The Meaning Behind The Song: Invisible Sun by The Police
As a music journalist, I am always fascinated by the stories and meanings behind the songs we love. Today, I want to delve into one of my personal favorites, “Invisible Sun” by The Police. This track, from their 1981 album Ghost in the Machine, holds a deeper significance that goes beyond its catchy melody and infectious rhythm.
When I first heard “Invisible Sun,” I was captivated by its haunting lyrics and the emotions they conveyed. It was as if Sting, the lead vocalist and songwriter, had managed to encapsulate a sense of pain, despair, and hope all in one song. Little did I know at the time that these emotions were inspired by the events taking place in Belfast during The Troubles in 1981.
The Troubles was a highly volatile period in Northern Ireland’s history marked by conflict between Irish nationalists and unionists. The Irish Republican Army (IRA) played a significant role in this conflict, and many of their members were imprisoned in the Maze Prison, also known as Long Kesh. The conditions in these H-blocks were grim, and a number of prisoners resorted to hunger strikes to protest their treatment.
“Invisible Sun” serves as a commentary on the despair and suffering experienced by these imprisoned IRA members. Sting paints a vivid image of a life marked by darkness and confinement, looking at the walls of a prison cell and acknowledging the stark reality faced by these individuals. The line, “I face the day with my head caved in, lookin’ like somethin’ that the cat brought in,” captures the physical toll and degradation these prisoners endured.
However, amidst the darkness, Sting brings forth a glimmer of hope. He sings, “There has to be an invisible sun that gives us hope when the whole day’s done.” With these words, he alludes to the resilience and inner strength that exists within these individuals. It is the belief in something greater, an invisible force that provides them with the strength to face the hardships and find hope in the darkest of times.
Sting himself has shared his intentions behind writing this song. In an interview with Revolver magazine in 2000, he revealed, “I actually wrote the song in Ireland, where I was living at the time. It was during the hunger strikes in Belfast. I wanted to write about that but I wanted to show some light at the end of the tunnel. I do think there has to be an ‘invisible sun’. You can’t always see it, but there has to be something radiating light into our lives.”
“Invisible Sun” not only sheds light on the struggles faced by the IRA members but also serves as a universal message of hope in the face of adversity. It speaks to the human ability to find strength and courage even in the darkest moments. The song reminds us that there is always something beyond the hardships we face, an invisible sun that gives us the will to carry on.
As we listen to “Invisible Sun” and immerse ourselves in its lyrics, let us remember the resilience of those who lived through The Troubles and find inspiration in their ability to find hope in the most challenging of circumstances.
