"Bring on the Night" is a song by British rock band

the Police The Police were an English rock band formed in London in 1977. For most of their history the line-up consisted of primary songwriter Sting (lead vocals, bass guitar), Andy Summers (guitar) and Stewart Copeland (drums, percussion). The Police ...

. Written by the band's bassist and vocalist

Sting Sting may refer to: * Stinger or sting, a structure of an animal to inject venom, or the injury produced by a stinger * Irritating hairs or prickles of a stinging plant, or the plant itself Fictional characters and entities * Sting (Middle-eart ...

, the song appeared as the fourth track on the band's second studio album, '' Reggatta de Blanc'' (1979).

Background

Some of the lyrics of "Bring on the Night" were recycled from the song "Carrion Prince (O Ye of Little Hope)", which was written by Sting for the band Last Exit.Sutcliffe, Phil & Fielder, Hugh (1981). ''L'Historia Bandido''. London and New York: Proteus Books. . Page 36. The title "Carrion Prince (O Ye of Little Hope)" was taken from

Ted Hughes Edward James "Ted" Hughes (17 August 1930 – 28 October 1998) was an English poet, translator, and children's writer. Critics frequently rank him as one of the best poets of his generation and one of the twentieth century's greatest wri ...

's poem "King of Carrion," which is about

Pontius Pilate Pontius Pilate (; grc-gre, Πόντιος Πιλᾶτος, ) was the fifth governor of the Roman province of Judaea, serving under Emperor Tiberius from 26/27 to 36/37 AD. He is best known for being the official who presided over the trial of J ...

. However, after reading '' The Executioner's Song'', Sting felt that the words fitted

Gary Gilmore Gary Mark Gilmore (born Faye Robert Coffman; December 4, 1940 – January 17, 1977) was an American criminal who gained international attention for demanding the implementation of his death sentence for two murders he had admitted to committing ...

's death wish, and says that since then, "I sing it with him in mind." Another line from "Bring on the Night", "when the evening spreads itself against the sky," is taken from

T. S. Eliot Thomas Stearns Eliot (26 September 18884 January 1965) was a poet, essayist, publisher, playwright, literary critic and editor.Bush, Ronald. "T. S. Eliot's Life and Career", in John A Garraty and Mark C. Carnes (eds), ''American National Biogr ...

's poem "

The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock", commonly known as "Prufrock", is the first professionally published poem by American-born British poet T. S. Eliot (1888–1965). Eliot began writing "Prufrock" in February 1910, and it was first publishe ...

," written in 1910-15. In ''Lyrics By Sting'', Sting said of this, "What is it Eliot said? 'Bad poets borrow, good poets steal'?" The song was only released as an album track in Britain, but was released as a single in the United States, Germany and France in January 1980. It was backed with "Visions of the Night" (the British B-side to " Walking on the Moon") in the United States, with " Reggatta de Blanc" in Germany, and with " Roxanne" in France. The single managed to hit in France; however the song did not make it into the charts in the US and Germany. The song was also released in a compilation album ''

The Police The Police were an English rock band formed in London in 1977. For most of their history the line-up consisted of primary songwriter Sting (lead vocals, bass guitar), Andy Summers (guitar) and Stewart Copeland (drums, percussion). The Police ...

'', as well as in live form on the album ''

Live! Live may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Live!'' (2007 film), 2007 American film * ''Live'' (2014 film), a 2014 Japanese film *'' ''Live'' (Apocalyptica DVD) Music *Live (band), American alternative rock band * List of albums ...

'', and featured as the title track on Sting’s live solo album ''

Bring On the Night ''Bring On the Night'' is the first live album by Sting recorded over the course of several live shows in 1985 and released in 1986. The title is taken from a song by the Police from their 1979 album ''Reggatta de Blanc''. The songs performed ...

'' which included extended jazz-influenced arrangements of Police songs, in addition to solo originals.

Critical reception

Cash Box ''Cashbox'', also known as ''Cash Box'', was an American music industry trade magazine, originally published weekly from July 1942 to November 1996. Ten years after its dissolution, it was revived and continues as ''Cashbox Magazine'', an online ...

'' said that "a charming acoustic guitar melody blends easily with the big kick drum beat and bassist." ''

Record World ''Record World'' magazine was one of the three main music industry trade magazines in the United States, along with '' Billboard'' and '' Cashbox''. It was founded in 1946 under the name ''Music Vendor'', but in 1964 it was changed to ''Record Wo ...

'' said that "Captivating soprano vocals join a pulsating guitar and thumping drum as the Police issue more of their premium reggae rock." Greg Prato of ''

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

'' noted the song as being "much more sedate than ome songs on ''Outlandos d'Amour''">Outlandos_d'Amour.html" ;"title="ome songs on ''Outlandos d'Amour">ome songs on ''Outlandos d'Amour''" ''AllMusic'' critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine, in his review of ''The Police'', noted the song as a "second-tier classic." ''Ultimate Classic Rock'' critic Mike Duquette rated it to be the Police's 11th greatest song, saying that Andy Summers' " arpeggiated guitar

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...is one of the band’s catchiest."

Track listing

;7" – A&M / AM 2218-S (US) # "Bring on the Night" – 4:15 # "Visions of the Night" – 3:05 ;7" – A&M / AMS 7689 (Germany) # "Bring on the Night" – 4:15 # "Reggatta de Blanc" – 3:05 ;7" – A&M / AMS 7687 (France) # "Bring on the Night" – 4:15 # " Roxanne" – 3:10

Personnel

– vocals, bass guitar * Andy Summers – guitar * Stewart Copeland – drums

Charts

References

{{authority control The Police songs 1979 songs 1979 singles Songs written by Sting (musician) Song recordings produced by Nigel Gray A&M Records singles