Sting wrote this in 1979 after seeing television reports of starving children. By this time, he had traveled extensively with The Police and experienced many cultures. The images he saw of people living in extreme poverty led him to write the song.
The Police were on their second American tour when Sting wrote this song in a motel room. Sting thinks it's the only song he ever wrote on the road.
The song asks how we react when confronted with uncomfortable truths. Sting explained: "What are you left with when you're faced with atrocities? All you can do is cry."
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