three
It’s as easy to learn as your ABC
Murder by numbers one two three
It’s as easy to learn as your ABC

Now if you have a taste for this experience
And you’re flushed
With your very first success
Then you must try a twosome or a threesome
And you’ll find your conscience
Bothers you much less

Because murder is like anything you take to
It’s a habit-forming need for more and more
You can bump off
Every member of your family
And anybody else you find a bore

Because it’s murder by numbers
One two three
It’s as easy to learn as your ABC
Murder by numbers one two three
It’s as easy to learn as your ABC

Now you can join the ranks of the illustrious
In history’s great dark hall of fame
All our greatest killers were industrious
At least the ones that we all know by name

But you can reach the top of your profession
If you become the leader of the land
For murder is the sport of the elected
And you don’t need to lift
A finger of your hand

Because it’s murder by numbers
One two three
It’s as easy to learn as your ABC
Murder by numbers one two three
It’s as easy to learn as your A B C D E

Every Little Thing She (He) Does Is Magic

Songwriters are always looking for new ways to write about love. Sting grabs me with the struggle he sets up with a man who is so in love, but so afraid to profess his feelings – the juxtaposition of extreme joy and extreme fear and frustration. Russell’s approach was to focus on the lighter side of the story which makes me feel that this man can hope to summon the courage needed to pursue his happiness! I just love singing this one!

Lyrics

Though I’ve tried before to tell her
Of the feelings I have for her in my heart
Every time that I come near her
I just lose my nerve
As I’ve done from the start

Every little thing she does is magic
Everything she do just turns me on
Even though my life before was tragic
Now I know my love for her goes on

Do I have to tell the story
Of a thousand rainy days since we first met
It’s a big enough umbrella
But it’s always me that ends up getting wet

Every little thing she does is magic
Everything she do just turns me on
Even though my life before was tragic
Now I know my love for her goes on

I resolve to call her up
A thousand times a day
And ask her if she’ll marry me
In some old fashioned way
But my silent fears have gripped me
Long before I reach the phone
Long before my tongue has tripped me
Must I always be alone?

Every little thing she does is magic
Everything she do just turns me on
Even though my life before was tragic
Now I know my love for her goes on

Every little thing she does is magic
Everything she do just turns me on
Even though my life before was tragic
Now I know my love for her goes on

Every little thing
Every little thing

Walking In Your Footsteps

The title of the album just had to be this song! Not that I am trying to copy Sting or follow in his footsteps, but I wanted to pay him homage in a way, to be very respectful of his work and to follow his integrity to the songs and stories! I also have a personal connection to this story. He talks about how wise the dinosaurs were. ‘Lord of all that you could see, just a little bit like me.’ I, too, suffer from the belief that I know better than others and, at the same time, I am less than everyone. The song reminds me to be humble in the face of every action I undertake! This song is also about how ignorant we are as a people to the wisdom inherent in the past. We have thrown so much away because of this ignorance! The funky rhythm on this arrangement is so fun to sing and really helps me to get the story across.

Lyrics

Fifty million years ago
You walked upon the planet so,
Lord of all that you could see
Just a little bit like me,

Walking in your footsteps,
Walking in your footsteps.
Walking in your footsteps,
Walking in your footsteps.

Hey Mr. Dinosaur
You really couldn’t ask for more
You’re God’s favorite creature
But you didn’t have a future,

Walking in your footsteps,
Walking in your footsteps.
Walking in your footsteps,
Walking in your footsteps.

Hey mighty Brontosaurus
Don’t you have a lesson for us
You thought your rule would always last
There were no lessons in your past
You were built three stories high
They say you would not hurt a fly
If we explode the atom bomb
Would they say that we were dumb.

Walking in your footsteps,
Walking in your footsteps.
Walking in your footsteps,
Walking in your footsteps.

They say the meek shall inherit the earth
They say the meek shall inherit the earth

Walking in your footsteps…

King Of Pain

Another one of my very favorites! Sting paints such vivid pictures with the lyric. I have such admiration for his writing! His lyrics just make sense. They sing themselves which is what a good song should provide a singer. I think one of the big problems with music today is that songs lack substance, no longer have melody and most often no harmony to speak of either. It’s no wonder singers tend to over sing! With nothing to really sink their teeth into, riffing and over singing can be the only way for singers to have a little fun and express themselves.

Lyrics

There’s a little black spot on the sun today
It’s the same old thing as yesterday
There’s a black cat caught in a high tree top
There’s a flag pole rag
And the wind won’t stop

I have stood here before in the pouring rain
With the world turning circles
Running ’round my brain
I guess I’m always hoping
That you’ll end this reign
But it’s my destiny to be the king of pain

There’s a fossil that’s trapped
In a high cliff wall
There’s a dead salmon frozen in a waterfall
There’s a blue whale beached
By a springtide’s ebb
There’s a butterfly trapped in a spider’s web

There’s a king on a throne
With his eyes torn out
There’s a blind man looking
For a shadow of doubt
There’s a rich man sleeping on a golden bed
There’s a skeleton choking
On a crust of bread

There’s a red fox torn by a huntsman’s pack
There’s a black winged gull
With a broken back
There’s a little black spot on the sun today
It’s the same old thing as yesterday

I have stood here before in the pouring rain
With the world turning circles
Running ’round my brain
I guess I’m always hoping
That you’ll end this reign
But it’s my destiny to be the king of pain

I’ll always be king of pain…

When The World Is Running Down – Interlude

I had wanted to record this song in it’s entirety but it just didn’t feel right to me. I tried and tried and finally gave in! But Michael came up with the idea of just recording a taste of the song with a really funky sound as though listeners are hearing it through a very old stereo. I love the way turned out! The message is simple; we should take action if we don’t like what’s going on around us!

Synchronicity 1

Russell’s arrangement on this tune really kicked my butt big time! I just love a good challenge and this song gave me that and more! The band is just kickin’ on this track! Sting really made me think about what this thing called synchronicity is, and Russell seems to challenge the lyrical concept with his horn parts and rhythms! Taking a little scat solo on this tune was also great fun!

Lyrics

With one breath, with one flow
You will know
Synchronicity

A sleep trance, a dream dance,
A shared romance,
Synchronicity

A connecting principle,
Linked to the invisible
Almost imperceptible
Something inexpressible.
Science insusceptible
Logic so inflexible
Causally connectable
Yet nothing is invincible

If we share this nightmare
Then we can dream
Spiritus mundi

If you act, as you think,
The missing link,
Synchronicity

We know you, they know me
Extrasensory
Synchronicity

A star fall, a phone call,
It joins all,
Synchronicity

It’s so deep, it’s so wide
Your inside
Synchronicity

Effect without a cause
Sub-atomic laws, scientific pause
Synchronicity…

Don’t Stand So Close To Me

I had a classmate in High school who was having an affair with this young handsome teacher of ours. Their relationship was supposed to be hush, hush, but of course everybody knew! During that same time period while living with my father for a short time I witnessed him having several affairs with young awe struck students who clung to his every word. He was a writer and professor of German literature at a university and was quite the charmer! He even ended up marrying two of his former students! So I have some connection to this story! Such a relationship can be a natural progression if a young impressionable student is looking for a father or mother figure and a teacher is either extremely insecure and craves to be in control or needs that injection of youth from a young lover! Russell’s treatment of this song brings out the longing such couples have for each other, the conflict, and the passion! The song just sang itself!

Lyrics

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
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 teacher’s 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
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 staffroom
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

De do do do, De da da da

The idea behind the vocal and percussion treatment on this tune is similar to going to a very fancy restaurant and getting a small taste of sherbet between courses just to cleanse the palate before moving on to the next taste bud adventure! The title is so clever because the whole tune is about the potential power of words. And yet the title is a bunch of non words! I wanted to keep the focus on the irony implied! Luis Conte and I never rehearsed the tune and as a matter of fact, this song was the very last thing we recorded at the end of the three days! I have had a connection with Luis for several years. He is so full of passion and love for music and so open to surprises! I also love singing this tune during live shows!

Lyrics

Don’t think me unkind
Words are hard to find
The only cheques I’ve left unsigned
From the banks of chaos in my mind
And when their eloquence escapes me
Their logic ties me up and rapes me

De do do do, de da da da
Is all I want to say to you
De do do do, de da da da
Their innocence will pull me through
De do do do, de da da da
Is all I want to say to you
De do do do, de da da da
They’re meaningless and all that’s true

Poets, priests and politicians
Have words to thank for their positions
Words that scream for your submission
And no one’s jamming their transmission
‘Cos when their eloquence escapes you
Their logic ties you up and rapes you

De do do do, de da da da
Is all I want to say to you
De do do do, de da da da
Their innocence will pull me through
De do do do, de da da da
Is all I want to say to you
De do do do, de da da da
They’re meaningless and all that’s true

I Burn For You

I have always had a dream of recording with live strings and this album was my first opportunity! Russell wrote a masterpiece of an arrangement on this tune. When the string players came to the studio to play on the record, I was so moved. I listened while they played, and I just drank up the sound of the strings and wood resonating in the room! It was amazing! Once again Sting writes a love song creating such beautiful images of trust and passion and the stillness, the serenity that is such a part of true love! This is what I call a big song, and usually with big songs, I tend to over sing so I can be big, too. But this time, I took the opposite approach and just sang the song!

Lyrics

Now that I have found you
In the coolth of your evening smile
The shade of your parasol
And your love flows through me
Though I drink at your pool
I burn for you
I burn for you

You and I are lovers
And nighttime falls around our bed
In peace we sleep entwined
And your love flows through me
Though an ocean soothes me head
I burn for you
I burn for you

Stars will fall from dark skies
As ancient rocks are turning
Quiet fills the room
And your love flows through me

Though I lie here so still
I burn for you
I burn for you

* All lyrics written by Sting