“Roxanne” is one of The Police’s most iconic songs — written by Sting and released in 1978 as part of their debut album Outlandos d’Amour.

Here’s a breakdown of the song:

• Artist: The Police
• Album: Outlandos d’Amour (1978)
• Genre: New wave, rock, reggae rock
• Writer: Sting
• Producer: The Police

Background:

Sting wrote “Roxanne” after the band stayed near a red-light district in Paris while on tour. He was inspired by seeing prostitutes on the street and imagining what it would be like to fall in love with one of them. The name “Roxanne” came from a poster for the play Cyrano de Bergerac that hung in their hotel room.

Lyrical meaning:

The lyrics are sung from the perspective of a man pleading with a woman named Roxanne to stop selling herself — he’s in love with her and wants her to see her own worth beyond that life. Despite the subject matter, it’s not judgmental; it’s tender and emotional.

Musical style:

The song blends rock, reggae, and pop, which became a signature sound for The Police. It features:

• Sting’s distinctive vocal phrasing and bass line
• Andy Summers’ clean, syncopated guitar work
• Stewart Copeland’s tight drumming and subtle percussive accents

Fun facts:

• The famous “laugh” and piano chord at the start of the track came from Sting accidentally sitting on a piano before a take — they kept it in.
• Initially, A&M Records thought the song was too controversial for radio because of its subject, but it later became a major hit.
• It was re-released in 1979 and reached #12 in the UK and #32 in the US, eventually becoming one of the band’s signature songs.