10 Songs Everyone Misunderstood As Kids

The Police were one of the most creative hitmakers of the new wave movement. Throughout the band's stunning run in the late 70's and early 80's, they had a knack for turning genres like reggae, calypso, and punk into a delectable mix of rock that you couldn't help but sing along with.

While "Roxanne" certainly warrants multiple spins from the listener, the actual perspective of the song shows Sting detailing a girl with a dirty track record. One in-depth listen to track will reveal that Sting is describing a hooker who tries to make ends meet by turning tricks. No underlying subtext...no other storyline. The crux of the tune is just about Roxanne being a hooker and Sting condemning her ways.

Then again, the song is veiled in such a way that it could get any 5-year-old to nod along with it. For all we knew, the red light could have referred to an actual stop light in traffic rather than the seedy side of the city's red light district. Though Roxanne may choose to live her life the way she wants to, this song's dark undercurrents have put parents on edge for decades now.