"Roxanne" was written by Sting, who is credited as sole writer of both the music and the lyrics. It was first recorded by the English rock band The Police and released as a single on 14 April 1978. It later appeared on the album Outlandos d'Amour, released on 17 November 1978. Sting wrote the song in Paris in October 1977, inspired by prostitutes near the band's hotel, and the title is taken from Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac. The song is classed in the rock and new wave genres. In the United States it placed at No. 32 on the Billboard Hot 100 in its 1979 issue.
