Publishers Bantam Dell will put out a coffee table book of the lyrics of Sting in October.
The book titled 'Lyrics' will feature more than 100 songs scattered from the first Police album 'Outlandos D'Amour' through to his recent solo albums.Sting has written a commentary to match each of the lyrics.
On 'Roxanne' from 'Outlandos D'Amour' (1978) he says 'I wrote 'Roxanne' in Paris in 1977... Inspired by the romance and sadness of Edmond Rostand's great play Cyrano de Bergerac and the prostitutes on the street below, 'Roxanne' came to life. I've sung this song on most of the nights of my life since then... I always manage to find something new in it and I'm still grateful.'
On 'Don't Stand So Close to Me' from 'Zenyatta Mondatta' (1980) he says 'Yes, I was a schoolteacher. No, the song is not autobiographical! ...I'm interested in obsession, and Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita is a fascinating study in dangerous obsession. I transposed this idea to a relationship between teacher and his pupil...'
Sting will hold a book signing in London at Waterstone's in Harrods on October 20 at 12 noon.
