As a solo musician and a member of The Police, Sting has received 17 Grammy Awards: he won Song of the Year for "Every Breath You Take", three Brit Awards, including Best British Male Artist in 1994 and Outstanding Contribution in 2002, a Golden Globe, an Emmy, and four nominations for the Academy Award for Best Original Song. In 2019, he received a BMI Award for "Every Breath You Take" becoming the most-played song in radio history. In 2002, Sting received the Ivor Novello Award for Lifetime Achievement from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors and was also inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Police in 2003. In 2000, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for recording. In 2003, Sting received a CBE from Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace for services to music. He was made a Kennedy Center Honoree at the White House in 2014 and was awarded the Polar Music Prize in 2017.
With The Police, Sting became one of the world's best-selling music artists. Solo and with the Police combined, he has sold over 100 million records. In 2006, Paste ranked him 62nd of the 100 best living songwriters. He was 63rd of VH1's 100 greatest artists of rock, and 80th of Q magazine's 100 greatest musical stars of the 20th century. He has collaborated with other musicians on songs such as "Money for Nothing" with Dire Straits, "Rise & Fall" with Craig David, "All for Love" with Bryan Adams and Rod Stewart, "You Will Be My Ain True Love" with Alison Krauss, and introduced the North African music genre raï to Western audiences through the hit song "Desert Rose" with Cheb Mami. In 2018, he released the album 44/876, a collaboration with Jamaican musician Shaggy, which won the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album in 2019.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sting_(musician)
Studio albums
The Dream of the Blue Turtles (1985)
...Nothing Like the Sun (1987)
The Soul Cages (1991)
Ten Summoner's Tales (1993)
Mercury Falling (1996)
Brand New Day (1999)
Sacred Love (2003)
Songs from the Labyrinth (2006)
If on a Winter's Night... (2009)
Symphonicities (2010)
The Last Ship (2013)
57th & 9th (2016)
44/876 (2018) (with Shaggy)
My Songs (2019)
The Bridge (2021)
Heavy Cloud No Rain
Sting Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I needed sweet rain to wash away my blues
He looked at the chart but he looked in vain
Heavy cloud but no rain
Back in the time with Louis XVI
At the court of the people he was number one
He'd be the bluest blood they'd ever seen
The royal astrologer was run out of breath
He thought that maybe the rain would postpone his death
He look in the sky but he look in vain
Heavy cloud but no rain
Well the land was cracking and the river was dry
All the crops were dying when they ought to be high
So to save his farm from the banker's draft
The farmer took out a book on some old witchcraft
He made a spell and a potion on a midsummer's night
He killed a brindled calf in the pale moonlight
He prayed to the sky but he prayed in vain
Heavy cloud but no rain
Heavy cloud but no rain
The sun won't shine 'til the clouds are gone
The clouds won't go 'til their work is done
And every morning you'll hear me pray
If only it would rain today
I asked my baby if there'd be some way
She said she'd save her love for a rainy day
I look in the sky but I look in vain
Heavy cloud but no rain
The lyrics to Sting's song Heavy Cloud No Rain are filled with symbolism and references to historical events. The starting verse is about the despair felt by the singer who is looking for some relief from his worries. However, even the weatherman could not predict the arrival of rain despite the heavy clouds in the sky. This metaphor suggests that sometimes we look for answers in the wrong places or we expect too much from external forces instead of taking charge of our own lives. The reference to Louis XVI, the deposed king of France, and his execution by the guillotine is a reminder that even the highest in society cannot escape their fate. The astrologer was also helpless and could not change the destiny of Louis XVI even though he believed that the rain could save him.
In the second verse, the lyrics touch upon the theme of drought and its effects on the farmers. The desperation of the farmer who turns to witchcraft to save his farm from the banker's draft is a reflection of the dire situation. The image of the brindled calf being sacrificed in the pale moonlight to make a potion reminds one of ancient pagan rituals. The farmer's prayer to the sky is also futile as there is no rain. The chorus emphasizes that the sun will not shine until the clouds disappear, and the clouds will not go until their job is done. The last verse about the singer asking his lover if there is a way for them to be together, but she says she would save her love for a rainy day, is a hint that things might change in the future. The last line of the song about the heavy cloud but no rain is repeated, reinforcing the message of disappointment and hopelessness.
Line by Line Meaning
Turned on the weather man just after the news
I switched on the television to check the weather forecast after the news.
I needed sweet rain to wash away my blues
I was feeling down and hoped for rain to lift my mood.
He looked at the chart but he looked in vain
The weatherman checked the weather map, but did not find any sign of rain.
Heavy cloud but no rain
Although there were dark storm clouds, there was no actual rain.
Back in the time with Louis XVI
Referring to a time in history when Louis XVI was alive.
At the court of the people he was number one
Louis XVI was the most powerful figure at the court.
He'd be the bluest blood they'd ever seen
Louis XVI was from a very high-ranking family.
When the king said hi to the guillotine
The king was sentenced to death by guillotine during the French Revolution.
The royal astrologer was run out of breath
The astrologer was exhausted, trying to find a way to delay the king's execution.
He thought that maybe the rain would postpone his death
The astrologer believed that if it were to rain, it might postpone the king's execution.
He looked in the sky but he looked in vain
The astrologer gazed up at the sky, but there was no sign of rain.
Well, the land was cracking and the river was dry
The land was parched and the river had dried up.
All the crops were dying when they ought to be high
The plants were withering when they should have been thriving.
So to save his farm from the banker's draft
The farmer wanted to save his farm from being repossessed by the bank.
The farmer took out a book on some old witchcraft
The farmer resorted to studying old magic to make it rain.
He made a spell and a potion on a midsummer's night
The farmer created a concoction and performed a ritual on a summer evening.
He prayed to the sky but he prayed in vain
The farmer pleaded with the heavens to bring rain, but nothing changed.
Heavy cloud but no rain
Even though there were dark clouds overhead, there was still no precipitation.
The sun won't shine 'til the clouds are gone
Until the clouds clear, the sun will not be visible.
The clouds won't go 'til their work is done
The clouds will not disappear until they have carried out their role in the ecosystem.
And every morning you'll hear me pray
Every day, I pray for rain.
If only it would rain today
I hope that it rains today.
I asked my baby if there'd be some way
I asked my loved one if there was anything they could do.
She said she'd save her love for a rainy day
My sweetheart told me that they would save their love for a more appropriate time.
I look in the sky but I look in vain
I keep searching the skies, but there is still no rain.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GORDON SUMNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@brendaowens2466
This is one of his best albums.
@johnlawler2455
That run after the Police on Dream of the Blue Turtles, Nothing Like the Sun, The Soul Cages, and Ten Summoner's Tales is truly remarkable in quality. Brand New Day is excellent as well.
@juansalesdura9589
I love this song.
@robinsalario4372
me too.
@timothyj1966
Such the Story Teller, but even better Musician! Have loved this guy since I as 15. Now 56 ughhh time flies!
@cheri238
Sting is one of our best and all the musicians he plays with.
Artistry legendary and I love everything he chooses to do.
Thank you! Sting!!!❤
@timothyj1966
not to mention he always tells a story with his writing
@judysolarte323
Love ❤ Love ❤ Love
@user-ni2pi7xr8k
I was with the stage hands and he played that song at Red Rocks! Sensational
@Eli-cq8jq
Heavy cloud but no rain
What good could one gain
If love was in vain
When the blues brings just pain
On high mountains they resort