Songfacts®: * Sting wrote "Russians" during the Cold War, a tense time when Russia and the United States felt threatened by the nuclear missiles they had pointed at each other. His lyrics rhetorically ask if Russians love their children too, and question why the Russians and the Americans would participate in the Cold War. [1]>> * The melody was inspired by Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev's Romance melody from the Lieutenant Kije Suite (compiled from the 1933 film Lieutenant Kije). * To Americans, Russia was the "Evil Empire" out to destroy them. This song finds compassion amid the rhetoric, a viewpoint rarely heard at the time. Not everyone agreed with Sting's sympathetic stance. [2]Police drummer Stewart Copeland is the son of a CIA operative and had a very different outlook. But as Copeland explained, no matter how cogent his arguments, Sting could refute them with an indefensible lyric like "Russians love their children too." Said Copeland, "You can't argue with a poet." * "Oppenheimer's deadly toy" refers to the atomic bomb. Robert Oppenheimer was an American physicist who was considered "The father of the atomic bomb." He later regretted his creation, saying he intended it to be used for energy in peace time. [3]>> * Sting recalled in Lyrics By Sting: "In this political climate a friend of mine, who was doing research at Columbia University in New York, had a computer system sophisticated enough to intercept the Soviet's TV signal from their satellite above the North Pole. * On a Saturday night in New York City we could watch Sunday morning programs for the kids in Russia. The shows seemed thoughtful and sweet, and I suddenly felt the need to state something obvious in the face of all this rhetoric: Russians love their children just as we do." * Sting originally wanted to record this song in Russia with the Leningrad State Orchestra. He told Record in 1985: "I feel very strongly that in order to relax East-West tension, you can't leave it to the politicians anymore - they've proved themselves totally inept: lt's up to individuals to make contact with one's counterpart behind the so-called Iron Curtain in order to ascertain and confirm that they are human beings and not demographic sub-robotic morons. * So I felt that it was important to go to the Soviet Union and perhaps meet fellow musicians and do something together. Unfortunately I came up against the bureaucracy that politicians put in front of you. It's not easy to get into the Soviet Union to make a record - and it should be. I'd love to take this band to Russia. I think it would freak them out." He added: "It's not a pro-Soviet song, it's pro-children. It's a very obvious statement to me but one that isn't being made. The wheels were set in motion but it's taken a very long time to do because of the politics of going through the Politburo and having them sanction it. My feeling is that you have to make contact with our potential enemies, people you might be expected to kill or be killed by." * The song started trending after Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. In response, on March 5, Sting posted [4]a video of himself performing "Russians" in aid of Help Ukraine. "I've only rarely sung this song in the many years since it was written, because I never thought it would be relevant again," he said at the beginning of the performance. "But, in the light of one man's bloody and woefully misguided decision to invade a peaceful, unthreatening neighbor, the song is, once again, a plea for our common humanity. * For the brave Ukrainians fighting against this brutal tyranny and also the many Russians who are protesting this outrage despite the threat of arrest and imprisonment - We, all of us, love our children. Stop the war." On March 25, he posted this version to YouTube and the major streaming services, with profits going to [5]helpukraine.center, an organization providing humanitarian aid for victims of the war. *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * Sting (Gordon Sumner) - RUSSIANS * In Europe and America there's a growing feeling of * …………………………. Conditioned to respond to all the threats * In the rhetorical speeches of the ……………………………. Mister Krushchev said, "We will bury you" * I don't ……………………………………. to this point of view It'd be such an ignorant thing to do If the Russians love their children too * How can I save my little boy from ……………………….'s deadly toy? There is no monopoly on common sense On either side of the political fence We share the same biology, regardless of …………….. Believe me when I say to you I hope the Russians love their children too There is no historical precedent To put the words in the mouth of the president? * There's no such thing as a ………………………………. war It's a lie we don't believe anymore Mister Reagan says, "We will protect you" I don't subscribe to this point of view Believe me when I say to you I hope the Russians love their children too We share the same biology, regardless of …………….. But what might save us, me and you Is if the Russians love their children too *  * Writer/s: Gordon Sumner, Serge Prokofieff Publisher: CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC Lyrics licensed and provided by [6]LyricFind