My Gen X Playlist: King of Pain – The Police

Absent any new WordPress daily prompts, I pulled one from thecoffeemonsterzco.

What has been the most painful physical pain you experienced?

My buddy is usually really good about scouting a hiking trail. He studies maps and trail guides and we hit the highlights on the trek. I’m sure he did his homework when we were winding through Sequoia National Park. Uncharacteristically, we seemed to take a number of wrong turns and we ended up lost a few times.

Normally this wouldn’t be a big deal. This particular time, however, I had an unbearable pain in my ankle. I couldn’t explain it. I didn’t twist it or fall and for some reason, the pain only hit on level ground or on a downhill slope. Uphill, no pain, but who the hell loves an uphill climb? Well, at that moment in time, me.

It turns out it was the beginning of a series of gout attacks. Upon returning home, it became worse. I had random flare ups for a few weeks. I could feel the onset and the pain gradually intensified until I was completely incapacitated. I knew I was in real pain when I drove myself to the ER because I never initiate medical care unless I don’t have a choice. I was getting tired feeling out of control just waiting for the next shoe to drop. The ER prescribed medication that helped curb the pain. Thank God I haven’t had another episode since. That level of pain left an indelible footprint in my head.

In 1983, The Police released King of Pain. I always thought this was an interesting song title. Learning the backstory didn’t disappoint. In an interview, Sting explained the inspiration behind the song.

“I conjured up symbols of pain and related them to my soul. A black spot on the sun struck me as being a very painful image.” 

He recalled the specific incident and how future wife Trudie Styler inspired the song’s title . . . “I was sitting moping under a tree in the garden, and as the sun was sinking toward the western horizon, I noticed that there was a lot of sunspot activity.

I turned to Trudie. ‘There’s a little black spot on the sun today.’ She waited expectantly, not really indulging my mood but tolerant. ‘That’s my soul up there,’ I added gratuitously. Trudie discreetly raised her eyes to the heavens. ‘There he goes again, the king of pain.'”

Songfacts

I’m not a big fan of physical pain but I have to say, emotional pain is probably worse. If I had the choice, I’ll take a gout attack over heartbreak any day. I can withstand a trip to the ER and a few episodes of pain. Heartbreak? Man, that stays with you for a long time…

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For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

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 tree top
There's a flag pole 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 tree top, that's my soul up there
There's a flag pole 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 huntmen'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