Don't stand so close to me
The Police (Bass) Lyrics

Young teacher, the subject
The song tells the story of a young teacher who becomes the subject of a schoolgirl's fantasy.

Of schoolgirl fantasy
The teacher becomes an object of desire in the teenage girl's imagination.

She wants him so badly
The girl is deeply attracted to the teacher and desires to have him.

Knows what she wants to be
The girl has an idea of what she wants in life and believes the teacher will fulfill it.

Inside her there's longing
The girl feels intense desire for the teacher.

This girl's an open page
The girl is young and innocent, and the teacher can easily exploit her.

Book marking, she's so close now
The girl is approaching the point where her desires for the teacher will manifest.

This girl is half his age
The teacher is much older than the girl and the situation is inappropriate.

Don't stand, don't stand so
The lyrics of the chorus warn the teacher to maintain a safe distance from the girl.

Don't stand so close to me
The teacher must avoid physical proximity with the girl so as to not arouse her feelings any further.

Her friends are so jealous
The girl's friends envy her because she has the teacher's attention.

You know how bad girls get
The song implies that adolescent girls can be impulsive and possessive when it comes to crushes.

Sometimes it's not so easy
The teacher is in a difficult position because he is responsible for the girl's well-being and education.

To be the teacher's pet
The girl is trying to attract the teacher's attention and affection, but this can also create a power dynamic that is unhealthy.

Temptation, frustration
The teacher struggles with his attraction to the girl and the risk it poses to his career and reputation.

So bad it makes him cry
The situation is emotionally distressing for the teacher.

Wet bus stop, she's waiting
The girl is vulnerable and waiting for the teacher to pick her up, a detail that adds tension to the story.

His car is warm and dry
The teacher has a car, a sign of his relative power compared to the girl who is waiting for him on a wet bus stop.

Loose talk in the classroom
The teacher's relationship with the girl is a subject of gossip among the students.

To hurt they try and try
Other students try to hurt the girl by spreading rumors or interfering with her relationship with the teacher.

Strong words in the staffroom
The situation has reached the attention of the school staff, who are probably discussing it among themselves.

The accusations fly
The teacher may be facing accusations of inappropriate behavior, which heightens the tension and potential consequences of the situation.

It's no use, he sees her
Despite his attempts to distance himself, the teacher can't help but notice and respond to the girl's attention.

He starts to shake and cough
The teacher is experiencing physical symptoms of stress and anxiety.

Just like the old man in
The song references the novel 'Lolita' by Vladimir Nabokov, which describes a similar situation of a young girl's obsession with an older man.

That book by Nabakov
The song explicitly links the story it tells to the themes of Nabokov's novel.