Featuring: Collin Kelly-Sordelet Michael Esper
Songwriter: Sting
Producer: Sting Rob Mathes
Gideon:
In the streets around here, there was nobody tougher than me
I was quick with me fists and fast with me footwork as you can plainly see
But while fighting was useful for getting your way
Among the toughs of the town where you could hold sway
There had to be something that was better than this
I was fourteen years old and I'd never been kissed
Well of course she'd ignore me, her friends would all sneer
At me bloody nose dripping and me cauliflower ear
For it's hard to convince in a romantic pose
With two lovely black eyes and a broken nose
Where a girl is attracted to skills more refined
Than the pugilist's art, and so I inclined
To take meself serious as a modern romancer
And I secretly learnt all the moves of a dancer
So You swing to the left and you swing to the right
Keep your eyes on your partner, like you would in a fight
Keep to the rhythm, and you keep to the beat
The important thing's never to look at your feet
Then a miracle happens, your mind's in a trance
Though the strategy's subtle, retreat and advance
It's all about attitude, all in your stance
Attention to detail, leave nothing to chance
Which explains how the pugilist finally learned how to dance
And I'd waltz with a broomstick and if I was caught
I'd pretend I was sweeping or practicing sport
But I really had eyes for your mother you see
Wanting her to acknowledge this new version of me
And now everyone's watching, expecting I'll fail
But there's a fire in me belly, and there's a wind in me sails
I knew it was risky, I was taking a chance
But I couldn't retreat now, I had to advance
Gideon and Tom:
So you swing to the left, and you swing to the right
Keep your eyes on your partner, like you would in a fight
Just keep to the rhythm and follow the beat
The important thing's never to look at your feet
Then a miracle happens, and your mind's in a trance
They're all laughing and cheering and looking askance
On the night that the pugilist finally learned how to dance
Gideon:
And about where the strategist's bridges were burned
Tom:
Where it seemed that his fortune had suddenly turned
Gideon:
'Twas the night that the scrapper was suddenly dapper
Tom:
This poor fellow's heart is still going like the clappers
Both:
The night that the pugilist finally learned how to dance
In the streets around here, there was nobody tougher than me
I was quick with me fists and fast with me footwork as you can plainly see
But while fighting was useful for getting your way
Among the toughs of the town where you could hold sway
There had to be something that was better than this
I was fourteen years old and I'd never been kissed
Well of course she'd ignore me, her friends would all sneer
At me bloody nose dripping and me cauliflower ear
For it's hard to convince in a romantic pose
With two lovely black eyes and a broken nose
Where a girl is attracted to skills more refined
Than the pugilist's art, and so I inclined
To take meself serious as a modern romancer
And I secretly learnt all the moves of a dancer
So You swing to the left and you swing to the right
Keep your eyes on your partner, like you would in a fight
Keep to the rhythm, and you keep to the beat
The important thing's never to look at your feet
Then a miracle happens, your mind's in a trance
Though the strategy's subtle, retreat and advance
It's all about attitude, all in your stance
Attention to detail, leave nothing to chance
Which explains how the pugilist finally learned how to dance
And I'd waltz with a broomstick and if I was caught
I'd pretend I was sweeping or practicing sport
But I really had eyes for your mother you see
Wanting her to acknowledge this new version of me
And now everyone's watching, expecting I'll fail
But there's a fire in me belly, and there's a wind in me sails
I knew it was risky, I was taking a chance
But I couldn't retreat now, I had to advance
Gideon and Tom:
So you swing to the left, and you swing to the right
Keep your eyes on your partner, like you would in a fight
Just keep to the rhythm and follow the beat
The important thing's never to look at your feet
Then a miracle happens, and your mind's in a trance
They're all laughing and cheering and looking askance
On the night that the pugilist finally learned how to dance
Gideon:
And about where the strategist's bridges were burned
Tom:
Where it seemed that his fortune had suddenly turned
Gideon:
'Twas the night that the scrapper was suddenly dapper
Tom:
This poor fellow's heart is still going like the clappers
Both:
The night that the pugilist finally learned how to dance
more tracks from the album
The Last Ship (Original Broadway Cast Recording)
- August Winds
- We’ve Got Now’t Else
- The Last Ship (Part One)
- When We Dance (Broadway Cast Version)
- So to Speak (Broadway Cast Version)
- It’s Not the Same Moon (Broadway Version)
- Underground River
- The Last Ship (Finale)
- Dead Man’s Boots (Broadway Version)
- Sail Away
- Ghost Story (Broadway Version)
- The Night the Pugilist Learned How to Dance
- What Say You Meg (Single Version)
- If You Ever See Me Talking to a Sailor
- What Say You Meg?
- Island of Souls (Broadway Version)
- All This Time (Broadway Version)
- Shipyard
- Show Some Respect (Broadway Version)
- Mrs. Dees’ Rant
From the album
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