Fragile
Sting & The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra Lyrics


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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

Overall Meaning

In "Fragile", Sting reflects on the fragility of life and the destructive power of violence. The lyrics draw a contrast between flesh and steel, the natural and the man-made, and suggest that these opposing forces are often at odds with each other. The image of blood flowing brings to mind the violence and brutality that we inflict on each other, and the idea that it can never truly be washed away is a haunting one. The rain that falls like tears from a star is both a metaphor for our vulnerability and a symbol of hope, reminding us that we are all connected and that every life is precious. Sting seems to be suggesting that we need to recognize our own fragility and treat each other with compassion and understanding if we are to build a better world.


Line by Line Meaning

If blood will flow when flesh and steel are one
When humans and their weapons unite, blood will be spilled


Drying in the colour of the evening sun
The dried up blood takes on the colour of the setting sun, which signals the end of life and brings the fragility of humans into focus


Tomorrow's rain will wash the stains away
The rain that falls the next day will wash away the blood stains but the memory of violence will remain in our minds


But something in our minds will always stay
The trauma of violence will linger in our psyche forever


Perhaps this final act was meant
Maybe this violent event is a test or a challenge that we need to learn from


To clinch a lifetime's argument
To settle a long-standing debate permanently


That nothing comes from violence and nothing ever could
No good can come from violence, and it never will


For all those born beneath an angry star
We are all born into a world with struggles and difficulties beyond our control


Lest we forget how fragile we are
We must remember our mortality and our vulnerability to harm


On and on the rain will fall
The repetitive sound of the rain reflects the ongoing reminder of our fragility


Like tears from a star like tears from a star
The raindrops falling resemble tears from the heavens, referencing how the universe feels our pain


How fragile we are how fragile we are
This line is a repetition for emphasis, highlighting our vulnerability as humans




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GORDON SUMNER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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