Released: June 1, 1985
Songwriter: Sting
Producer: Sting Pete Smith
[Verse 1]
There's a moon over Bourbon Street tonight
I see faces as they pass beneath the pale lamplight
I've no choice but to follow that call
The bright lights, the people, and the moon and all
I pray everyday to be strong
For I know what I do must be wrong
[Chorus]
Oh you'll never see my shade or hear the sound of my feet
While there's a moon over Bourbon Street
[Verse 2]
It was many years ago that I became what I am
I was trapped in this life like an innocent lamb
Now I can never show my face at noon
And you'll only see me walking by the light of the moon
The brim of my hat hides the eye of a beast
I've the face of a sinner but the hands of a priest
[Chorus]
Oh you'll never see my shade or hear the sound of my feet
While there's a moon over Bourbon Street
[Verse 3]
She walks everyday through the streets of New Orleans
She's innocent and young from a family of means
I have stood many times outside her window at night
To struggle with my instinct in the pale moon light
How could I be this way when I pray to god above
I must love what I destroy and destroy the thing I love
[Chorus]
Oh you'll never see my shade or hear the sound of my feet
While there's a moon over Bourbon Street
There's a moon over Bourbon Street tonight
I see faces as they pass beneath the pale lamplight
I've no choice but to follow that call
The bright lights, the people, and the moon and all
I pray everyday to be strong
For I know what I do must be wrong
[Chorus]
Oh you'll never see my shade or hear the sound of my feet
While there's a moon over Bourbon Street
[Verse 2]
It was many years ago that I became what I am
I was trapped in this life like an innocent lamb
Now I can never show my face at noon
And you'll only see me walking by the light of the moon
The brim of my hat hides the eye of a beast
I've the face of a sinner but the hands of a priest
[Chorus]
Oh you'll never see my shade or hear the sound of my feet
While there's a moon over Bourbon Street
[Verse 3]
She walks everyday through the streets of New Orleans
She's innocent and young from a family of means
I have stood many times outside her window at night
To struggle with my instinct in the pale moon light
How could I be this way when I pray to god above
I must love what I destroy and destroy the thing I love
[Chorus]
Oh you'll never see my shade or hear the sound of my feet
While there's a moon over Bourbon Street
more tracks from the album
Bring on the Night
- Love Is the Seventh Wave
- Tea in the Sahara
- Down So Long
- Another Day
- I Burn for You
- One World (Not Three)
- Driven to Tears
- Low Life
- When the World Is Running Down, You Make the Best of What’s Still Around
- Bring on the Night
- Moon Over Bourbon Street
- Consider Me Gone
- We Work the Black Seam
- Children’s Crusade
- The Dream of the Blue Turtles/Demolition Man
From the albums
- The Dream of the Blue Turtles (1985)
- Bring on the Night (1986)
- ...All This Time (2001)
- Hurricane Relief: Come Together Now (2005)
Sting popular songs
- Shape of My Heart
- Englishman in New York
- Desert Rose
- Fields of Gold
- Fragile
- Russians
- It’s Probably Me
- If I Ever Lose My Faith in You
- Brand New Day
- Seven Days
- Mad About You
- A Thousand Years
- Soul Cake
- I Can’t Stop Thinking About You
- If You Love Somebody Set Them Free
- All This Time
- When We Dance
- If It’s Love
- The Last Ship
- Fortress Around Your Heart
- Children’s Crusade
- Moon Over Bourbon Street
- Synchronicity I
- Giacomo’s Blues