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Sting — Russians
Album: Live Acoustic, March 2022
Avg rating:
8.3

Your rating:
Total ratings: 406









Released: 2022
Length: 2:50
Plays (last 30 days): 0
In Europe and America there's a growing feeling of hysteria
Conditioned to respond to all the threats
In the rhetorical speeches of the Soviets
Mister Khrushchev said, 'We will bury you'
I don't subscribe to this point of view
It'd be such an ignorant thing to do
If the Russians love their children too

How can I save my little boy
From Oppenheimer's deadly toy?
There is no monopoly of common sense
On either side of the political fence
We share the same biology
Regardless of ideology
Believe me when I say to you
I hope the Russians love their children too

There is no historical precedent to put
The words in the mouth of the president
There's no such thing as a winnable war
It's a lie we don't believe anymore
Mister Reagan says 'We will protect you'
I don't subscribe to this point of view
Believe me when I say to you
I hope the Russians love their children too

We share the same biology
Regardless of ideology
What might save us, me and you
Is if the Russians love their children too
Comments (48)add comment
Many MSM believers commenting here.
 fedtho wrote:

Sting removed a line from this 1985 song:
"Mister Reagan says "We will protect you", I don't subscribe to this point of view (etc.)".

At the time, I took that line for Stinng stating that he was *also* questioning the government of the United States who was claiming that every citizen of the western world was safe. A government that, maybe, was also implying that it was in no way to be blamed for the state of things at the time.
I admired Sting for being so bold as to encourage his audience to keep an open mind.
Was I just projecting things into Sting's lyrics? That may very well be.

Whatever were his views back then: I am NOT saying Putin is "RIGHT" - how, on earth, is being "anti" or "pro" war even a thing? It's insulting to bei labeled as "pro-Putin" and "anti-American" for asking questions. It's insulting to have to be justifying oneself for trying to know more.
I am saying that there is a lot more to Putin invading Ukraine than is claimed by the way too obvious and short version related everywhere.

The Russian's actions in Ukraine are horrible. Unspeakable. No "but".
Meanwhile, something is left unsaid: in 2015, the European Union, the United States and Putin's Russia have signed the "Minsk" agreement. See wikipedia or any other source about them.
By hinting at incorporating Ukraine into the European Union, something the EU and the USA agreed NOT to do, they have been antagonizing and provoking Putin for years.
You respect a treaty you have signed, even with the worst partner there is, as long as said partner does not violate that treaty himself. History is about compromise. You would say of your enemy not being true to his word that he is a traitor and that you were right not to trust him. If he was letting you know that he was about to act preemptively, thinking you'll be the first to violate the treaty you both agreed to - you'd find that unacceptable.
Putin is committing a massacre, destroying a country and annihilating its population.
You want to, you need to, there is no question that you will denounce his inhumane action.
Can you do so while "forgetting" to mention the whole story? Isn't that kind of denying responsibility? Isn't *exclusively* focusing on your enemy's wrongdoings an easy way to hide whatever part your own wrongdoings might have been playing in a given situation?

The People of Europe and America have the right and the duty to ask for the long, the multi-layered version, not the short and oversimplified one.
If we don't look at the whole picture, history is bound to repeat itself.
Bound to *keep* repeating itself.

Asking for more information about a war has absolutely nothing to do with legitimating it.


Dang!... those Russian troll bots are everywhere.
back to back with Winds of Change.  a statement there.
Pretty current right now to be sure! Mantra of James Clapper. [US Security guy retired] KILL RUSSIANS!
Lovely piece.  Sting is great.
 tm wrote:

I started singing this again before this senseless violence and invasion of Ukraine. Fuck Russia back into the stone age for what they have done. We support Ukraine here in Berlin!



No. Not fuck Russia. Fuck Putin. 
 fedtho wrote:

Sting removed a line from this 1985 song:
"Mister Reagan says "We will protect you", I don't subscribe to this point of view (etc.)".

At the time, I took that line for Stinng stating that he was *also* questioning the government of the United States who was claiming that every citizen of the western world was safe. A government that, maybe, was also implying that it was in no way to be blamed for the state of things at the time.
I admired Sting for being so bold as to encourage his audience to keep an open mind.
Was I just projecting things into Sting's lyrics? That may very well be.

Whatever were his views back then: I am NOT saying Putin is "RIGHT" - how, on earth, is being "anti" or "pro" war even a thing? It's insulting to bei labeled as "pro-Putin" and "anti-American" for asking questions. It's insulting to have to be justifying oneself for trying to know more.
I am saying that there is a lot more to Putin invading Ukraine than is claimed by the way too obvious and short version related everywhere.

The Russian's actions in Ukraine are horrible. Unspeakable. No "but".
Meanwhile, something is left unsaid: in 2015, the European Union, the United States and Putin's Russia have signed the "Minsk" agreement. See wikipedia or any other source about them.
By hinting at incorporating Ukraine into the European Union, something the EU and the USA agreed NOT to do, they have been antagonizing and provoking Putin for years.
You respect a treaty you have signed, even with the worst partner there is, as long as said partner does not violate that treaty himself. History is about compromise. You would say of your enemy not being true to his word that he is a traitor and that you were right not to trust him. If he was letting you know that he was about to act preemptively, thinking you'll be the first to violate the treaty you both agreed to - you'd find that unacceptable.
Putin is committing a massacre, destroying a country and annihilating its population.
You want to, you need to, there is no question that you will denounce his inhumane action.
Can you do so while "forgetting" to mention the whole story? Isn't that kind of denying responsibility? Isn't *exclusively* focusing on your enemy's wrongdoings an easy way to hide whatever part your own wrongdoings might have been playing in a given situation?

The People of Europe and America have the right and the duty to ask for the long, the multi-layered version, not the short and oversimplified one.
If we don't look at the whole picture, history is bound to repeat itself.
Bound to *keep* repeating itself.

Asking for more information about a war has absolutely nothing to do with legitimating it.


Let's not forget the agreement between the US, EU and Russia agreed to in the 90's.  That now null agreement was that Ukraine surrender the atomic weapons that the Soviet Union installed in Ukraine and that Russia would dispose of them and the West would guarantee the sovereignty of Ukraine.
 Jelani wrote:

It's so sad that  most people don't understand what's actually happening,and they don't know that they're being kept from knowing what's actually happening.




It feels as reassuring as it is possible these days to read your words.
And there seems to be no way to avoid things getting much worse before they can get better.
Best wishes from wherever I am, to you, wherever you are.
 Axelito wrote:

Weird, he doesn't sing the part "Mister Reagan says 'We will protect you'" present in the lyrics. 



It's so reassuring you spotted this.
I hadn't seen your post when I left mine - a very long attempt to point at the possible reason for this omisson.
Sting removed a line from this 1985 song:
"Mister Reagan says "We will protect you", I don't subscribe to this point of view (etc.)".

At the time, I took that line for Stinng stating that he was *also* questioning the government of the United States who was claiming that every citizen of the western world was safe. A government that, maybe, was also implying that it was in no way to be blamed for the state of things at the time.
I admired Sting for being so bold as to encourage his audience to keep an open mind.
Was I just projecting things into Sting's lyrics? That may very well be.

Whatever were his views back then: I am NOT saying Putin is "RIGHT" - how, on earth, is being "anti" or "pro" war even a thing? It's insulting to bei labeled as "pro-Putin" and "anti-American" for asking questions. It's insulting to have to be justifying oneself for trying to know more.
I am saying that there is a lot more to Putin invading Ukraine than is claimed by the way too obvious and short version related everywhere.

The Russian's actions in Ukraine are horrible. Unspeakable. No "but".
Meanwhile, something is left unsaid: in 2015, the European Union, the United States and Putin's Russia have signed the "Minsk" agreement. See wikipedia or any other source about them.
By hinting at incorporating Ukraine into the European Union, something the EU and the USA agreed NOT to do, they have been antagonizing and provoking Putin for years.
You respect a treaty you have signed, even with the worst partner there is, as long as said partner does not violate that treaty himself. History is about compromise. You would say of your enemy not being true to his word that he is a traitor and that you were right not to trust him. If he was letting you know that he was about to act preemptively, thinking you'll be the first to violate the treaty you both agreed to - you'd find that unacceptable.
Putin is committing a massacre, destroying a country and annihilating its population.
You want to, you need to, there is no question that you will denounce his inhumane action.
Can you do so while "forgetting" to mention the whole story? Isn't that kind of denying responsibility? Isn't *exclusively* focusing on your enemy's wrongdoings an easy way to hide whatever part your own wrongdoings might have been playing in a given situation?

The People of Europe and America have the right and the duty to ask for the long, the multi-layered version, not the short and oversimplified one.
If we don't look at the whole picture, history is bound to repeat itself.
Bound to *keep* repeating itself.

Asking for more information about a war has absolutely nothing to do with legitimating it.
 maboleth wrote:


Exactly. It's time for USA to pay the price, for all atrocities it did to the world. From Korea to Syria. Enjoy living in your bubble until it bursts.


We know where you stand. Did you vote for Vucic though he's moving away from Russia and buying French Rafale fighter jets?
Okay that brought a tear to my eye. 
Such an excellent song.
Such a horrible problem.
Great version of a now so, so relevant song. I can't find this song on Apple Music. Anybody know where to find it?
Always promoting peace through music ! You are a great man Sting!
This one almost made me cry when it first came out, all those many years ago when my own son was small.  And now....
I prefer this to the original on Dream of the Blue Turtles. It's a nice "borrow" of Profokiev's Lt Kiije Suite.
Apropos
Wow.
The intro says it all.
c.
Everybody love their children
Weird, he doesn't sing the part "Mister Reagan says 'We will protect you'" present in the lyrics. 
I started singing this again before this senseless violence and invasion of Ukraine. Fuck Russia back into the stone age for what they have done. We support Ukraine here in Berlin!
 joelbb wrote:
 
 
agreed! RP and BillG help us all deal with this crazy world. 
 maboleth wrote:


Exactly. It's time for USA to pay the price, for all atrocities it did to the world. From Korea to Syria. Enjoy living in your bubble until it bursts.


What an astonishingly pathetic reaction to genocide. What does your family think about this casual attitude towards killing innocents? Friends? I'm sorry for your approach to the world. Fortunately, most HUMANS don't gloat like this.
This is the BEST RnR social commentary, ever.  Gave it a 9
It's so sad that  most people don't understand what's actually happening,and they don't know that they're being kept from knowing what's actually happening.
It's great we can all come together on something.  I feel pity for all those who see good things in tyrants.
Just bought enough potassium iodide for myself and my children for a month.  I hope the Russian generals love their children, because their leader's talking like he has other priorities.  Perhaps he should talk to his children's mother about that.
 maboleth wrote:


Exactly. It's time for USA to pay the price, for all atrocities it did to the world. From Korea to Syria. Enjoy living in your bubble until it bursts.

I don't see where anyone here is trying to excuse the multiple errors, overstepping, and, yes, atrocities, committed by various U.S. administrations over the last 250 years -- but how, exactly, can it be that murdering Ukrainians is what the USA deserves?  How do the atrocities and displacement currently occurring in Ukraine -- and the continued oppression in Russia -- balance out as being fair because the USA must "pay the price"?

It's one thing to voice opposition to the ills and wrongs committed by any and all; it's quite another to revel in this horror based on some bizarre, bastardized form of logic or a blindly confused Putin worship.  Where exactly is your head (besides far up the alimentary canal)?

Слава Україні!


Thanks for the support, Bill and Rebecca! Your radio station helps me to cope with what's going on in my country.
I have not heard the original in a very loong time. The only copy I have is a dubbed cassette. It resonated then and more so now.

I have used the line "I hope the Russians love their children, too." when discussing such topics. 

Thank you BillG for playing this very current song, sad it needs to be sung again, but so it goes with the human race.
Thank you Bill & Rebecca.

EDIT
And yes: thank you Sting.
Rated this a 10 for the deep relevance in light of recent events. Please, no more war.
thank-you. this needs be heard daily...
So fitting. Thank you. 
 SnapDragon66 wrote:

This is a deeply troubling situation and is what happens when someone gets too much power.



Exactly. It's time for USA to pay the price, for all atrocities it did to the world. From Korea to Syria. Enjoy living in your bubble until it bursts.
Bill, I have always admired your finesse and light touch when commenting on music which might have a political or controversial angle.  I had wondered if you would make any references to all the heartbreak in Ukraine these days and was touched to hear your comments on this song and Andrew Bird's Scythian Empire which followed shortly after.  Beautifully done.
Rated 10 for being topical and relevant.
Thank you, Sting.
Thank you, Bill.
Thank you.
Thank you Radio Paradise.
(re)Released yesterday, wow!

Sad that it is again relevant.
I've been thinking about this song, while reading the daily news. Thank you for playing this beautiful version. 
I think it is the first time I listen to an unreleased song at radioparadise. But if not this one, which one?  Thanks Bill
Thank you so much for sharing this appeal to peace
#standwithukraine
The comments, and lyric quotes below, have been said; there's not much else to add really. This is a deeply troubling situation and is what happens when someone gets too much power. Peace and love to the Ukranians.
And so the wheel turns :/
Thanks for adding this.
I was wondering how long it would take for this to turn up here.


"Such an ignorant thing to do..."
 acamon wrote:

Very sad that this is relevant again. But nice choice, Bill and Rebecca.


Sadly true, but it would be really a strong sign to write new lyrics reflecting the current situation...
Very sad that this is relevant again. But nice choice, Bill and Rebecca. And nice arrangement, Sting.