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Sting — Shape of My Heart
Album: Ten Summoner's Tales
Avg rating:
7.9

Your rating:
Total ratings: 3136









Released: 1993
Length: 4:31
Plays (last 30 days): 0
He deals the cards as a meditation
And those he plays never suspect
He doesn't play for the money he wins
He don't play for respect
He deals the cards to find the answer
The sacred geometry of chance
The hidden law of a probable outcome
The numbers lead a dance
I know that the spades are the swords of a soldier
I know that the clubs are weapons of war
I know that diamonds mean money for this art
But that's not the shape of my heart
He may play the jack of diamonds
He may lay the queen of spades
He may conceal a king in his hand
While the memory of it fades
I know that the spades are the swords of a soldier
I know that the clubs are weapons of war
I know that diamonds mean money for this art
But that's not the shape of my heart
And if I told you that I loved you
You'd maybe think there's something wrong
I'm not a man of too many faces
The mask I wear is one
Those who speak know nothing
And find out to their cost
Like those who curse their luck in too many places
And those who fear are lost
I know that the spades are the swords of a soldier
I know that the clubs are weapons of war
I know that diamonds mean money for this art
But that's not the shape of my heart
Comments (167)add comment
This is very sweet and low.
Hauntingly beautiful lyrics & melody.
Though it’s been sampled so frequently by others, none hold a candle to the original.
This came on today just as I noted that Sinead O'Connor has passed away, cause presently unknown, and this song is appropriately somber. Unfortunate. 
Great Song
I never realised people don't like Sting (as a person, not a musician). I don't understand the hate, but I'm also a pretentious Geordie, so maybe I just feel a kinship with him. 
I know that a quadrilateral has four sides
I know that a fractal can have more if we tear it apart
I know that a decagon might have ten sides
But that's not the shape of my heart
 
Man, I should have been Sting's Bernie Taupin.
Does anyone else remember this is was used as the end credits for The Professional? Just me?

produces excellent wine in Tuscany

 pousso wrote:

Sting ripping off Juice World. Tsk tsk



But this song came out 25+ years before Juice WRLD!
Classic piece by one of our greatest musicians
Top drawer
A beautiful song elegantly created by a natural raconteur.
 paloeguevo wrote:


Paul McCartney's latest album is great. Robert plant's solo albums are amazing.


I have to toss in Gregg Allman's Souther Blood album in there too.
Sting ripping off Juice World. Tsk tsk
 pablo2165 wrote:

No matter what you think of the man...this song is outstanding!! Solid 9!!



other things are "solid" too. Like a meaty lumpy solid "number Two"
No matter what you think of the man...this song is outstanding!! Solid 9!!
 sgaustein wrote:


The same applies to most music composers. Creativity just runs out.


No.  Beethoven's late quartets are arguably at the very pinnacle of Western art.
 Ben_D_Wire wrote:

Brendon Power plays on other tracks, but it's Larry Adler on the Harmonica for this one (according to a '93 promotional video by Sting). Larry also guested at some of the London shows, given that he lived there at the time.


I always thought it was Toots Tielemans
beautiful
 phlattop wrote:



Thank you. I've made the same case in other posts. The well does run dry. At a certain point, experience in songcraft takes over from raw creativity and inspiration.


Paul McCartney's latest album is great. Robert plant's solo albums are amazing.
 sgaustein wrote:


The same applies to most music composers. Creativity just runs out.



Thank you. I've made the same case in other posts. The well does run dry. At a certain point, experience in songcraft takes over from raw creativity and inspiration.
Wow! Just when I think Bill’s phoning it in I get hit with all kinds of new shit. I love RP, Bill!
One of my favorites. 
 Ben_D_Wire wrote:
Early Sting is like Early Stevie Wonder. How on earth did they both do so much, so right, and then end up with so much, so wrong.

But this is Sting at his best, and it's good to hear it on RP. Thanks Bill.
 

The same applies to most music composers. Creativity just runs out.
A gifted 10/10 from my ears to yours. A great album too! ❤️❤️
Story of living with an abusive father?
 Ghiaap wrote:

metaphor around cars? I'm confused. Thought it was around cards. Never thought about cars in this way.{#Ask}
 

duh, cards
 kiwipete wrote:

Harmonica player on this song is fellow Kiwi Brendon Power (see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuI61cTNbAk at about 2:24).  All his work that I've heard is sublime.  He's the reason I gave up playing harmonica and took up mandolin instead ... {#Smile}

 
Brendon Power plays on other tracks, but it's Larry Adler on the Harmonica for this one (according to a '93 promotional video by Sting). Larry also guested at some of the London shows, given that he lived there at the time.

This remains as one of my favourite songs from the period, when music was far more important than the artist's personality. Although technology has improved audio fidelity, the signal to noise ratio (as defined by music Vs media) has become far worse, making it very difficult to enjoy many artists in quite the same way any more.
 Fiji5555 wrote:

Oh you meant to say that Sting grew up and matured and starting writing the best album of his career {#Tongue-out}

 
Sure, if you mean growing up into a performer who produces bland, smooth jazz styled dreck, then yep, that's what I mean!{#Ass}
 greiffenstein wrote:
He may be the most disliked musician in the world, but he will always be one of my favorites.

 
He's probably not "the most disliked".  There are several others who inspire more loathing than he does, at least these days.
One of the finest moments of Sting's (somewhat inconsistent) solo career
 w3weasel wrote:
Trite.

this is a perfect example of a good song, sung well, that steps just slightly over the line... all those cute little puns and allusions make it unbearable

 
i feel that...song seems to go back and forth over that line...but i still find it "bearable"
 Nerubo wrote:
Good, original lyrics to this song:

He deals the cards to find the answer
The sacred geometry of chance
The hidden law of a probable outcome

The whole song has a sustained metaphor around cars.  It's almost like he used to be an English teacher or something...

I like some of The Police and some of the solo Sting, for the record.  Pretty different, and that's a good thing.
 

 
metaphor around cars? I'm confused. Thought it was around cards. Never thought about cars in this way.{#Ask}
Powerful song musically and lyrically.  One of my all-time favorites.  Arguably his best album along with Nothing Like the Sun
He may be the most disliked musician in the world, but he will always be one of my favorites.
 {#Cheers}ChrisVIII wrote:
One of his (if not his) best song !!! I love it !

 


Good, original lyrics to this song:

He deals the cards to find the answer
The sacred geometry of chance
The hidden law of a probable outcome

The whole song has a sustained metaphor around cars.  It's almost like he used to be an English teacher or something...

I like some of The Police and some of the solo Sting, for the record.  Pretty different, and that's a good thing.


 
Early Sting is like Early Stevie Wonder. How on earth did they both do so much, so right, and then end up with so much, so wrong.

But this is Sting at his best, and it's good to hear it on RP. Thanks Bill.
One of the best songs from his best album, IMHO.
Trite.

this is a perfect example of a good song, sung well, that steps just slightly over the line... all those cute little puns and allusions make it unbearable
have not heard this in years.  Lovely stuff.  Pretty good album too.
A lovely lullaby, it puts me to sleep every time it's played
 Paul_Skybreakers wrote:
With Sting, people often moan about his character or about how much they prefer The Police. I just think he's a great musician and I don't care about the rest. 

 
I agree. The Police were a very different entity. 3 guys that fed off each other. Equals.
His solo career has been one of  an employer and his hired guns (yes, brilliant musicians but still hired/picked/recruited by Sting).
Two different sets of music. While the Police stuff is stronger IMHO, the solo stuff is still damn terrific.
 Proclivities wrote:

Apparently he used a couple of harmonica players on this album, but neither were the great Mr. Thielemans.  Obviously, Toots' style has influenced all those who have followed him.

 
Harmonica player on this song is fellow Kiwi Brendon Power (see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuI61cTNbAk at about 2:24).  All his work that I've heard is sublime.  He's the reason I gave up playing harmonica and took up mandolin instead ... {#Smile}
One of his (if not his) best song !!! I love it !
 fitmartin wrote:

Agreed!
 
Agreed, agreed :)
 
 tarbinator wrote:
Such a classic and beautiful Sting tune. 

 
Agreed!
Such a classic and beautiful Sting tune. 
 junebaby65 wrote:

The Police were one of my favorite bands of all time.  Then Sting started writing music for dentist offices.



 
Oh you meant to say that Sting grew up and matured and starting writing the best album of his career {#Tongue-out}
With Sting, people often moan about his character or about how much they prefer The Police. I just think he's a great musician and I don't care about the rest. 
 robin_at_domani wrote:
Is that good ol' Toots Thielemans I'm hearing?

 
Apparently he used a couple of harmonica players on this album, but neither were the great Mr. Thielemans.  Obviously, Toots' style has influenced all those who have followed him.
Is that good ol' Toots Thielemans I'm hearing?
 junebaby65 wrote:

The Police were one of my favorite bands of all time.  Then Sting started writing music for dentist offices.


Well said June. I'm having trouble staying awake writing this. TGF the PSD button 
 

Beautiful {#Chillpill}

The Police were one of my favorite bands of all time.  Then Sting started writing music for dentist offices.


Es la primera vez que la escucho con calma y me parece muy bonita.{#Tongue}
This one is simply a jewel.     {#Notworthy}
 easmann wrote:

If a group or individual does not evolve musically over time we criticize them for that. If they do evolve musically over time, and we yearn more for their musical past than their musical present, we criticize them for that too.

We're just awfully critical I guess. But I think we'd rather be thrilled, no?
 
As cogent, aptly put a post as I've read here in 11+ years. Reminds me of the exchange between the Left Bank patron, and promoter of the new poetry, and the self-prepossessed, perhaps passe Orpheus (the older poet trying to revive his career) in Cocteau's Orphee:

Orpheus: What would you have me do?
Patron: Astonish us!

To paraphrase another, Orphee is as close to poetry as there is in cinema.

This album and the first solo album with the Turtle title are his two best!

thank you so much, highlight of my early afternoon in the mountains!


 sirdroseph wrote:

Yea, people love to rip him and I am not crazy about a lot of his stuff, but he had some good one's and this is one of em.



 
I think the problem may be that he had such a good run with the Police that a lot of people can't accept that he has moved on from those days.
 stunix wrote:
as always with Sting, clever lyrics, stunning music, spot on production. its just that sometimes my mood takes me away from him to something else.   still 9 thou
This post apparently contained an image that was dragged into the post editor. Sorry, but any text contained in the post after this point has been lost.
As always with sting , urgh
as always with Sting, clever lyrics, stunning music, spot on production. its just that sometimes my mood takes me away from him to something else.   still 9 thou

9
Good album!
 BKardon wrote:

Okay sure, but the album has one name on the cover.  Dominic is great though, didn't mean to diminish his qualities.  And Vinnie....well...he's done it all and then some.


 

Sting..stung ;)
Magnificent! And from one of the best produced albums I have ever heard
I know people mock Gordon all of the time, but I really love this entire album (note to self, dig it out of the rack and listen to it tonight), and this song is gorgeous.
 Kaw wrote:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CMb0Bs6vLg {#Cowboy}
Edit: really worth to watch in sync with this song.

 
Astonishing.  Thank you.
Outstanding tune.  One of his two best albums...
20 years old already?!? Wow!
This has always given me chills. Wonderful.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CMb0Bs6vLg {#Cowboy}
Edit: really worth to watch in sync with this song.
 Stylist wrote:
Great melancholic song.
Always reminds me of the the great movie "Leon - The professional"

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x24guo_sting-shape-of-my-heart-leon_music#.UVRA9FcTSF8

 
From godlike being to barfist in 30 years. He's not the first....
Great melancholic song.
Always reminds me of the the great movie "Leon - The professional"

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x24guo_sting-shape-of-my-heart-leon_music#.UVRA9FcTSF8
Wow, haven't heard this in years.  Hard to believe this is less 10 years removed from the Police, but already 20 years old...
Nice!
 mcullers wrote:
One of the best songs from one of the best albums of the 90's. 10 for sure!
 
One of my favorite albums of the 90s as well.  Can't believe it's 20 years old already.
 Stingray wrote:


Dominic is not a back-up! He is both, quote Sting: "...my right and my left hand!"
 
Okay sure, but the album has one name on the cover.  Dominic is great though, didn't mean to diminish his qualities.  And Vinnie....well...he's done it all and then some.

Sting, go back to singing some good music.
 handyrae wrote:

Emotional depth?
 

you must be joking...
Check out the amazing card magician Shawn Farquhar here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkYNAwdFH9M
where he does a variation of his world award winning trick done to this song. It's AMAZING!{#Clap}
 black321 wrote:
Good songwriting, but it still feels like it's missing something.  
 
Emotional depth?
complete crap..can't wrap my brain around some of his stuff..some  is ok, some is great. This is not
Good songwriting, but it still feels like it's missing something. Perhaps the melody sounds a bit like it was pulled from a formula for writing a song with this time signature.
One of the best songs from one of the best albums of the 90's. 10 for sure!
I now an artist has to grow and evolve, just wish he would go back to making good music.
Sting and Dominic Miller, great combination.
 bindi wrote:
love this or hate it - it got played on FM radio when it was released - what do we have now? oldies and rap.  I'd take this again.
 
I hear ya.  Sting is good.

love this or hate it - it got played on FM radio when it was released - what do we have now? oldies and rap.  I'd take this again.
 Shimmer wrote:
It's not bad for cheese.
 
too bad he didn't call it amsterdamn


It's not bad for cheese.
Tortured?

Pretty!

{#Undecided}
I like him exactly that way! Started with "English Man in New York". Absolutely excellent musician.
No "but" accepted. I LIKE HIM THAT WAY. Period.
overrated song imo
An appreciation for musicianship and great vocal tone.  What's not to like?
 natalita wrote:
sting is so dreamy
 
check your spelling, it's dreaRy

 Stingray wrote:


quote: "...but he had quite some (SOME!!) good ones!"

ARE YOU MAD?

Some good ones...?

And that says Tokyo, a nation that kills sharks by the 10-thousands,
with a quicky-silly-pinky kiddish music-scene that belongs to the KINDERGARDEN!

Who can take JAPAN really serious?

Now bow that someone is telling you the truth!

Some good ones...! Paaaah!!!

 
Do you have to boost your ego by insulting people? Grow up...


 BKardon wrote:
There are some really excellent songs on this album.  He chose wisely in Vinnie Colaiuta and Dominic Miller to back him up.
 

Dominic is not a back-up! He is both, quote Sting: "...my right and my left hand!"
 sirdroseph wrote:

Yea, people love to rip him and I am not crazy about a lot of his stuff, but he had some good one's and this is one of em.


 

quote: "...but he had quite some (SOME!!) good ones!"

ARE YOU MAD?

Some good ones...?

And that says Tokyo, a nation that kills sharks by the 10-thousands,
with a quicky-silly-pinky kiddish music-scene that belongs to the KINDERGARDEN!

Who can take JAPAN really serious?

Now bow that someone is telling you the truth!

Some good ones...! Paaaah!!!
I love Sting's solo stuff, maybe more than his entire body of work with The Police (although they definitely had some amazing songs).
 EssexTex wrote:
You can sum him up quite simply......he really thinks his shit doesn't stink. 

Meh.  Don't really care about his personality.  What matters is that his post-Police work is terminally dull.

 WayUpNorth wrote:
 Pyro wrote:
And I might be stuck on myself if I had that great of a body, a good singing voice, plenty of money, the ability to write music, etc.  I might.
 Sting seems to evoke much envy among men, who try bashing his music to cover up what they really don't like, which is not being HIM.  But then again, as you point out, he does have much to be envious of! 
 

WELL-WELL SAID (second entry)!

Sooo true!

The avarage rating of this song is a ridiculous 7.4,
while this kitschi Ludovico E.-guy has certainly an 8+!

Frankly?
These are the facts that make me DOUBT the RP community!


Yea, people love to rip him and I am not crazy about a lot of his stuff, but he had some good one's and this is one of em.


FINALLY...!

10
 Pyro wrote:
And I might be stuck on myself if I had that great of a body, a good singing voice, plenty of money, the ability to write music, etc.  I might.
 Sting seems to evoke much envy among men, who try bashing his music to cover up what they really don't like, which is not being HIM.  But then again, as you point out, he does have much to be envious of! 


Let's not take such personal stabs at the man himself, but rather concentrate on his work. He is quite the artist. How many of you know him personally, or are you going from interview clips, etc...?
one of my favorite songs of all time, from a very poetic and well crafted album.
 1wolfy wrote:
A sacred geometry of chance...impressive lyrics and strings
 
This is definitely one of Sting's better efforts; the song and the CD.
I agree that he's a pretentious, self-important git, but he did produce some good music over the years.


There are some really excellent songs on this album.  He chose wisely in Vinnie Colaiuta and Dominic Miller to back him up.
Yeah, he's probably a weenie, etc etc.

But he's smart enough to hire some truly exceptional musicians so there's always the playing to be enjoyed.

My ex-wife used to run into him at parties in Newcastle when she was at the Polytechnic - which I understand has been renamed. Apparently Eno was also something of a regular at the Saturday night boozers.
One of Sting's finest songs. Used in the closing credits of "The Professional". Excellent film.


Sting - "The Weenie Period"
h8rhater wrote:

Nothing like you... your s@#t clearly smells terribly.


You need to stop sniffing shit.

You are clearly an expert on the aroma of human waste, but do you stop there or does this obsession stretch to lying under glass coffee tables whilst others defecate onto the glass above.?
As for "Stink" he probably bags his own up for fans so I'd give him a call and get some in.
Who knows maybe you'll hit it off and get invited over to watch him bang Trudie in a tantric fashion while he warbles on about winter.

Let me know how you get on.

 EssexTex wrote:
Boy what a donk.....I saw him interviewed about his new album of "winter songs" on tv the other day.
he sat there smugly going on about how some of them were a 1000 years old....and so on.....with his huge ridiculous beard and strange sweater...and then he sung some with his odd cronies....ever heard a goat being slaughtered...?

You can sum him up quite simply......he really thinks his shit doesn't stink.

 
Nothing like you... your s@#t clearly smells terribly.

Boy what a donk.....I saw him interviewed about his new album of "winter songs" on tv the other day.
he sat there smugly going on about how some of them were a 1000 years old....and so on.....with his huge ridiculous beard and strange sweater...and then he sung some with his odd cronies....ever heard a goat being slaughtered...?

You can sum him up quite simply......he really thinks his shit doesn't stink.

 agd3 wrote:
Sting doesn't do it for me...would much rather have The Police.
 
And I feel the exactly opposite way....

to each their own, eh?

Sting doesn't do it for me...would much rather have The Police.
 baltimorelovejoy wrote:
Perfect song to end "The Professional", one of my favorite movies.
 

{#Clap} Great song, Excellent movie, which is also one of my favorites.

This song, and the one about the women dancing alone, have an odd sort of emotional impact. Melancholy, I guess you'd call it.

I can totally understand those who've had quite enough of Sting. I thought The Police went downhill after 'Outlands' too.