The Night The Pugilist Learned How To Dance

Sting

Key: Major Time: 3/4 E||-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| B||-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| G||-------3----3----|-------2----2----|-------1----1----|-------0---------| D||-------1----1----|-------1----1----|-------1----1----|-------1---------| A||--2--------------|-----------------|--2--------------|-----------------| E||-----------------|--2--------------|-----------------|--2--------------| In the -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -------3----3----|-------2----2----|-------1----1----|--0--------------| -------1----1----|-------1----1----|-------1----1----|--1--------------| --2--------------|-----------------|--2--------------|-----------------| -----------------|--2--------------|-----------------|--2--------------| streets around here there was nobody tougher than me -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -------3----3----|-------3----3----|-------3----3----|-------3----3----| -------1----1----|-------1----1----|-------1----1----|-------1----1----| --2--------------|--2--------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|--4--------------|--4--------------| I was -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -------4----4----|-------4----4----|-------4----4----|-------3----3----| -------2----2----|-------2----2----|-------2----2----|-------2----2----| --4--------------|--4--------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|--2--------------|--2--------------| quick with me fists and fast with me footwork as -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -------4----4----|-------4----4----|-------4----4----|-------3----3----| -------2----2----|-------2----2----|-------2----2----|-------2----2----| --4--------------|--4--------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|--2--------------|--2--------------| you can plainly see But while -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -------3----3----|-------2----2----|-------1----1----|-------0----0----| -------1----1----|-------1----1----|-------1----1----|-------1----1----| --2--------------|-----------------|--2--------------|-----------------| -----------------|--2--------------|-----------------|--2--------------| fighting was useful for getting your way among the -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -------2----2----|-------2----2----|-------2----2----|-------2----2----| -------2----2----|-------2----2----|-------1----1----|-------1----1----| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| --2--------------|--2--------------|--2--------------|--2--------------| toughs of the town where you could hold sway There -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|-------2----2----|-------2----2----| -------1----1----|-------1----1----|-------0----0----|-------0----0----| -------1----1----|-------1----1----|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| --0--------------|--0--------------|--0--------------|--0--------------| had to be something that was better than this I was -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -------4----4----|-------4----4----|-------4----4----|-------4----4----| -------4----4----|-------4----4----|-------4----4----|-------4----4----| -----------------|--4--------------|--3--------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|--4--------------| --4--------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| fifteen years old and I'd never been kissed Well of -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| ------------3----|------------4----|------------5----|--6--------------| -------2---------|-------2---------|-------4---------|--4--------------| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| --2--------------|--4--------------|--5--------------|--6--------------| course she'd ignore me, her friends would all sneer at me -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -------3----3----|-------3----3----|-------3----3----|-------3----3----| -------1----1----|-------1----1----|-------1----1----|-------1----1----| --2--------------|--2--------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|--4--------------|--4--------------| bloody nose dripping and me cauliflower ear for it's -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -------4----4----|-------4----4----|-------4----4----|-------3----3----| -------2----2----|-------2----2----|-------2----2----|-------2----2----| --4--------------|--4--------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|--2--------------|--2--------------| hard to convince in a romantic pose with a -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -------4----4----|-------4----4----|-------4----4----|-------3----3----| -------2----2----|-------2----2----|-------2----2----|-------2----2----| --4--------------|--4--------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|--2--------------|--2--------------| lovely black eye and a broken nose where a -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -------3----3----|-------2----2----|-------1----1----|-------0----0----| -------1----1----|-------1----1----|-------1----1----|-------1----1----| --2--------------|-----------------|--2--------------|-----------------| -----------------|--2--------------|-----------------|--2--------------| girl is attracted to skills more refined than the -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -------2----2----|-------2----2----|-------2----2----|-------2----2----| -------2----2----|-------2----2----|-------1----1----|-------1----1----| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| --2--------------|--2--------------|--2--------------|--2--------------| pugilist's art, and so I inclined to -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|-------2----2----|-------2----2----| -------1----1----|-------1----1----|-------0----0----|-------0----0----| -------1----1----|-------1----1----|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| --0--------------|--0--------------|--0--------------|--0--------------| take meself serious as a modern romancer and I -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -------4----4----|-------4----4----|-------4----4----|-------4----4----| -------4----4----|-------4----4----|-------4----4----|-------4----4----| -----------------|--4--------------|--3--------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|--4--------------| --4--------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| secretly learnt all the moves of a dancer ye -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| ------------3----|------------4----|------------5----|--6--------------| -------2---------|-------2---------|-------4---------|--4--------------| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| --2--------------|--4--------------|--5--------------|--6--------------| swing to the left, ye swing to the right keep your -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -------3----3----|-------3----3----|-------3----3----|-------3----3----| -------1----1----|-------1----1----|-------1----1----|-------1----1----| --2--------------|--2--------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|--4--------------|--4--------------| eyes on your partner, more or less like a fight ye just -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -------4----4----|-------4----4----|-------4----4----|-------3----3----| -------2----2----|-------2----2----|-------2----2----|-------2----2----| --4--------------|--4--------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|--2--------------|--2--------------| follow the rhythm, and ye keep to the beat the -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -------4----4----|-------4----4----|-------4----4----|-------3----3----| -------2----2----|-------2----2----|-------2----2----|-------2----2----| --4--------------|--4--------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|--2--------------|--2--------------| important thing's never to look at your feet then a -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -------3----3----|-------2----2----|-------1----1----|-------0----0----| -------1----1----|-------1----1----|-------1----1----|-------1----1----| --2--------------|-----------------|--2--------------|-----------------| -----------------|--2--------------|-----------------|--2--------------| miracle happens, your mind's in a trance though the -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -------2----2----|-------2----2----|-------2----2----|-------2----2----| -------2----2----|-------2----2----|-------1----1----|-------1----1----| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| --2--------------|--2--------------|--2--------------|--2--------------| strategy's subtle, retreat and advance it's -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|-------2----2----|-------2----2----| -------1----1----|-------1----1----|-------0----0----|-------0----0----| -------1----1----|-------1----1----|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| --0--------------|--0--------------|--0--------------|--0--------------| all about attitude, all in your stance at- -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -------3----3----|-------3----3----|-------4----4----|-------3----3----| -------1----1----|-------1----1----|-------2----2----|-------2----2----| --2--------------|-----------------|--4--------------|-----------------| -----------------|--4--------------|-----------------|--2--------------| tention to detail, leaving nothing to chance which -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -------6----6----|-------4----4----|-------4----4----|-------3----3----| -------4----4----|-------4----4----|-------2----2----|-------2----2----| --6--------------|-----------------|--4--------------|-----------------| -----------------|--4--------------|-----------------|--2--------------| explains how the pugilist finally learned how to -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -------6----6----|-------4----4----|-------4----4----|--3--------------| -------4----4----|-------4----4----|-------2----2----|--2--------------| --6--------------|-----------------|--4--------------|-----------------| -----------------|--4--------------|-----------------|--2--------------| dance well, I'd -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -------3----3----|-------2----2----|-------1----1----|-------0----0----| -------1----1----|-------1----1----|-------1----1----|-------1----1----| --2--------------|-----------------|--2--------------|-----------------| -----------------|--2--------------|-----------------|--2--------------| waltz with a broomstick and if I was caught i'd -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -------3----3----|-------3----3----|-------3----3----|-------3----3----| -------1----1----|-------1----1----|-------1----1----|-------1----1----| --2--------------|--2--------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|--4--------------|--4--------------| pretend I was sweeping or practicing sport but I -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -------4----4----|-------4----4----|-------4----4----|-------3----3----| -------2----2----|-------2----2----|-------2----2----|-------2----2----| --4--------------|--4--------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|--2--------------|--2--------------| really had eyes for your mother ye see wanting -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -------4----4----|-------4----4----|-------4----4----|-------3----3----| -------2----2----|-------2----2----|-------2----2----|-------2----2----| --4--------------|--4--------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|--2--------------|--2--------------| her to acknowledge this new version of me but now -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -------3----3----|-------2----2----|-------1----1----|-------0----0----| -------1----1----|-------1----1----|-------1----1----|-------1----1----| --2--------------|-----------------|--2--------------|-----------------| -----------------|--2--------------|-----------------|--2--------------| everyone's watching, expecting I'll fail but there's -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -------2----2----|-------2----2----|-------2----2----|-------2----2----| -------2----2----|-------2----2----|-------1----1----|-------1----1----| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| --2--------------|--2--------------|--2--------------|--2--------------| fire in me belly, there's wind in me sails I -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|-------2----2----|-------2----2----| -------1----1----|-------1----1----|-------0----0----|-------0----0----| -------1----1----|-------1----1----|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| --0--------------|--0--------------|--0--------------|--0--------------| knew it was risky and I was taking a chance I -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -------4----4----|-------4----4----|-------4----4----|-------4----4----| -------4----4----|-------4----4----|-------4----4----|-------4----4----| -----------------|--4--------------|--3--------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|--4--------------| --4--------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| couldn't retreat now, I had to advance so I -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| ------------3----|------------4----|------------5----|--6--------------| -------2---------|-------2---------|-------4---------|--4--------------| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| --2--------------|--4--------------|--5--------------|--6--------------| swing to the left, I swing to the right keep me -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -------3----3----|-------3----3----|-------3----3----|-------3----3----| -------1----1----|-------1----1----|-------1----1----|-------1----1----| --2--------------|--2--------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|--4--------------|--4--------------| eyes on me partner, like I would in a fight I just -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -------4----4----|-------4----4----|-------4----4----|-------3----3----| -------2----2----|-------2----2----|-------2----2----|-------2----2----| --4--------------|--4--------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|--2--------------|--2--------------| keep to the rhythm and follow the beat the im- -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -------4----4----|-------4----4----|-------4----4----|-------3----3----| -------2----2----|-------2----2----|-------2----2----|-------2----2----| --4--------------|--4--------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|--2--------------|--2--------------| portant thing's never to look at your feet but a -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -------3----3----|-------2----2----|-------1----1----|-------0----0----| -------1----1----|-------1----1----|-------1----1----|-------1----1----| --2--------------|-----------------|--2--------------|-----------------| -----------------|--2--------------|-----------------|--2--------------| miracle's happened, and your mind's in a trance they're -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -------2----2----|-------2----2----|-------2----2----|-------2----2----| -------2----2----|-------2----2----|-------1----1----|-------1----1----| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| --2--------------|--2--------------|--2--------------|--2--------------| all laughing and cheering and looking askance on the -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|-------2----2----|-------2----2----| -------1----1----|-------1----1----|-------0----0----|-------0----0----| -------1----1----|-------1----1----|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| --0--------------|--0--------------|--0--------------|--0--------------| night that the pugilist finally learned how to -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -------3----3----|-------3----3----|-------4----4----|-------3---------| -------1----1----|-------1----1----|-------2----2----|-------2---------| --2--------------|-----------------|--4--------------|-----------------| -----------------|--4--------------|-----------------|--2--------------| dance it's a -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -------4----4----|-------3----3----|-------2----2----|-------1----1----| -------2----2----|-------2----2----|-------2----2----|-------2----2----| --3--------------|-----------------|--3--------------|-----------------| -----------------|--3--------------|-----------------|--3--------------| three-minute round and you're back in yr corner you're -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -------3----3----|-------3----3----|-------3----3----|-------3----3----| -------4----4----|-------4----4----|-------4----4----|-------4----4----| -------2----2----|-------2----2----|-------2----2----|-------2----2----| --3--------------|--3--------------|--0--------------|--0--------------| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| licking your wounds just like little Jack Horner don't -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -------5----5----|-------5----5----|-------5----5----|-------5----3----| -------5----5----|-------5----5----|-------5----5----|-------5----4----| -------3----3----|-------3----3----|-------3----3----|-------3----3----| --5--------------|--5--------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|--3--------------|--3--------------| let your guard down try a jab with your right or you're -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -------5----5----|-------5----5----|-------5----5----|-------3----3----| -------5----5----|-------5----5----|-------5----5----|-------4----4----| -------3----3----|-------3----3----|-------3----3----|-------3----3----| --5--------------|--5--------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|--3--------------|--3--------------| losing on points by the end of the night then a -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -------3----3----|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -------4----4----|-------3----3----|-------2----2----|-------1----1----| -------2----2----|-------2----2----|-------2----2----|-------2----2----| --3--------------|-----------------|--3--------------|-----------------| -----------------|--3--------------|-----------------|--3--------------| miracle happens, and everyone's screaming you're -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|------------1----|--3--------------|------------1----| -------3----3----|-------3---------|-------3---------|--3----3---------| -------3----3----|-------3---------|-------2----2----|--2--------------| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| --3--------------|--3--------------|--3--------------|--3--------------| pinching yourself just in case you're still dreaming you've -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -------1----1----|------------1----|------------1----|-------1---------| -------2----2----|-------2---------|-------1---------|-------1---------| -------2----2----|-------2---------|-------2---------|-------0---------| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| --1--------------|--1--------------|--1--------------|--1--------------| taken the initiative, you've taken your chance it's the -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -------5----5----|------------5----|-------5---------|------------1----| -------5----5----|-------5---------|------------5----|-------1---------| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-------0---------| --0--------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|--4--------------|--2--------------|--1--------------| night when this pugilist finally learned how to -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-------1----1----|-----------------|-----------------| ------------0----|-------0----0----|-------5----5----|-------4---------| -------2---------|-------2----2----|-------3----3----|-------3---------| -----------------|--0--------------|--5--------------|-----------------| --0--------------|-----------------|-----------------|--3--------------| dance in a -------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------| -------10----10----|-------10----10----|--------9-----9----|--------9-----9----| -------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------| -------10----10----|-------10----10----|-------10----10----|-------10----10----| --9----------------|--9----------------|--8----------------|--8----------------| -------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------| bout where the strategist's bridges were burned where it -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -------8----8----|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|------------5----|-------5----5----|-------4----4----| -------9----9----|-------5---------|-------3----3----|-------3----3----| --7--------------|-----------------|--5--------------|-----------------| -----------------|--5--------------|-----------------|--3--------------| seemed that his fortune had suddenly turned 'twas the -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -------7----7----|-------5----5----|-------5----5----|-------4----4----| -------5----5----|-------5----5----|-------3----3----|-------3----3----| --7--------------|-----------------|--5--------------|-----------------| -----------------|--5--------------|-----------------|--3--------------| night that this scrapper was suddenly dapper and this -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -------7----7----|-------5----5----|-------5----5----|-------4----4----| -------5----5----|-------5----5----|-------3----3----|-------3----3----| --7--------------|-----------------|--5--------------|-----------------| -----------------|--5--------------|-----------------|--3--------------| poor fellow's heart was still going like the clappers the -------------------|-------------------|-----------------|-----------------| -------10----10----|--------9-----9----|-------8----8----|-------7----7----| -------------------|-------------------|-------5----5----|-------5----5----| -------10----10----|-------10----10----|-----------------|-----------------| --9----------------|--8----------------|--7--------------|--6--------------| -------------------|-------------------|-----------------|-----------------| night that the pugilist finally learned how to -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| --6--------------|-----------------|--0--------------|-----------------| --5--------------|-----------------|--1--------------|-----------------| --7--------------|-----------------|--3--------------|-----------------| --5--------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|--3--------------|-----------------| dance -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -------4----4----|-------3----3----|-------2----2----|-------1----1----| -------2----2----|-------2----2----|-------2----2----|-------2----2----| --3--------------|-----------------|--3--------------|-----------------| -----------------|--3--------------|-----------------|--3--------------| ------------------|------------<>12-|-----------------|-----------------| ------------------|-------<>12------|-----------------|-----------------| ------------------|--<>12-----------|-----------------|-----------------| -----------<>12---|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| -------<>12-------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| --<>12------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|

Watch the song video
Top songs from Sting
Playground Sessions Course Banner
Did you ever dreamed on playing piano?

Playground Sessions is a revolutionary new way to learn music and play the piano. No more boring courses. The adaptive videos automatically adjust to your skill level. Plus, you’ll receive regular feedback on your progress each week, plus a personal training plan from a professional piano teacher.

Start to play the piano instantly - and have fun doing it!