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How much can a massive loss affect our lives? Enormously. Life undergoes a metamorphosis that inevitably reflects in our daily gestures and attitudes, in work, in thoughts, in exposures, in silence, in solitude, nothing will be the same, nothing will have the same taste and brightness, but everything must continue as before. Even for Sting, the specter of death has entered his life, as it does in everyone's life, he suddenly loses his mother, and for this reason and for other sufferings afflicting the world, he decides to fight for himself and for the families of the Desaparecidos who have experienced the tragedy of the civil wars under Pinochet's regime.
". . . . Nothing Like The Sun" is an album composed of twelve sad and veiled tracks, there is an attempt at warmth, but pain filters through like the rays of a cold sun (and the title emphasizes this). We have the very composed and calm participation of Clapton and Knopfler's guitars, Branford Marsalis's saxophone, Manu Katche and Mino Cinelu's percussion, and Kenny Kirkland's keyboards, and for the Jazz arrangements, Gil Evans and his orchestra and Ruben Blades.
It is a crossroads between a story of human feelings and politics, between humanity and interests, between what matters most and what is presumed to be worth less than a human life. Indeed, one wonders, will it ever be possible to find a peace agreement where love's fusion can erase war and violence as a means of absolute extremity? No, right? Continuous mistakes should teach us that death comes on its own without seeking it, but evidently, it is too much to ask. This album is a bud of human fragility, an emotion born from the pain of irreparable death, the music, and the lyrics perform a ritual of pain that denies the reality of despair. In this case, Sting's music assumes its own personal dimension, no excesses of intellect, and everything converges on one single point, peace, nothing is as rare as the sun of a living heart, the eyes watch, the soul speaks, and the heart waits.
"The Lazarus Heart" very rhythmic and enchanting - "Be Still My Beating Heart" full of pathos thanks to a breathtaking sax - "Englishman in New York" the sax, double bass, and orchestral instruments dazzle bringing elegance and style to the entire track - "History Will Teach Us Nothing" instrumental beginning in search of continuous movement of expectation, refined new exploration between jazz nuances and beyond - "They Dance Alone (Cueca Solo)" extraordinary track of unparalleled beauty traditional Chilean dance, refined voice, flutes, and percussion accompany Clapton and Knopfler - "Fragile" full of memories, pain, very delicate, simple, and clear - "We'll Be Together" delves into explosive pop-soul - "Straight To My Heart" hidden alleys leading to scattered dance halls - "Rock Steady" prohibition of sentimental excess - "Sister Moon" Sting's warm voice accompanied by the inseparable sax touches the fragile heart - "Little Wing" tribute to Hendrix, played with Gil Evans & Orchestra, the most beautiful track, where the voice and melodies are as free as possible - "The Secret Marriage" the piano, the voice, the double bass, and nothing else personify an artistic work.
Sting too will have to continue living and coexist with pain, and he will want to seek a sense of peace in the often-mentioned Tuscany, where he will make his home in Ponte Agli Stolli, where the heart finds silence, where the heart finds its highest artistic expression.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
03 Englishman in New York (04:27)
I don't drink coffee, I take tea my dear
I like my toast done on one side
You can hear it in my accent when I talk
I'm an Englishman in New York
See me walking down Fifth Avenue
Walking cane here at my side
I take it everywhere I walk
I'm an Englishman in New York
(chorus + lead)
whoaa I'm an alien
I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York
whoaa I'm an alien
I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York
If "manners maketh man" as someone said
He's a hero of the day
It takes a man to suffer ignorance and smile
Be yourself no matter what they say
(Chorus + lead)
whoaa I'm an alien
I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York
whoaa I'm an alien
I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York
Modesty, propriety can lead to notoriety
You could end up as the only one
Gentleness, sobriety are rare in this society
At night a candle's brighter than the sun
(musical piece)
Takes more than combat gear to make a man
Takes more than license for a gun
Confront your enemies, avoid them when you can
A gentleman will walk but never run
If "manners maketh man" as someone said
Then he's a hero of the day
It takes a man to suffer ignorance and smile
(Chorus+Lead)
Be yourself no matter what they say
(Lead)
Be yourself no matter what they say
Be yourself no matter what they say
(Lead)
Be yourself no matter what they say
(9x)
(Chorus, mixed through above Lead)
Whoaa I'm an alien
I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York
(4x)
06 Fragile (03:56)
If blood will flow when flesh and steel are one
Drying in the colour of the evening sun
Tomorrow's rain will wash the stains away
But something in our minds will always stay
Perhaps this final act was meant
To clinch a lifetime's argument
That nothing comes from violence
and nothing ever could
For all those born beneath an angry star
Lest we forget how fragile we are
On and on the rain will fall
Like tears from a star
Like tears from a star
On and on the rain will say
How fragile we are
How fragile we are
On and on the rain will fall
Like tears from a star
Like tears from a star
On and on the rain will say
How fragile we are
How fragile we are
How fragile we are
How fragile we are
07 We'll Be Together (04:55)
I see me with you and all the things you do
Keep turning round and round in my mind
Forget the weather we should always be together
And any other thought is unkind
To have you with me I would swim the seven seas
I need you as my guide and my light
My love is a flame that burns in your name
We'll be together, we'll be together tonight
We'll be together, yeah
We'll be together, yeah
We'll be together, yeah
I see you with me and all I want to be
Is dancing here with you in my arms
Forget the weather we should always be together
I'll always be a slave to your charms
To have you with me I would swim the seven seas
I need you as my guide in my life
My love is a flame that burns in your name
We'll be together, we'll be together tonight
We'll be together, yeah
We'll be together, yeah
We'll be together, yeah
Call me baby
You can call me anything you want
Call me baby, call me, just call me
I see you with me and baby makes three
I see me with you and all the things you do
Forget the weather we should always be together
I need you as my guide and my light
My love is the flame that burns in your name
We'll be together, we'll be together tonight
09 Rock Steady (04:28)
Saw an ad in the newspaper that caught my eye
I said to my baby this sounds like a ticket for you and I
It said volunteers wanted for a very special trip
To commune with Mother Nature on a big wooden ship
We took a taxi to the river in case any places were free
There was an old guy with a beard
And every kind of creature as far as the eye could see
This old guy was the boss, he said,
"I won't tell you no lie
But there's more to this journey that is apparent to the eye"
He said he'd heard God's message on the radio
It was going to rain forever and he'd told him to go
"I'll protect you all don't worry I'll be a father to you all
I'll save two of every animal, no matter how small
But I'll need some assistants to look after the zoo
I can't see nobody better so you'll just have to do"
I said, "Just tell me something before it's too late and we're gone
I mean just how safe is this boat we'll be on?"
"It's Rock steady Rock steady
Rock steady Rock steady
Rock steady Rock steady
Rock steady Rock steady"
It rained for forty days and forty long nights
I'd never seen rain like it and it looked like our old friend
Was being proved right
We had no time to worry though there was just to much to do
Between the signified monkey and the kangaroo
We had to wash all the animals we had to feed them too
We were merely human slaves in a big floating zoo
She said, "Hey Baby I don't mean to be flip
But it seems this old man is on some power trip"
I said, "No, no sugar you must be wrong
I mean look at the size of this boat we're on.
We're as safe as houses, as safe as mother's milk
He's as cool as November and as smooth as China silk
He's God's best friend, he's got a seat on the board
And life may be tough but we're sailing with the Lord."
Rock steady Rock steady
Rock steady Rock steady
Rock steady Rock steady
Rock steady Rock steady
Woke up this morning and something had changed
Like a room in my house had just been rearranged
She said, "It's stopped raining and I know the guy's kind
But if we stay here much longer I'm gonna lose my mind."
So we said we had a mission for his favourite dove
To see if there was any mercy from this great God above
So to find dry land, away the white bird flew
We didn't need no country just a rock would do
When the dove came back to us, he threw down a twig
It was manna from heaven and meant we could blow this gig
"But the rock's too small," he said, "can't you see?"
I said, "It's just perfect for her, it's perfect for me."
Rock steady Rock steady
Rock steady Rock steady
Rock steady Rock steady
Rock steady Rock steady
Rock steady Rock steady
Rock steady Rock steady
11 Little Wing (05:11)
Well, she's walking through the clouds
with a circus mind
that's running wild
Butterflies and zebras and moonbeams
and fairy tales
That's all she ever thinks about...
Riding with the wind
When I'm sad she comes to me
with a thousand smiles
she gives to me free
It's alright, she says,
it's alright
Take anything you want from me,
anything
Fly on, little wing
12 The Secret Marriage (02:04)
No earthly church has ever blessed our union
No state has ever granted us permission
No family bond has ever made us two
No company has ever earned commission
No debt was ever paid no dowry to be granted
No treaty over border land or power
No semblance of the world outside remained
To stain the beauty of this nuptial hour
The secret marriage vow is never spoken
The secret marriage can never be broken
No flowers on the alter
No white veil in your hair
No maiden dress to alter
No Bible oath to swear
The secret marriage vow is never spoken
The secret marriage can never be broken
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