Sting … aren’t you s’posed to wear a shirt with that tie?

I did not know The Police were British.  I know, I know … what rock did I grow up under, right?  Anyway, I was cruising about, looking for a song to play tonight, and I came across this one … one of those I had not thought of nor heard in years.  Now, to add to your mirth at my ignorance, I did not know this song was written by Sting, and … wait for it … I did not know that Sting was a person, Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner, but rather thought it was a band.  Okay … go ahead and laugh at my ignorance … I’ll wait …

Now, can I proceed?

This was the biggest U.S. and UK hit of 1983, and was nominated for three Grammy awards at the 26th Annual Grammy Awards in 1984, winning two of the three categories.  The song is considered to be both the Police’s and Sting’s signature song, and in 2010 was estimated to generate between a quarter and a third of Sting’s music publishing income.

At the risk of further showing my ignorance, I rather thought the song was about a guy who loved his girl so much that he couldn’t stand to let her out of his sight.  Turns out, I was wrong again.  According to the song’s writer …

“I think it’s a nasty little song, really rather evil. It’s about jealousy and surveillance and ownership. I think the ambiguity is intrinsic in the song however you treat it because the words are so sadistic. On one level, it’s a nice long song with the classic relative minor chords, and underneath there’s this distasteful character talking about watching every move. I enjoy that ambiguity. I watched Andy Gibb singing it with some girl on TV a couple of weeks ago, very loving, and totally misinterpreting it. I could still hear the words, which aren’t about love at all. I pissed myself laughing.”

I’m thinking I don’t like Mr. Sting very much, but I still like this song.

Every Breath You Take
The Police

Every breath you take
Every move you make
Every bond you break
Every step you take
I’ll be watching you

Every single day
Every word you say
Every game you play
Every night you stay
I’ll be watching you

Oh can’t you see
You belong to me
My poor heart aches
With every step you take

Every move you make
Every vow you break
Every smile you fake
Every claim you stake
I’ll be watching you

Since you’ve gone I been lost without a trace
I dream at night I can only see your face
I look around but it’s you I can’t replace
I feel so cold and I long for your embrace
I keep crying baby, baby, please

Oh can’t you see
You belong to me
My poor heart aches
With every step you take

Every move you make
Every vow you break
Every smile you fake
Every claim you stake
I’ll be watching you
Every move you make
Every step you take
I’ll be watching you

I’ll be watching you
(Every breath you take, every move you make, every bond you break, every step you take)
I’ll be watching you
(Every single day, every word you say, every game you play, every night you stay)
I’ll be watching you
(Every move you make, every vow you break, every smile you fake, every claim you stake)
I’ll be watching you
(Every single day, every word you say, every game you play, every night you stay)
I’ll be watching you
(Every breath you take, every move you make, every bond you break, every step you take)
I’ll be watching you
(Every single day, every word you say, every game you play, every night you stay)
I’ll be watching you

Songwriters: Gordon Sumner
Every Breath You Take lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC