Tea in the Sahara

Sting

About Tea in the Sahara

"Tea in the Sahara" is a song by the British new wave band the Police. Written by Sting, the song appeared on the band's final album, Synchronicity. It was written about the Paul Bowles novel The Sheltering Sky. A live version of "Tea in the Sahara" appeared as the B-side to "King of Pain" in Britain and "Wrapped Around Your Finger" in America.


Year:
1986
50 

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My sisters and I
Have this wish before we die
And it may sound strange
As if our minds are deranged
Please don't ask us why
Beneath the sheltering sky
We have this strange obsession
You have the means in your possession

We want our tea in the Sahara with you
We want our tea in the Sahara with you

The young man agreed
He would satisfy their need
So they danced for his pleasure
With a joy you could not measure
They would wait for him here
The same place every year
Beneath the sheltering sky
Across the desert he would fly

Tea in the Sahara with you
Tea in the Sahara with you

The sky turned to black
Would he ever come back?
They would climb a high dune
They would pray to the moon
But he'd never return
So the sisters would burn
As their eyes searched the land
With their cups full of sand

Tea in the Sahara with you
Tea in the Sahara with you
Tea in the Sahara with you
Tea in the Sahara with you

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Sting

Gordon Matthew Thomas SumnerCBE (born 2 October 1951), known by his stage name Sting, is an English musician, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, activist, actor and philanthropist. Prior to starting his solo career, he was the principal songwriter, lead singer and bassist for the rock band The Police. more »

20 fans

Written by: Gordon Sumner

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


11 facts about this song

Song Origin
"Tea in the Sahara" is a track by the British rock band The Police, from their fifth and final studio album, "Synchronicity", which was released in 1983.
Song Inspiration
The song was inspired by Paul Bowles' book "The Sheltering Sky". Sting, the lead vocalist, was moved by a story in the novel about three sisters who wait for a prince to join them for tea in the Sahara desert but he never comes.
Track Placement
"Tea in the Sahara" is the tenth track on the "Synchronicity" album, positioned right after their huge hit, "Every Breath You Take".
Song Duration
The length of the studio version of the song is close to 4 minutes and 19 seconds.
Genre
The song is often classified as a combination of New Wave and Post-punk.
Song Writing and Composition
Sting, the lead vocalist and bassist for The Police, wrote "Tea in the Sahara". The track's distinctive soundscape was sculpted by the band’s guitarist, Andy Summers, while the percussion rhythm was provided by drummer Stewart Copeland.
Album Success
The album "Synchronicity" topped both the UK Albums Chart and the U.S. Billboard 200, and was also recognized with three Grammy awards.
Live Performances
Despite not being one of the main singles on the album, "Tea in the Sahara" was regularly performed live by The Police and featured an extended, improvised intro.
Cover Versions
The song has been covered by several artists over the years, including Sarah McLachlan, who included an acoustic rendition of the song on her 2001 album "Rarities, B-Sides and Other Stuff Volume 2".
Lyrics Interpretation
The song's lyrics represent the theme of futile waiting and unfulfilled dreams. The Sahara desert metaphorically signifies a barren wasteland of disappointment and unfulfilled desires. The "tea", in contrast, stands for the unattainable dreams and aspirations.
Not a Single
Unlike other songs in the album like "Every Breath You Take", "King of Pain", and "Wrapped Around Your Finger", "Tea in the Sahara" was not released as a single.

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