Technically, the canary was brought into the coal mine as a form of animal sentinel. An animal sentinel is essentially used because often times animals can detect changes to the environment more quickly than humans. In this particular and most classic of examples, coal miners would bring canaries into mines as an early warning sign for toxic gases like carbon monoxide. The birds would become sick before the miners because they were more sensitive to the change. When the miners saw this, they would then have a chance to escape the mine, or at least use some form of breathing aid (like a respirator).
In that vein, the short and sweet Police song starts off with the verse:
First to fall over when the atmosphere is less than perfect
Your sensibilities are shaken by the slightest defect
You live your life like a canary in a coal mine
you get so dizzy even walking in a straight line.
Pretty much in accordance with the literal definition of a canary in a coal mine, Sting has chosen to use the saying to represent an actual person who is unjustly fearful of the world. As you listen to the song, you realize that it's a statement about how this kind of thinking is delusional. You'll live your life like a canary in a coal mine, and hey, that sucks.
Both the message and the music are succinct, and quick (in tempo and point). It's a fun song on an album that has some of the most memorable Police cuts on it. It came out in 1980, and had tracks like the opener, "Don't Stand So Close to Me," followed by "Driven To Tears", and also included "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da." I always loved that last song, but god, the title pisses me off! This New Wave/Punk album actually topped the UK album charts, and rose to 5th on the Billboard Pop Albums chart. Not too shabby for three limey brits, eh?
Sting (aka Gordon Sumner) - Bass Guitar, Vocals, Synthesizers
Andy Summers - Guitar, guitar synths
Stewart Copeland - Drums, synthesizers, guitar
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