Desert Rose

"Desert Rose" is a single by Sting from his album Brand New Day (1999). The song peaked at #15 in the UK Singles Chart and #17 in the US Billboard Hot 100. The song is noted for Sting's duet performance with Algerian raï singer Cheb Mami, creating a distinct world music feel to the song. It also has a popular music video featuring Sting taking a trip through the desert in a Jaguar S-Type and then going to a nightclub to perform the song with Cheb Mami. After shooting the video, Sting's manager Miles Copeland III approached Jaguar about a collaboration, and the auto company featured the video in their prominent television advertisements during the year 2000. Also included on the single releases were club remixes by Victor Calderone. One remixed version of the song was used in an alternative edit of the video, which included more sexually explicit footage.

[Intro: Cheb Mami] Hathe mada tawila Wa ana nahos ana wahala ghzalti Wa ana nahos ana wahala ghzalti Wa ana nahos ana wahala ghzalti [Verse 1: Sting] I dream of rain I dream of gardens in the desert sand I wake in vain I dream of love as time runs through my hand I dream of fire Those dreams are tied to a horse that will never tire And in the flames Her shadows play in the shape of a man's desire This desert rose Each of her veils, a secret promise This desert flower No sweet perfume ever tortured me more than this And as she turns This way she moves in the logic of all my dreams This fire burns I realize that nothing's as it seems I dream of rain I dream of gardens in the desert sand I wake in vain I dream of love as time runs through my hand I dream of rain I lift my gaze to empty skies above I close my eyes This rare perfume is the sweet intoxication of her love [Cheb Mami] Aman aman aman Omry feek antia Ma ghair antia Ma ghair antia [Verse 2: Sting] I dream of rain I dream of gardens in the desert sand I wake in vain I dream of love as time runs through my hand Sweet desert rose Each of her veils, a secret promise This desert flower No sweet perfume ever tortured me more than this Sweet desert rose This memory of Eden haunts us all This desert flower This rare perfume, is the sweet intoxication of the fall [Outro: Cheb Mami] Ya lili ah ya leel