The Night the Pugilist Learned How To Dance

Song The Night the Pugilist Learned How To Dance
Artist Sting
Album The Last Ship (Deluxe)

Lyrics

[02.58.000] It's a three-minute round and you're back in yr corner,
[00:07.000] In the streets around here
[00:10.000] there was nobody tougher than me,
[00:15.000] I was quick with me fists and fast with me
[00:19.000] footwork as you can plainly see,
[00:24.000] But while fighting was useful for getting your way,
[00:27.000] Among the toughs of the town where you could hold sway,
[00:32.000] There had to be something that was better than this,
[00:36.000] I was fifteen years old and I'd never been kissed.
[00:40.000] Well of course she'd ignore me, her friends would all sneer,
[00:44.000] At me bloody nose dripping and me cauliflower ear,
[00:48.000] For it's hard to convince in a romantic pose,
[00:52.000] With a lovely black eye and a broken nose,
[00:56.000] Where a girl is attracted to skills more refined,
[01:00.000] Than the pugilist's art, and so I inclined,
[01:05.000] To take meself serious as a modern romancer,
[01:09.000] And I secretly learnt all the moves of a dancer.
[01:14.000] Ye swing to the left, ye swing to the right,
[01:17.000] Keep your eyes on your partner, more or less like a fight,
[01:21.000] Ye just follow the rhythm, and ye keep to the beat,
[01:25.000] The important thing's never to look at your feet,
[01:29.000] Then a miracle happens, your mind's in a trance,
[01:33.000] Though the strategy's subtle, retreat and advance,
[01:38.000] It's all about attitude, all in your stance,
[01:41.000] Attention to detail, leaving nothing to chance,
[01:45.000] Which explains how the pugilist finally learned how to dance.
[01:53.000] Well, I'd waltz with a broomstick and if I was caught,
[01:57.000] I'd pretend I was sweeping or practicing sport,
[02:02.000] But I really had eyes for your mother ye see,
[02:05.000] Wanting her to acknowledge this new version of me,
[02:09.000] But now everyone's watching, expecting I'll fail,
[02:14.000] But there's fire in me belly, there's wind in me sails,
[02:18.000] I knew it was risky and I was taking a chance,
[02:22.000] I couldn't retreat now, I had to advance.
[02:26.000] So I swing to the left, I swing to the right,
[02:30.000] Keep me eyes on me partner, like I would in a fight,
[02:34.000] I just keep to the rhythm and follow the beat,
[02:38.000] The important thing's never to look at yr feet,
[02:42.000] But a miracle's happened, and your mind's in a trance,
[02:46.000] They're all laughing and cheering and looking askance,
[02:50.000] On the night that the pugilist finally learned how to dance.
[03:02.000] You're licking yr wounds just like little Jack Horner,
[03:06.000] Don't let your guard down try a jab with your right,
[03:10.000] Or you're losing on points by the end of the night,
[03:13.000] Then a miracle happens, and everyone's screaming,
[02:18.000] You're pinching yourself just in case you're still dreaming,
[03:21.000] You've taken the initiative, you've taken your chance,
[03:26.000] It's the night when this pugilist finally learned how to dance.
[03:33.000] In a bout where the strategist's bridges were burned,
[03:37.000] Where it seemed that his fortune had suddenly turned,
[03:40.000] 'Twas the night that this scrapper was suddenly dapper,
[03:44.000] And this poor fellow's heart was still going like the clappers,
[03:49.000] The night that the pugilist finally learned how to dance.