Roxanne
Gil Evans/Sting Lyrics

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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
Put on the red light, put on the red light
Put on the red light, put on the red light
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
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

You don't have to put on the red light
Put on the red light, put on the red light

Overall Meaning

The song Roxanne by Gil Evans and Sting is a poetic plea to a girl named Roxanne, who is working as a prostitute. The song starts with Sting telling Roxanne that she does not have to put on the red light anymore as those days are over. He then urges her to stop selling her body to the night and walking the streets for money. Sting tells her that she does not have to wear that dress tonight and that she should not care whether it is right or wrong.

In the second verse, Sting professes his love for Roxanne and declares that he would not talk down to her. He tells her that he knows his mind is made up and that he won't share her with another boy. Sting asks Roxanne to put away her makeup and tells her that he has already warned her that it's a bad way. The song ends with a repeated plea to Roxanne to put away the red light.

Line by Line Meaning

Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light
You no longer need to work in the sex industry

Those days are over
That era has ended

You don't have to sell your body to the night
You don't have to engage in prostitution anymore

Roxanne, you don't have to wear that dress tonight
You don't have to dress inappropriately

Walk the streets for money
Wander around in search of customers for sex

You don't care if it's wrong or if it's right
You are casual about the morality of your job

Put on the red light, put on the red light
Turn on the red light signaling sex work

I loved you since I knew ya
I've had feelings for you since we met each other

I wouldn't talk down to ya
I wouldn't belittle or disrespect you

I have to tell you just how I feel
I need to express my emotions to you

I won't share you with another boy
I will not let another man have you