From Synchronicity by The Police, 1983, written by Andy Summers
Once that you've decided on a killing,
First you make a stone of your heart
And if you find that your hands are still willing,
Then you can turn a murder into art
There really isn't need for bloodshed,
You just do it with a little more finesse
If you can slip a tablet into someone's coffee,
Then it avoids an awful lot of mess
It's murder by numbers one two three
It's as easy to learn as your ABC
(repeat)
Now if you have a taste for this experience,
And you're flushed with your very first success
Then you must try a twosome or a threesome,
And you'll find your conscience bothers you much less
Because murder is like anything you take to
It's a habit-forming need for more and more
You can bump off every member of your family
And anybody else you find a bore
Because it's murder by numbers one two three
It's as easy to learn as your ABC
It's murder by numbers one two three
It's as easy to learn as your ABC
Now you can join the ranks of the illustrious
In history's great dark hall of fame
All our famous killers were industrious
At least the ones that we all know by name
But you can reach the top of your profession
If you become the leader of the land
For murder is the sport of the elected
And you don't need to lift a finger of your hand
Because it's murder by numbers one two three
It's as easy to learn as your ABC
Murder by numbers one two three
It's as easy to learn as your A B C D E
One two three
ABC
One two three
ABC
etc.
That's the lyrics. Now the music:
The changes are great, but what's really cool is the meter - a 2-against-3 (or 4 against 6) subdivided, an interplay of syncopated triple against duple with shifting accents. The accents start out on 2 of every 3 (or 2 and 5 of every 6), in the percussion (whereas you would expect them to be on 1, or 1 and 4). When the vocal enters, in 4 (12/8, really - 4 groups of 3), starting on 1, these same accents fall on 2 and 4 of the 4. Or, you could say that the percussion intro starts with a pickup and puts the accent on 1, but the vocal melody comes in on 3 of the percussion ostinato instead of 1. Whatever. (See how easy it is to learn your numbers?)
Sometimes the subdivided 3 is accented in three but on the off-beats (the devil's rhythm), usually during the verse, and sometimes in 6/8 (accent on 1 of each 3/8) which lines up with the 12/8 in the chorus. Sometimes both are going at the same time. Very clever, deftly and smoothly done.
Copeland shifts things around and throws in additional licks in duple or triple, really quite brilliant. (At least to someone who's math-challenged, like me). Sting is supple with the 12/8 feel.
This is why I love music!
Love the couple of handclaps at the end too.
And the best news is, The Police are coming to a major city near you: see itinerary for the Reunion Tour.
(No, syncopation is not evil...)
