[ ]   [ ]   [ ]                        [ ]      [ ]   [ ]
The Police — Message in a Bottle
Album: Reggatta de Blanc
Avg rating:
7.8

Your rating:
Total ratings: 4179









Released: 1979
Length: 4:35
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Just a castaway, an island lost at sea, oh
Another lonely day, with no one here but me, oh
More loneliness than any man could bear
Rescue me before I fall into despair, oh

I'll send an S.O.S. to the world
I'll send an S.O.S. to the world
I hope that someone gets my
I hope that someone gets my
I hope that someone gets my
Message in a bottle, yeah
Message in a bottle, yeah

A year has passed since I wrote my note
I should have known this right from the start
Only hope can keep me together
Love can mend your life or love can break your heart

I'll send an S.O.S. to the world
I'll send an S.O.S. to the world
I hope that someone gets my
I hope that someone gets my
I hope that someone gets my
Message in a bottle, yeah
Message in a bottle, yeah
Oh, message in a bottle, yeah
Message in a bottle, yeah

Walked out this morning, I don't believe what I saw
Hundred billion bottles washed up on the shore
Seems I'm not alone at being alone
Hundred billion castaways, looking for a home

I'll send an S.O.S. to the world
I'll send an S.O.S. to the world
I hope that someone gets my
I hope that someone gets my
I hope that someone gets my
Message in a bottle, yeah
Message in a bottle, yeah
Message in a bottle, oh
Message in a bottle, yeah

I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
Comments (432)add comment
In honor of Steve Martin and The Jerk, we rewrote the chorus to "picking out a thermos."
 paloeguevo wrote:

Great song. You could focus in each instrument and they are just great by themselves 




I  Agree!  Very well stated!  GREAT TUNE!!   Excellent in FLAC  w/ great equipment!  Thanx RP!   
 
Is he sending out an S.O.S?
The police would have been better with almost any lead singer but sting:

Otherwise great music and lyrics
I'm french, and each time I hear this song, I hear "Mon Opinel a dû mal couper..." (my Opinel -pocket knife- must have cut badly) instead of "More loneliness that any man could bear".
Always takes me back to an Aussie comedy show that after a major police corruption inquiry had an officer singing I get my massage in a brothel. Never been the same since. On a similar note, I know the Jam like eating trifles.
Great song. You could focus in each instrument and they are just great by themselves 
 tomperth1 wrote:

Ah - thanks for the lyrics clarification.  Always thought it was "Massage in a Brothel".




TOO FUNNY!!!
 sfyi2001 wrote:



I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.




...ONE MORE TIME!
 flyboy50 wrote:


You will listen and you will like it!!



Yeah!  To Hell with that IMHO bull.
kingart wrote:Do we really need Sting to sing a song-ending "sending out an SOS" 20 TIMES?

Yes
 tomperth1 wrote:

Ah - thanks for the lyrics clarification.  Always thought it was "Massage in a Brothel".



those yeahs and ohs even make more sense with your version
July 25th 1980, up to my armpits in mud & alcohol, aged almost 19 - still one of the best concerts I have ever been to.  How the heck can that be 41 years ago 



I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.

Here's why we seem to all cling to the past and think it was somehow better then. 

Spring 1983. Senior in high school. Picture perfect weather. With 4 friends, all of us VERY well lubricated, I'm 4 rows back in a large, open-air football stadium with the world's biggest band about 50 feet away from me.

Can't say I've been able to replicate the exhilaration and freedom I felt that day many times since. 
Apropos song selection on the anniversary of the first lost soul in the US from Covid-19.  Stay positive, test negative!
 Kevstar wrote:
Rickvee wrote:
This song is greatness - lyrically and musically. Love Copeland's drumming on this track. And a really clever melody by Sting on guitar.
That's Andy Summers, not Sting, on guitar.
 

Great bass line by Sting. The Police were a great trio.
 tomperth1 wrote:
Ah - thanks for the lyrics clarification.  Always thought it was "Massage in a Brothel".
 

Too Funny!
Ah - thanks for the lyrics clarification.  Always thought it was "Massage in a Brothel".
 kremfresch wrote:
Always wondered what "Sendinaden S.O.S." means.
 
Suggest you get a better music player. It's IllSendAn S-o-S or Sendinoutan S-o-S
Always wondered what "Sendinaden S.O.S." means.
People wondered if they could follow up Outlandos d'mour... with this tune they proved they could
This is fantastic, but the acoustic version from The Secret Policeman's Other Ball is sublime:  
  Asa001 wrote:

That drumming by Stewart Copeland makes the song... All in all a great track that has stood the test of time. {#Smile}

  
ziggytrix wrote:

He's got to be some sort of cyborg, right? He has such metronome-like precision, but still manages to make it feel organic.

 

GODLIKE MUSICIANS ON THIS ONE (in my trippin' head at this moment thank you : )

Great!
 slowchair wrote:
Sorry but I really hate the police and what's his name. LOL PSD PLEASE! 
 
If you hate the Police, you hate music.
hindsight is always 20/20
Mondegreen alert.... "A year has passed since I broke my nose".
To quote Ozy Osborn - I live in 30M villa in Hollywood, I was born in Aston Birmingham, I didn't finish school, I'm dyslexic, I use drugs, I could have been worse, I could have been Sting  
Sorry but I really hate the police and what's his name. LOL PSD PLEASE! 
 kingart wrote:
Do we really need Sting to sing a song-ending "sending out an SOS" 20 TIMES? 

 
I counted 23...
I much prefer Sting's later work — after The Police.
 Asa001 wrote:
That drumming by Stewart Copeland makes the song... All in all a great track that has stood the test of time. {#Smile}

 
He's got to be some sort of cyborg, right? He has such metronome-like precision, but still manages to make it feel organic.
 colt4x5 wrote:
I had rated this song very very very low ... because I was sick of hearing it.
But hearing it tonight during the catastrophe that we are pretending is an election has encouraged me to re-rate it.
Sending out an SOS, indeed.
Thanks, Bill. ;-) 
Chain chain chain (chain chain chain) chain of fools 

 
Haha, yeah...how appropriate. Except these days the same can be said almost everywhere everyday.
Despite my dislike of the personality that is Sting
This is one of my favourite pop songs
A little gem
That drumming by Stewart Copeland makes the song... All in all a great track that has stood the test of time. {#Smile}
 kingart wrote:
Do we really need Sting to sing a song-ending "sending out an SOS" 20 TIMES? 

 
Yes.
There was a wayback-time where one could say "The Police are the best band in the world right now". Oh, sure, anybody could disagree but none could dispute their critical and commercial yield at the time. 
 Skydog wrote:
on their first US tour they were at the Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor,
a friend asks me if I wanted go see this new group that he heard was good
after he told me who it was I said, no man I don't want to see a group called the f-ing Police
so I missed a good show from what I heard later 

 
Exact same thing happened to me, except they were playing at Disney World in Orlando
Always regretted not trusting my friend on that one 
 kingart wrote:
Do we really need Sting to sing a song-ending "sending out an SOS" 20 TIMES? 
 
It's kind of late to ask now; you should have asked him that 37 years ago.
I had rated this song very very very low ... because I was sick of hearing it.
But hearing it tonight during the catastrophe that we are pretending is an election has encouraged me to re-rate it.
Sending out an SOS, indeed.
Thanks, Bill. ;-) 
Chain chain chain (chain chain chain) chain of fools 
FYI, Sting will be the first to give a concert at Le Bataclan in Paris, on 11/12/16, one year after the massacre that took place there.  This is all about resilience to all extremisms.  All proceeds - but a few hundreds euros - will go to the victims and their families. 
on their first US tour they were at the Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor,
a friend asks me if I wanted go see this new group that he heard was good
after he told me who it was I said, no man I don't want to see a group called the f-ing Police
so I missed a good show from what I heard later 
Do we really need Sting to sing a song-ending "sending out an SOS" 20 TIMES? 
Copeland is godlike on this track ...
 
I first heard this song at a disco club. I was on the raised, lighted dance floor wearing platform shoes and bell bottom pants. I remember thinking...now this is more like it. I was so sick of disco and I still can't believe I dressed that way LOL

I'm sending an sms to the world... mesecin a bato, yeah!
Good Music from good times!

Nowadays one can hire Sting to sing at ones birthday, when the money is right. From singer to "working man"! {#Roflol}
 On_The_Beach wrote:

This is the only radio I listen to. You think it's crappy and repetitive?
I love RP, and The Police. I'm just sick to death of this particular song, so to use your words, get over it.

 
Is RP where this was so overplayed that you got this sick of it?
 CHuLoYo wrote:
Mexas nunha botella 
 
Grazas irmán 
 DeemerDave wrote:
Not Bill's fault you listen to crappy, repetitive radio. I haven't herd Message In a Bottle in weeks so I'm happy to hear it now. Get over it. You probably won't hear it here again for some time now so just relax and stay here.
 
This is the only radio I listen to. You think it's crappy and repetitive?
I love RP, and The Police. I'm just sick to death of this particular song, so to use your words, get over it.
 On_The_Beach wrote:

YES! This has to be the Police's most tedious and overplayed song.
ANY other track from this CD would be a welcome change.

 
Not Bill's fault you listen to crappy, repetitive radio. I haven't herd Message In a Bottle in weeks so I'm happy to hear it now. Get over it. You probably won't hear it here again for some time now so just relax and stay here.

 mediamarv wrote:

What's with all the oldies today? Haven't heard anything I needed to hear. ??

 
You will listen and you will like it!!
Mexas nunha botella 
What's with all the oldies today? Haven't heard anything I needed to hear. ??
All I know is, Sting ran out of lyrics. He sings "sending out an SOS" 17 times. 
Drove me flipping nuts on the FM replays. Talk about jabbing the PSD button. Salsa, the news, Shakira, anything but this tripe.

Now I like it more. Because it is not on the radio menu every 15 fookin minutes of programmed play.  
 On_The_Beach wrote:

YES! This has to be the Police's most tedious and overplayed song.
ANY other track from this CD would be a welcome change.

 
Well it's hard to pick between this one and a few off Ghost in the Machine. But seriously something else from these guys would be welcome.
 jhorton wrote:
Please, we pay good money to never hear audio shit like this! 

 
...it's what I pay for - best concert I ever saw in 1984.  :-)
Please, we pay good money to never hear audio shit like this! 
 Proclivities wrote:
I've heard at least three other tracks from this album here.
 
Yes, and they would be a welcome relief.
I just wish they'd quit beating this dead horse.
 On_The_Beach wrote:

YES! This has to be the Police's most tedious and overplayed song.
ANY other track from this CD would be a welcome change.

 
I've heard at least three other tracks from this album here.
It's not about how many tones it's played.. Put headphones on and chill !!!! Listen closely! Always something good if you listen and appreciate the music!
 marty88210 wrote:
Enough already...please drop the needle on some other tracks! Thanks RP.
 
YES! This has to be the Police's most tedious and overplayed song.
ANY other track from this CD would be a welcome change.
 Far wrote:

you forget how we danced in the 80's :)

 
The Bass , Drums and lead guitar are timeless in this song ---- especially the Bass !
 dragon1952 wrote:

Yep....you can only tolerate so many "sending out an SOS's" and this reaches the limit....kinda like the end of Layla that never, ever, ever ends. And part of the problem with this song is that it has just been played into the ground like Stairway to Heaven, Smoke on the fucking Water, Money, Layla, et al.

 
you forget how we danced in the 80's :)
 yofitofu wrote:
Just too too many "sending out an SOS's" in this one. A classic, yeah yeah. But so annoying.{#Beat}

 
Yep....you can only tolerate so many "sending out an SOS's" and this reaches the limit....kinda like the end of Layla that never, ever, ever ends. And part of the problem with this song is that it has just been played into the ground like Stairway to Heaven, Smoke on the fucking Water, Money, Layla, et al.
I'm of the same mind with many of the comments concerning the overabundance of "Sending out an SOS .." bit.
Other than that, it's a fine pop/rock song.
But yeah, that is annoying ... that's because it (like most Police tunes) is based upon Raggae standards, which are all annoyingly repetitive. 
 QueenLucia wrote:
It's like Chinese water torture—it just won't stop.

 
LMAO! 
Just too too many "sending out an SOS's" in this one. A classic, yeah yeah. But so annoying.{#Beat}
 Hasan wrote:

I saw them do this in a small theatre in Montreal in late-1979 while Roxanne was still high on the charts.

Copeland did amazing things with a sort of drum/xylophone thing: eight or a dozen or so cylinders ranging from a three to six centimetres in diameter.

Never saw any other drummer with it.  What was it?
No doubt about it, Copeland spread out a fascinating, intricate platform for the other two to play on.

 
Well, if you want some amazing back information on the man - go here
Amazing, just keeps better ...{#Bananajam}
Enough already...please drop the needle on some other tracks! Thanks RP.
This was one of my early exposures of a rock band playing a reggae-like song. I still like the song, and have come to love reggae and other Caribbean music.


heliosweb wrote:

Hmmm... I think you mean Zinn & the Art of Road Bike Maintenance (or alternatively, ... the Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance), by Lennard Zinn.

Still like this song after all these years... has held up well, IMO. A bit repetitive, but the quality of the instrumentation keeps your attention.

 
Nope, Creekgirl had it right. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance came out in 1974, and is a classic.
 islander wrote:
The Sting version from the Secret Policeman's Other Ball is the best version, but this is still good.

 
I was just coming over here to post this...

I saw them do this in a small theatre in Montreal in late-1979 while Roxanne was still high on the charts.

Copeland did amazing things with a sort of drum/xylophone thing: eight or a dozen or so cylinders ranging from a three to six centimetres in diameter.

Never saw any other drummer with it.  What was it?


No doubt about it, Copeland spread out a fascinating, intricate platform for the other two to play on.



 Dav3thedog wrote:
How could you not love this?
 
Oh, it's easy.  So, so easy.  

In fact, i can swing clear on over to "hate with a passion" without even breaking a sweat.
 
yeah but they had so many other good tunes that rarely get played..
How could you not love this?
{#Heartkiss} ....... is a 9 ........{#Kiss}
10 {#Angel}
10
When I was in college, this band's concert was cancelled because the powers that be found out they were a "punk" band. Such are the kind of "informed" decisions that rock our world...
Somebody please take this tired song out to the North 40 and shoot it.
 fitmartin wrote:
Mister Copeland is a unique drummer unlike any others!

 
I would hope so.
The Sting version from the Secret Policeman's Other Ball is the best version, but this is still good.
 ziggytrix wrote:
That Copeland feller sure knows what to do with a pair of drumsticks, eh?  bananadrum!

 
A clinic in the art of syncopation.
Damnit, another ear-worm to deal with!




 hencini wrote:
I've always liked the Spanish part at the end of this song: "Sin de nada-- eso es..." 

Doesn't make any sense, but it sounds cool.  
{#Shifty} 
 
Hahahahahaha!  Now dat dair's funny!
 creekgirl wrote:
... and btw.......bicycle mechanics sure can understand quality.
Check out Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance......

 
Hmmm... I think you mean Zinn & the Art of Road Bike Maintenance (or alternatively, ... the Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance), by Lennard Zinn.

Still like this song after all these years... has held up well, IMO. A bit repetitive, but the quality of the instrumentation keeps your attention.
I've always liked the Spanish part at the end of this song: "Sin de nada-- eso es..." 

Doesn't make any sense, but it sounds cool.  
























{#Shifty} 
Mister Copeland is a unique drummer unlike any others!
 garrettb wrote:
lol
 

This song is marvelous...  love it...

hope you be having a marvelous day right now...
 
 Lazarus wrote:

Everybody in my churches loves this song...
 

 

lol

Forever excellent :)



Everybody in my churches loves this song...
 
I actually heard this song live in early '79 at a Police show at The Longhorn in downtown Mpls.  It wasn't released yet, as it came out later that year on their 2nd album.  I still have a live tape from that show.  The band didn't really have a bunch of material at that point, so they stretched out every just about every song on "Outlandos d'Amour" longer than normal to fill out an 70 minute show, and also played early single Fallout.  Their 8 minute version of Roxanne really brings meaning to the term "more is less".
I remember seeing the Police in 1983 on their Synchronicity tour.  I enjoyed watching Stewart destroy his drum kit.  He was also breaking sticks throughout the show.  A roadie sat calmly next to his kit handing him stick after stick.  I got a huge kick out of that. 
Sending out a ness oh ess...
 ziggytrix wrote:
That Copeland feller sure knows what to do with a pair of drumsticks, eh?  bananadrum!
 
He sure does... My only claim to fame, as a drummer, is that I play his signature ride cymbal (Paiste Blue Bell Ride) {#Angel}
 Cynaera wrote:
"A year has passed since I broke my nose..."
 

Miss you so much, Cynaera...

love this song...
 
Shook me up when I was a boy. And made me more music-aware. Still sounds fresh today. And it will be in the future.
it seemed really deep at the time (to a 16-year old) ....... now..... well there are other songs that cover the theme better, but a good song nonetheless (although I've heard it to death)
loved this as a kid 30 years ago or whenever it was out.. but it is sooooo tired as a song...pff...enough already. It has not stood the test of time
I'd like to feel nostalgia for this song but as I hear it 3 times a week I can only feel extremely weary of it{#Rolleyes}
Not my favorite Police song, but a great one.  And young people please take note of the drums!  This is QUALITY.......quirky, 
spontaneous, riffing on rhythm.  Real talent!  Not like the electronic beat dance crap.  

and btw.......bicycle mechanics sure can understand quality.
Check out Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance......
That Copeland feller sure knows what to do with a pair of drumsticks, eh?  bananadrum!
I deduct 9 levels for the tooooooooooo-many times I heard it on FM. Besides, Sting comes close to the record of how many times a singer can repeat something in a song. Sending out a make it stop. 
 
 Stingray wrote:
ALWAYS "10"
 

You have got a good sense of humour.
 YES it is..QueenLucia wrote:
It's like Chinese water torture—it just won't stop.
 


 Sobient wrote:
"Sending out an SMS"
 
;)
 planet_lizard wrote:

It is all to often a symptom of success. And the more successful a group, the more vitriolic the hatred from some quarters. There are certain bands I don't even go to the comments pages of now because of it. It seems that a radio station that plays such a superb mixture as this will always attract a few music snobs. Ignore them.

 

Yes, nothing pisses off a lot of people more than the success of others.
brilliant songs don't age. 
Though I like this album, this hasn't aged well. Like a fine aged cheese that needed refrigeration, but wasn't so lucky. Yikes! 
It's like Chinese water torture—it just won't stop.
 colt4x5 wrote:
Some things just go hand in hand: Police, for example, goes hand in hand with "mute" or "change the station."
 
Boooooo

BOOOOOOOOO 
The acoustic version on Secrete Policemans Ball is AWESOME as well!
ero giovane
Timeless.
 neuticle wrote:
For some reason, everyone in our shop cracks up at the way he sings "wrote my note".

Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be bicycle mechanics...
 
I always thought it was an amusing pronunciation.  It sounds like he was putting on a Middle Eastern or Indian accent instead of his usual attempts at a Caribbean one.