Moon Over Bourbon Street
Sting Lyrics


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There's a moon over bourbon street tonight
I see faces as they pass beneath the pale lamplight
I've no choice but to follow that call
The bright lights the people and the moon and all
I pray everyday to be strong
For I know what I do must be wrong
Oh you'll never see my shade or hear the sound of my feet
While there's a moon over bourbon street

It was many years ago that I became what I am
I was trapped in this life like an innocent lamb
Now I can never show my face at noon
And you'll only see me walking by the light of the moon
The brim of my hat hides the eye of a beast
I've the face of a sinner but the hands of a priest
Oh you'll never see my shade or hear the sound of my feet
While there's a moon over bourbon street

She walks everyday through the streets of New Orleans
She's innocent and young from a family of means
I have stood many times outside her window at night
To struggle with my instinct in the pale moonlight
How could I be this way when I pray to god above
I must love what I destroy and destroy the thing I love




Oh you'll never see my shade or hear the sound of my feet
While there's a moon over bourbon street

Overall Meaning

The song “Moon Over Bourbon Street” by Sting tells the story of a vampire who roams the streets of New Orleans at night. The singer observes the people passing beneath the lamplight but is torn between his desire for blood and his desire to be a better person. The moon appears to have a pull over him, as he feels compelled to follow its call. He prays every day for strength to resist his urges, acknowledging that what he does is wrong but feeling helpless to stop himself. The singer’s loneliness is tangible, as he knows he can never reveal himself to the light of day and can only be seen at night.


The story takes a turn when the singer becomes obsessed with a young woman from a wealthy family whom he watches outside her window at night. He struggles with his conflicting desires, knowing that he must destroy the very thing he loves. He questions his own morality and begs for forgiveness, showing the human side of his character.


Line by Line Meaning

There's a moon over bourbon street tonight
The moon's presence over the Bourbon Street tonight


I see faces as they pass beneath the pale lamplight
Observation of people walking across the street under the pale lamplight


I've no choice but to follow that call
Compelled to follow the sound that directs towards Bourbon Street


The bright lights the people and the moon and all
The combination of bright street lights, people, and moon together


I pray everyday to be strong
Daily prayers to summon the strength required for the situation


For I know what I do must be wrong
Awareness of the wrongness of the current situation


Oh you'll never see my shade or hear the sound of my feet
The character's unobservable presence during nighttime


While there's a moon over bourbon street
Condition for the character's actions


It was many years ago that I became what I am
The character's history of how they became what they are now


I was trapped in this life like an innocent lamb
The character's perception of their life's entrapment


Now I can never show my face at noon
The character's suspicious identity at daylight


And you'll only see me walking by the light of the moon
The character's preference for moonlit ambulation


The brim of my hat hides the eye of a beast
The character's true nature is concealed behind their hat's brim


I've the face of a sinner but the hands of a priest
Contradiction in the character's physical appearance


She walks everyday through the streets of New Orleans
Introduction of an innocent girl walking through the city daily


She's innocent and young from a family of means
Details about the girl's wholesome and wealthy background


I have stood many times outside her window at night
The character's attempts to watch the girl without being noticed


To struggle with my instinct in the pale moonlight
The character's constant battle with their urge in the moonlight


How could I be this way when I pray to god above
Pondering on faith and hypocrisy


I must love what I destroy and destroy the thing I love
The character's self-revelation of their destructive nature towards what they cherish


Oh you'll never see my shade or hear the sound of my feet
The character's presence remaining concealed


While there's a moon over bourbon street
The conditional environment where the character's actions take place




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GORDON SUMNER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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