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

Your rating:
Total ratings: 437









Released: 1981
Length: 3:03
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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! 
Really phoning it in there guys! None of the spark of early Police!
 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 ;)
 coyote620 wrote:
Up until now, I had never, ever, heard this song.

 
I am equally as surprised I never had either. 
wow, haven't heard this one in years... they had so many great songs, beyond those on the top ten playlists.  Thanks, Bill!
 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.
The Police were such a breath of fresh air when they first came on the scene.
 
They were young and immature? {#Undecided}
 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!
 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.
Well, this is indeed dark, and maybe difficult to be found amongst their best tunes {#Sunny}
Love this one.
 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?
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?
Geez, like so many others, I've never heard this before!  Weird...  Great song, as any 'new' Police would like certainly be.
Man, this whole LP got SO much rotation in my freshman year of highschool....doing homework, hanging out, whatever.
This song was on Ghost??
Where have I been?
Earcatching.
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. 
"The darkness makes me fumble...for a key...to a door...that's wide open." 
Up until now, I had never, ever, heard this song.
Love. 

Thanks.  
Amen!
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.
What a contrast!  The last sorry cover of the Police vs this, the real deal!
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.
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.
good sunday morning every one
 daveesh wrote:
great forgotten track...
 
Really, 8
Summer of 81, playing Ghost in the Machine to death, on Saturday night's at my pal Chris' place.
One of my favorite Police tunes. It really captures the original blend of jazz/pop mysticism they evoked during the Hugh Pagham period.
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}
great forgotten track...
 Kite_Flyer wrote:
I had forgotten about this song.
... and now so happy to be reminded! 
 
{#Yes}

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.
Ah, back before Sting's massive ego took over. Now he's touring with a symphony orchestra and charging $250 a head.
I had forgotten about this song.
... and now so happy to be reminded! 
One of my FAVORITE Police songs.... so awesome
Great stuff - always good to hear the less heard tracks.
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!
Man, underexposure really works for these guys. Great song w/ NO classic rock overtones. Thanks, Bill.
i agree with the "pre-synchronicity" comment... a lot of their best stuff WASN'T played on the radio.


I really love the old police stuff (pre-synchronicity). It's nice to hear the more obscure cuts.
 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!
Excellent pick!
One of the best sleepers on the Album.

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.
..  love this song, haven't heard it in years. 

Wow, I'd almost forgotten about this song. Thanks, Bill!
I have always been very attracted to this particular Police song. Thanks for playing it!
wow—what a random...and appealing choice.