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The Police — Darkness
Album: Ghost In The Machine
Avg rating:
6.9

Your rating:
Total ratings: 448









Released: 1981
Length: 3:02
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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I can dream up schemes when I'm sitting in my seat
I don't see any flaws 'til I get to my feet
I wish I never woke up this morning
Life was easy when it was boring

I could make a mark if it weren't so dark
I could be replaced by any bright spark
But darkness makes me fumble
For a key, to a door, that's wide open

Instead of worrying about my clothes
I could be someone that nobody knows
I wish I never woke up this morning
Life was easy when it was boring

I can dream up schemes when I'm sitting in my seat
I don't see any flaws 'til I get to my feet
I wish I never woke up this morning
Life was easy when it was boring

I wish I never woke up this morning
Life was easy when it was boring
Comments (51)add comment
I was in 7th grade when this album came out. I remember I was always staring at the cover, trying to decipher what hidden message was in those red LED graphics. It was only MANY years later that I finally realized they were representing Sting, Andy and Stewart! 
Posted 7 years ago by deepwoodskev    [ Reply ]
Really phoning it in there guys! None of the spark of early Police!
Posted 7 years ago by robus    [ Reply ]
 4merdj wrote:
Well, this is indeed dark, and maybe difficult to be found amongst their best tunes {#Sunny}

 
songs are easier when they are boring ;)
Posted 7 years ago by ziggytrix    [ Reply ]
 coyote620 wrote:
Up until now, I had never, ever, heard this song.

 
I am equally as surprised I never had either. 
Posted 7 years ago by passsion8    [ Reply ]
wow, haven't heard this one in years... they had so many great songs, beyond those on the top ten playlists.  Thanks, Bill!
Posted 7 years ago by sfearll    [ Reply ]
 4merdj wrote:
Well, this is indeed dark, and maybe difficult to be found amongst their best tunes {#Sunny}

 
Most of Stewart Copeland's songs are dark.
Posted 7 years ago by Tippster    [ Reply ]
The Police were such a breath of fresh air when they first came on the scene.
 
Posted 8 years ago by Hannio    [ Reply ]
They were young and immature? {#Undecided}
Posted 8 years ago by 4merdj    [ Reply ]
 jagdriver wrote:






Another plug for Andy Summer's memoirs (click link ->) https://www.andysummers.com/onetrainlater.php, which I'm finding to be a very interesting read. It turns out he played in The Animals and Soft Machine, jammed with Jimi, and was on the London scene when Stewart and Gordon were still in short pants. There's even a bit about him turning on another uberfamous rock guitarist to the virtues of Gibson guitars. All of this, and Andy is pretty decent writer, too (i.e., not ghostwritten).

Oh, and don't forget RP's Amazon link!

 
thank you jag driver, cheers!
Posted 8 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
 bam23 wrote:
Well. I never really liked the Police nor did I ever owns any CDs or records. Of course, it's hard to see how one could not have been heavily saturated over the years. And yet, I like this song heard for the first time. Is it possible that the ego of a certain singer became the story and the music lost out?

 
Well, the singer was the primary songwriter in the band. He may have felt that as the one behind the hits that he was "the band".
They were/are 3 very different musicians. Each one with their own unique approach.

I've never been bothered by Sting. He's not the first rockstar/actor/celebrity to get on a soapbox. I've always kept the music separate from the artist. But I can see how he annoys others. Based on interviews in the last decade, he's mellowed with age.
Posted 9 years ago by phlattop    [ Reply ]
Well, this is indeed dark, and maybe difficult to be found amongst their best tunes {#Sunny}
Posted 9 years ago by 4merdj    [ Reply ]
Love this one.
Posted 9 years ago by Hannio    [ Reply ]
 coyote620 wrote:
Up until now, I had never, ever, heard this song.

 
I'm stunned. I thought I had heard everything by them. Maybe there's a reason?
Posted 9 years ago by passsion8    [ Reply ]
Well. I never really liked the Police nor did I ever owns any CDs or records. Of course, it's hard to see how one could not have been heavily saturated over the years. And yet, I like this song heard for the first time. Is it possible that the ego of a certain singer became the story and the music lost out?
Posted 9 years ago by bam23    [ Reply ]
Geez, like so many others, I've never heard this before!  Weird...  Great song, as any 'new' Police would like certainly be.
Posted 9 years ago by RCinSoCal    [ Reply ]
Man, this whole LP got SO much rotation in my freshman year of highschool....doing homework, hanging out, whatever.
Posted 9 years ago by Alexandra    [ Reply ]
This song was on Ghost??
Where have I been?
Earcatching.
Posted 10 years ago by gjeeg    [ Reply ]
Never heard this before. I like the story and imagery but it's too downbeat for me.  Anyway, I heard the popular standard Police songs WAY TOO MUCH on FM radio when I used to listen, so now almost any Cops song is less welcome, even if it's good. My bad bias, but sending out an SOS is dead for me. But this was a 7, for what it's worth. 
Posted 11 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
"The darkness makes me fumble...for a key...to a door...that's wide open." 
Posted 11 years ago by fiddler    [ Reply ]
Up until now, I had never, ever, heard this song.
Posted 11 years ago by coyote620    [ Reply ]
Love. 

Thanks.  
Posted 11 years ago by AliGator    [ Reply ]
Amen!
Posted 11 years ago by ckcotton    [ Reply ]
Here's a great example of a song that creates a really original space and then plunks the listener right down in the middle of it. I've never been able to describe how this song makes feel, but the feeling is so unique I have to love the song for it.
Posted 12 years ago by Sasha2001    [ Reply ]
What a contrast!  The last sorry cover of the Police vs this, the real deal!
Posted 12 years ago by rpdevotee    [ Reply ]
Crikey! I´ve just commented on a Walking on the Moon version, sung by Merrie Amsterburg, and I could not resist to clarify that this song, particularly, makes me want to go to explore my The Police collection.
Posted 12 years ago by tupicetti    [ Reply ]
Hugh Padgham is a genius producer. Check out his production of "Time and Tide" by Split Enz or "Book of Dreams" song by Suzanne Vega. Brilliant.
Posted 12 years ago by ziakut    [ Reply ]
good sunday morning every one
Posted 12 years ago by coy    [ Reply ]
 daveesh wrote:
great forgotten track...
 
Really, 8
Posted 12 years ago by raga    [ Reply ]
Summer of 81, playing Ghost in the Machine to death, on Saturday night's at my pal Chris' place.
Posted 12 years ago by apd    [ Reply ]
One of my favorite Police tunes. It really captures the original blend of jazz/pop mysticism they evoked during the Hugh Pagham period.
Posted 12 years ago by Sasha2001    [ Reply ]
I like this song!  In fact, I like the whole set so far:

Fontaine - Long Way Home
The Police - Darkness
Elbow - My Very Best
Galactic - Mercamon

Thanks, Bill and Rebecca! Perfect music for my Wednesday afternoon wind-down...{#Bounce}
Posted 14 years ago by Cynaera    [ Reply ]
great forgotten track...
Posted 14 years ago by daveesh    [ Reply ]
 Kite_Flyer wrote:
I had forgotten about this song.
... and now so happy to be reminded! 
 
{#Yes}

Posted 14 years ago by von_Hayek    [ Reply ]
What a nice surprise. I don't think I have ever heard it played on RP before. I hope it gets a bit more frequent play than it has received, so far.
Posted 14 years ago by n4ku    [ Reply ]
Ah, back before Sting's massive ego took over. Now he's touring with a symphony orchestra and charging $250 a head.
Posted 14 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
I had forgotten about this song.
... and now so happy to be reminded! 
Posted 14 years ago by Kite_Flyer    [ Reply ]
One of my FAVORITE Police songs.... so awesome
Posted 14 years ago by ckcotton    [ Reply ]
Great stuff - always good to hear the less heard tracks.
Posted 14 years ago by planet_lizard    [ Reply ]
Nice track from Ghost in the Machine, a very underrated album which has held up well over the years.  I've never before heard this song played on any radio station, broadcast or internet!
Posted 14 years ago by jbunniii    [ Reply ]
Man, underexposure really works for these guys. Great song w/ NO classic rock overtones. Thanks, Bill.
Posted 15 years ago by lmic    [ Reply ]
i agree with the "pre-synchronicity" comment... a lot of their best stuff WASN'T played on the radio.


Posted 15 years ago by daveesh    [ Reply ]
I really love the old police stuff (pre-synchronicity). It's nice to hear the more obscure cuts.
Posted 15 years ago by islander    [ Reply ]
 bindi wrote:
Excellent pick!
 





Another plug for Andy Summer's memoirs (click link ->) https://www.andysummers.com/onetrainlater.php, which I'm finding to be a very interesting read. It turns out he played in The Animals and Soft Machine, jammed with Jimi, and was on the London scene when Stewart and Gordon were still in short pants. There's even a bit about him turning on another uberfamous rock guitarist to the virtues of Gibson guitars. All of this, and Andy is pretty decent writer, too (i.e., not ghostwritten).

Oh, and don't forget RP's Amazon link!
Posted 15 years ago by jagdriver    [ Reply ]
Excellent pick!
Posted 15 years ago by bindi    [ Reply ]
One of the best sleepers on the Album.

Posted 15 years ago by papaman    [ Reply ]
Great song, from their best album - Ghost in the Machine. The first album I ever bought myself. This has a great vibe to it. Love it.
Posted 15 years ago by DoctorHooey    [ Reply ]
..  love this song, haven't heard it in years. 

Posted 15 years ago by sfearll    [ Reply ]
Wow, I'd almost forgotten about this song. Thanks, Bill!
Posted 15 years ago by Leslie    [ Reply ]
I have always been very attracted to this particular Police song. Thanks for playing it!
Posted 15 years ago by siandbeth    [ Reply ]
wow—what a random...and appealing choice.
Posted 15 years ago by copymonkey    [ Reply ]