Why did roxanne have to put on the red light? ='(?

Answer 1

she was open for business...!!!

Answer 2

Sting wrote the song, inspired by the prostitutes he saw near the band's seedy hotel while in Paris, France in October 1977 to perform at the Nashville Club. The title of the song comes from the name of the character in the play Cyrano de Bergerac, an old poster of which was hanging in the hotel foyer.

He never meant for roxanne to put on the light, as putting on the light refers to prostitution
Sting probably just got tired of singing the "you don't have to..." part of the song.

you can check out the lyrics below


"Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light
Those days are over
You don't have to sell your body to the night
Roxanne, you don't have to wear that dress tonight
Walk the streets for money
You don't care if it's wrong or if it's right

Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light
Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light
Put on the red light, put on the red light
Put on the red light, put on the red light
Put on the red light, oh

I loved you since I knew ya
I wouldn't talk down to ya
I have to tell you just how I feel
I won't share you with another boy
I know my mind is made up
So put away your make up
Told you once I won't tell you again it's a bad way

Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light
Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light
You don't have to put on the red light
Put on the red light, put on the red light"

Answer 3

Red light means stop and the singer of the song obviously wants Roxanne to stop being a prostitute. So telling her to put on the red light is just reiterating the fact that she needs to stop.

Answer 4

Well the song said she didn't have to. So what's the fuss anyways? Besides Roxanne don't seem like a name for some really hot mama at all. It sounds, may be some whore in Birmingham in England or something.

Answer 5

The "red light" refers to the Red Light district. A decadent, sexual zone.

Answer 6

I thought she didn't have to put on the red light, according to Sting. Who knows? =)

Answer 7

*tilts head to side wonders who the hell roxanne is* cause *scratches noggin* tat is how it had to *laughs b/c she know s she made taht answer up*

Answer 8

Because as usual the man was moving too fast.

Answer 9

Durgh! Red light district...gosh!.....Idiot!.......In all honesty i didn;t know that answer either thank you people of yahoo questions for your help.

Answer 10

I suppose it was because she was a prostitute, and he wanted her to leave that life for something better.

Answer 11

she was stopping the life style she was living