King Of Pain
| "King Of Pain" | |
|---|---|
| Recorded by The Police | |
| Released: | 1983 |
| Recorded: | 1983 |
| Length: | 4:59 |
| Album(s): | Synchronicity |
| Label(s): | A&M |
| Writer(s): | Sting |
| Producer(s): | Hugh Padgham & The Police |
| Studio(s): | AIR Studios, Montserrat |
| Released as single? | YES |
"King Of Pain" is a song written by Sting and recorded by The Police in 1983.
Contents
About the song
Writing
Sting wrote the song at Ian Fleming's "Goldeneye" residence on Jamaica around May / June 1982.
Utopia demo
On 1982-11-23 he recorded a 4:12 minute demo at Utopia Studios in London, England, UK.
The main melody was played with the sequencer and guitars. Vocals were already in place, but the chorus parts were sung lower than on the LP.
AIR version
Alternate version
The AIR Studios version of this song comes in various stages of mixing... All are based on the same recording which is different to the song we know from the LP. The 4:48 minute Alternate Version can be found on the Synchronicity box set (released on 2024-07-26).
The basic differences to the LP version are:
- the first "little black spot" verse is not repeated when all the instruments kick in - the song continues with the "fossil" verse instead
- different drum pattern, louder backing vocals, different bass
- additional "happy" middle part, "oooh oooh" vocals and a short guitar solo (played on electric sitar, doubled with clean guitar)
- different ending with "that's my soul up there" backing vocals and some "happy" guitar bits
The complete song lasts 4:48 minutes and fades out.
4:20 minute mix
There's a strange shorter 4:20 minute mix, too.
It starts with a rather cheesy intro which sounds like a demo, but features additional Copeland drums. Sting is ad-libbing a bit:
"tape's rolling... shut up ooh oh yeah-eah ho-ho ha-ha-ha"
This short intro blends into the longer AIR version, starting with the "fossil" line. As the AIR version is slower than the "cheesy" intro there are sound and timing issues when one part replaces the other. This version does not fade out and ends on strange instrumental bits that were probably recorded earlier on the same tape.
Le Studio version
LP version
The version that's on the LP was filed as the Le Studio version. It's unedited length would be roughly 5:06 minutes - with a few more "King Of Pain"s at the end...
In "Studio Sound" from March 1984 producer Hugh Padgham remembered that the final mix didn't bear much resemblance to what they initially recorded on the multitracks. The first verse of the LP version was recorded on another day and edited into the next bit.
The whole song seems to have been re-recorded several times - probably with all of the music (especially drums) at AIR Studios on Montserrat and possibly overdubs at Le Studio.
Alternate Mix
In its original version the drum break into the 2nd "little black spot" verse was much easier to access than the single snare beat that made it onto the LP. On its own that snare beat is "off" and confusing. Together with the original beats that were cut off it would be much easier to "understand" the beat. This is NOT the drum break from the prviously mentioned AIR version, but a new one...
A 4:58 minute version Alternate Mix with this drum break can be heard on the Synchronicity box set (released on 2024-07-26) - but the drum sound here is strange.
Instrumental
There is (or at least was...) also an 4:56 minutes instrumental version of this which was mixed by Hugh Padgham at Le Studio in February 1983. It's not on the Synchronicity box set, but a photo of the tape is.
Personnel
For this song Sting used the Van Zalinge Bass, combined with the Steinberger L2.
Release History
Albums
King Of Pain appears on the following album releases:
| Cover art | Album title | Release date | Release country |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Synchronicity | 1983-06-01 | UK |
|
Message In A Box: The Complete Recordings | 1993-MM-DD | UK |
Singles
7" Singles
| Cover art | Catalog no. | A-side song/B-side song | Release date | Release country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
AM 176 | "King Of Pain"/"Tea In The Sahara (live)" | 1984-01-06 | UK |
|
AM 2569 | "King Of Pain"/"Someone To Talk To" | YYYY-MM-DD | USA |
|
AMS 9722 | "King Of Pain"/"Once Upon A Daydream" | YYYY-MM-DD | The Netherlands |
12" Singles
| Cover art | Catalog no. | A-side song(s)/B-side song(s) | Release date | Release country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
AMX 176 | "King Of Pain"/"Tea In The Sahara (live)" (add more songs as necessary) | 1984-01-06 | UK |
Video
"SONG TITLE" appears on the following video and dvd releases:
| Cover art | Video title | Release date | Release country |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Video or dvd title | YYYY-MM-DD | Country |
Awards, nominations, and certifications
Awards
This section needs more information.
| Year | Winner | Award | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| YYYY | WINNER (album, song, producer, etc.) | AWARD (Grammy, People's Choice, etc.) | CATEGORY |
Nominations
This section needs more information.
| Year | Nominee | Award | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| YYYY | NOMINEE (album, song, producer, etc.) | AWARD (Grammy, People's Choice, etc.) | CATEGORY |
Certifications
This section needs more information.
| Country | Certifier | Classification | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|
| COUNTRY | CERTIFIER (RIAA, IFPI...) | CLASSIFICATION (Album, singles, foreign artist...) | CERTIFICATION (Gold, Platinum, Diamond...) |
Lyrics
Lyrics are property and copyright of their owners, and provided here for educational purposes only.
- LP version lyrics
There's a little black spot on the sun today It's the same old thing as yesterday There's a black hat caught in a high treetop There's a flagpole rag and the wind won't stop I have stood here before, inside the pouring rain With the world turning circles, running 'round my brain I guess I'm always hoping that you'll end this reign But it's my destiny to be the king of pain There's a little black spot on the sun today (That's my soul up there) It's the same old thing as yesterday (That's my soul up there) There's a black hat caught in a high treetop (That's my soul up there) There's a flagpole rag and the wind won't stop (That's my soul up there) I have stood here before, inside the pouring rain With the world turning circles, running 'round my brain I guess I'm always hoping that you'll end this reign But it's my destiny to be the king of pain There's a fossil that's trapped in a high cliff wall (That's my soul up there) There's a dead salmon frozen in a waterfall (That's my soul up there) There's a blue whale beached by a springtide's ebb (That's my soul up there) There's a butterfly trapped in a spider's web (That's my soul up there) I have stood here before, inside the pouring rain With the world turning circles, running 'round my brain I guess I'm always hoping that you'll end this reign But it's my destiny to be the king of pain There's a king on a throne with his eyes torn out There's a blind man looking for a shadow of doubt There's a rich man sleeping on a golden bed There's a skeleton choking on a crust of bread King of pain There's a red fox torn by a huntsman's pack (That's my soul up there) There's a black-winged gull with a broken back (That's my soul up there) There's a little black spot on the sun today It's the same old thing as yesterday I have stood here before, inside the pouring rain With the world turning circles, running 'round my brain I guess I'm always hoping that you'll end this reign But it's my destiny to be the king of pain King of pain King of pain King of pain I'll always be king of pain I'll always be king of pain I'll always be king of pain I'll always be king of pain I'll always be king of pain...
- 4:20 AIR Studios version
Tape's rolling... shut up ooh oh yeah-eah ho-ho ha-ha-ha There's a fossil that's trapped in a high cliff wall (That's my soul up there) There's a dead salmon frozen in a waterfall (That's my soul up there) There's a blue whale beached by a springtide's ebb (That's my soul up there) There's a butterfly trapped in a spider's web (That's my soul up there) I have stood here before, inside the pouring rain With the world turning circles, running 'round my brain I guess I'm always hoping that you'll end this reign But it's my destiny to be the king of pain There's a king on a throne with his eyes torn out There's a blind man looking for a shadow of doubt There's a rich man sleeping on a golden bed There's a skeleton choking on a crust of bread King of pain oooh oooh oooh oooh (8 x) There's a red fox torn by a huntsman's pack (That's my soul up there) There's a black-winged gull with a broken back (That's my soul up there) There's a little black spot on the sun today It's the same old thing as yesterday I have stood here before, inside the pouring rain With the world turning circles, running 'round my brain I guess I'm always hoping that you'll end this reign But it's my destiny to be the king of pain King of pain I'll always be king of pain I'll always be king of pain I'll always be king of pain that's my soul up there - king of pain that's my soul up there - king of pain that's my soul up there - king of pain that's my soul up there - king of pain that's my soul up there - king of pain that's my soul up there - king of pain that's my soul up there - king of pain that's my soul up there - king of pain that's my soul up there - king of pain that's my soul up there - always be king of pain that's my soul up there - always be king of pain that's my soul up there...
- 4:40 AIR Studios version
There's a little black spot on the sun today (That's my soul up there) It's the same old thing as yesterday (That's my soul up there) There's a black hat caught in a high treetop (That's my soul up there) There's a flagpole rag and the wind won't stop (That's my soul up there) I have stood here before, inside the pouring rain With the world turning circles, running 'round my brain I guess I'm always hoping that you'll end this reign But it's my destiny to be the king of pain There's a fossil that's trapped in a high cliff wall (That's my soul up there) There's a dead salmon frozen in a waterfall (That's my soul up there) There's a blue whale beached by a springtide's ebb (That's my soul up there) There's a butterfly trapped in a spider's web (That's my soul up there) I have stood here before, inside the pouring rain With the world turning circles, running 'round my brain I guess I'm always hoping that you'll end this reign But it's my destiny to be the king of pain There's a king on a throne with his eyes torn out There's a blind man looking for a shadow of doubt There's a rich man sleeping on a golden bed There's a skeleton choking on a crust of bread King of pain oooh oooh oooh oooh (8 x) There's a red fox torn by a huntsman's pack (That's my soul up there) There's a black-winged gull with a broken back (That's my soul up there) There's a little black spot on the sun today It's the same old thing as yesterday I have stood here before, inside the pouring rain With the world turning circles, running 'round my brain I guess I'm always hoping that you'll end this reign But it's my destiny to be the king of pain King of pain I'll always be king of pain I'll always be king of pain I'll always be king of pain that's my soul up there - king of pain that's my soul up there - king of pain that's my soul up there - king of pain that's my soul up there - king of pain that's my soul up there - king of pain that's my soul up there - king of pain that's my soul up there - king of pain that's my soul up there - king of pain that's my soul up there - king of pain that's my soul up there - always be king of pain that's my soul up there - always be king of pain that's my soul up there...
Quotations and trivia
UK ad:
Alternative and cover versions
Cover versions of King Of Pain appear on the following album releases:
| Cover art | Artist | Album title | Release date | Release country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Inner Circle | Reggatta Mondatta Volume II | 1998-06-30 | ?? |
|
Brandtson | Policia! A Tribute To The Police | 2005-MM-DD | USA |
See also
This section needs more information.
External links
This section needs more information.
References
- Police, The. Synchronicity. (1983) [Audio recording], A&M Records.
- Police, The. King Of Pain.
- Wikipedia. King Of Pain.
- 1992-04 Bass Player
- Craig Betts (demo date)
- Studio Sound - March 1984
- Fabio Trentini (demo info after listening to Pete Smith's tapes)
