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"Don't Stand So Close to Me" by The Police is a 1980 hit single that explores the tension, guilt, and social fallout of an inappropriate romance between a young schoolteacher and an infatuated teenage student. Songwriting & Inspiration Written by the band's front man and bassist, Sting, the song draws slightly on his own past as an English teacher. He noted that his time working in secondary schools inspired him to write a track about the powerful and sometimes dangerous temptations of sexuality in the classroom. The Narrative Arc The lyrics play out like a mini-drama, detailing the progression of the affair and its ultimate collapse: The Temptation: The song opens with a "young teacher" dealing with the relentless infatuation of a student who is half his age. He battles internal longing while facing a wet and cold bus stop, juxtaposed with the warmth and dryness of his car. The Fallout: Rumors quickly spread. As the relationship is exposed, "accusations fly" in the staffroom. Despite the scandal, the song concludes with the teacher still fighting the magnetic pull of the student. Literary References The song features one of the most famous literary allusions in 1980s pop music: "Just like the old man in that book by Nabokov". This refers to Vladimir Nabokov's controversial 1955 novel Lolita, which details the obsession of an older man with a young girl. Musical Style & Legacy The track is driven by Sting's anxious, pulsing bassline, Andy Summers' echoing, atmospheric guitar chords, and Stewart Copeland's snappy hi-hat work. It became a massive global hit, reaching No. 1 in the UK and the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S., later winning a Grammy Award. If you'd like, I can: Provide details about The Police's discography to help place this song in context. Detail the differences between the original 1980 version and the 1986 synth-heavy re-recording. Let me know how you want to explore the band's work!7 sitesDon't Stand So Close to Me - Wikipedia The music and lyric of the song were written by the lead vocalist of the Police, Sting. It deals with the mixed feelings of lust, ...Wikipedia The Police – Don't Stand So Close to Me Lyrics - Genius[Verse 1] Young teacher, the subject of schoolgirl fantasy. She wants him so badly, knows what she wants to be. Inside her, there' Genius Is the Police's 'Don't Stand So Close to Me' Autobiographical? PR 10, 2020 — Corey Irwin. Corey Irwin Published: April 10, 2020. In 1980, the Police scored a massive hit with “Don't Stand So Close to Me." Bu...Ultimate Classic Rock Show all