Sting has described the lyrics as being about "teenage suicide, which is always a bit of a joke," noting he wrote them in just five minutes . Despite the somber lyrics, the band performed it with an earnest, high-energy delivery.
Written by lead singer and bassist Sting , the song explores the dark theme of a teenager contemplating suicide after a breakup. Sting has described the lyrics as being about
The single gained notoriety due to its , which featured drummer Stewart Copeland standing on a block of ice with a noose around his neck, waiting for the ice to melt. waiting for the ice to melt.