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The Police — Every Breath You Take
Album: Synchronicity
Avg rating:
7.7

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1072









Released: 1983
Length: 4:02
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Every breath you take and every move you make
Every bond you break, every step you take, I'll be watching you
Every single day and 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
How 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've 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
How my poor heart aches with every step you take

Every move you make and 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 and every move you make
Every bond you break, every step you take (I'll be watching you)
Every single day and 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 and every word you say
Every game you play, every night you stay (I'll be watching you)

Every breath you take and every move you make
Every bond you break, every step you take (I'll be watching you)
Every single day and 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 and every word you say
Every game you play, every night you stay (I'll be watching you)
Comments (124)add comment
The stalker song!   ...I'll be watching you!
Another song, where i honestly dont know why there is not a solid 10!
 jamesbradley1 wrote:

Sting composed EBYT while staying with Chris Blackwell  (owner of Island Records) at Golden Eye in Jamaica. Originally a house in a beautiful cove belonging to Ian Fleming, . 




Thank You for the info!
 Proclivities wrote:



Too funny!
Sting composed EBYT while staying with Chris Blackwell  (owner of Island Records) at Golden Eye in Jamaica. Originally a house in a beautiful cove belonging to Ian Fleming, . 
Still a great tune (8) and now that I NEVER listen to FM radio it's been three years since I last heard this one. 

Long Live RP and the Alternate Mixes!!
Back then I didn’t think of it as a stalker song but it made me uncomfortable. Now it’s downright terrifying.
Thanks RP.
...And now I'm running 15 minutes late since I bloody well cannot get off the PC with this continuous awesomeness from Bill. 
Our first child was born the year this song came out. We never thought of it as a "stalking" song. We thought of it as our song with him. I know the lyrics do not fit 100% but we so loved our child that a lot of the lyrics fit. We did watch very breath he took, and every move he made, every step he took. Every single day and every word he said. Every game he played, (soccer and track) every night he stayed. He is 37 now and has a son of his own, and still love him and now his son too. The cycle renews.
Awesome song -- I can remember their sound was so ground-breaking and different. The 80's were different.

Also, I played this tune in a band (keyboards), and the high note was an Ab. Silly what you remember.
BIG stuff in '83  was anyone else there in the Tacomadome?
 lazylemming wrote:
Stalker set!  Well played!
Passenger - Night Vision Binoculars
The Police - Every Breath You Take 

What's next...? Rockwell's "Somebody's Watching Me"...?

 

Death Cab- I will Possess your Heart would be great
I still have my muscle T from that tour. It sorta fits.
 ckcotton wrote:
THIRTY FRICKING YEARS!!!!!!

I CAN'T possibly be old enough to remember this on MTV.... Mercy

and almost 3 years between plays?... wow

 

Top song of the Summer!! 1983
Bill should play next:
 Morrissey The more you ignore me the closer I get
 
THIRTY FRICKING YEARS!!!!!!

I CAN'T possibly be old enough to remember this on MTV.... Mercy

and almost 3 years between plays?... wow
Agreed that there are loads of stronger Police songs out there and that the subject of this one..... is more scary than sweet!
Stalker set!  Well played!
Passenger - Night Vision Binoculars
The Police - Every Breath You Take 

What's next...? Rockwell's "Somebody's Watching Me"...?
back to back stalking songs, well done Bill :-)

Top#3 Police...


 salide wrote:
I absolutely love the police...but this song had so much play on the radio...and in retail shopping stores, weddings and remixes...that...well...I sort of cant stand it now..and that makes me sad.
 
what salide said. . . .

 mrmojorisin wrote:
Perfect stalker song.
 
HAHAHAHAHA — toootally.  {#Stop}
This is so unlike Rp to play the overexposed song on the Album instead of one of the other good songs that are a bit rarer (but that we would still all know).  Disappointed to hear it here when there are so many other songs on the album we never get to hear.

 RobK wrote:


I totally agree. I can't help but wonder exactly what would make these people happy. Should Sting sell his castle and move into a flat in East London? Drive an old beat up car to tiny gigs in smoky pubs? Maybe not shave, dress like a slob, become a drug addict, or get fat...? He's makes a lot of money from his music - what a bastard. The guy just made an album of medeival lute music for Christ's sake. Ya, total sellout.

 

I loved the Police, and I certainly don't mind seeing Sting do what he wants, but that lute music album was just horrible.  Not the lute playing, which was fabulous, but Sting's attempt at putting his own personal touch to renaissance music fell very risibly flat for me.

I absolutely love the police...but this song had so much play on the radio...and in retail shopping stores, weddings and remixes...that...well...I sort of cant stand it now..and that makes me sad.
 esotericderek wrote:
One of the greatest songs. I find it interesting that Sting stole the lyrics from Led Zeppelin's "D'Yer Mak'er".

I find it even more interesting that this is such a little known fact.
 

Apart from the "Every breath I take" line (which is hardly original to ether Zep or The Police) I'm not really hearing it. Has Sting fessed up to this or is this a rumour?

 esotericderek wrote:
One of the greatest songs. I find it interesting that Sting stole the lyrics from Led Zeppelin's "D'Yer Mak'er".

I find it even more interesting that this is such a little known fact.
 
WHOA

Never knew.

I love this and continue to love it as I avoid commercial radio and I so I only hear it every now and then.

Apparently Sting earns more than $10,000 per day from airplay alone...
....I'll be stalking you.....
good song, way way WAY overplayed.  give us something new original and under-exposed, thanks bill
One of the greatest songs. I find it interesting that Sting stole the lyrics from Led Zeppelin's "D'Yer Mak'er".

I find it even more interesting that this is such a little known fact.
misterclaw wrote:
It was redunkulously disapointing.
Saw them at MSG in NYC last year. Incredible energy, musicianship and interplay backing up phenomenal songs. Didn't like it much....
On behalf, on the inner love-struck stalker in all of us, I give this a 9.
RobK wrote:
I totally agree. I can't help but wonder exactly what would make these people happy. Should Sting sell his castle and move into a flat in East London? Drive an old beat up car to tiny gigs in smoky pubs? Maybe not shave, dress like a slob, become a drug addict, or get fat...? He's makes a lot of money from his music - what a bastard. The guy just made an album of medeival lute music for Christ's sake. Ya, total sellout.
LMAO
I don't know why folk always seemed to blast this as trite, boring, simplistic, whatever. I like it. It's repetitive, sure, but that is the point, with the thoughts fading out. Symbolism there, methinks.
Papernapkin wrote:
Every cake you bake. Every lawn you rake. Every milk you shake. Every Earth you quake. Every tetonic plate. Please.
LOL - And I love - and have always loved this song.
This song reminds me of my dentist's waiting room.
Every cake you bake. Every lawn you rake. Every milk you shake. Every Earth you quake. Every tectonic plate. Pleeeeeease.
I like The Police music. I did not like this particular song at first, but nowadays, it reminds me my own 80's experiences and, surprisingly, it became a significant love song for me 20 years after.
This man can stalk me any time he damn well pleases....just as long as he sings to me too.
Yeah, between this song, clearly about stalking and "Don't Stand So Close to Me," about a teacher becoming involved in sex with an underage girl, I wonder about Sting. I wouldn't want any of my female friends or relatives around him.
This song is an expressway back to some very fond memories. Does it for me every time. Rock on Police!
Perfect stalker song.
I prefer to enjoy Sting's many and impressive talents from an inaudible distance...didn't get this song then and surely don't get it now
I like The Police. I hate this song. I really hate that people misinterpret the lyrics.
marmelock wrote:
...every cake you bake?
Every arm you break?
Dior wrote:
A sure way to get more people over to the LRC
themotion wrote:
Saw The Police at Bonnaroo last weekend ... left after 15 minutes.
Wow, were they really that bad? What happened?
Pleasant song with creepy lyrics: perfect for the Halloween season!
Possibly the single most boring and uninspired bassline I've ever heard. EDIT: and the rest of the song as well...
...every cake you bake?
MtnGoat wrote:
This is so old and poorly thought out. The guy's got a talent, he's chosen to make a living off it. And he doesn't appear to have compromised his talent for 'success'. So what?
I totally agree. I can't help but wonder exactly what would make these people happy. Should Sting sell his castle and move into a flat in East London? Drive an old beat up car to tiny gigs in smoky pubs? Maybe not shave, dress like a slob, become a drug addict, or get fat...? He's makes a lot of money from his music - what a bastard. The guy just made an album of medeival lute music for Christ's sake. Ya, total sellout.
siandbeth wrote:
Hello, sister! I have the same info stored. I cannot hear this song without thinking about that particular plot line.
OMG!! I was hanging out and watching All My Killer Macho Children, too!! Every time I hear this song, I see the stalker putting the stylus down on the LP!! Didn't realize it was such a shared experience.
A sure way to get more people over to the LRC
I'm going to (quietly) pipe up in favor of this song. I like it. :shrug: Sue me.
There are many other Police songs that don't get played endlessly on commercial radio. What about Demolition Man from Ghost in the Machine?
themotion wrote:
Saw The Police at Bonnaroo last weekend ... left after 15 minutes.
Me too! I did hear an annoucement over the loudspeakerer to stick around for the enore because Sting would be back without his shirt...I guess that's what it takes to keep the audience interested!
say it aint so Bill...say it aint so
pweverka wrote:
overplayed, overdigested, overrated.
True. Great song but wish that I could go the rest of my life without hearing it again. Especially here at RP!!!
themotion wrote:
Saw The Police at Bonnaroo last weekend ... left after 15 minutes.
It was redunkulously disapointing.
Overplayed and creepy. Yes.
Ugh!!! I could live without ever hearing this song again!!!!
pweverka wrote:
overplayed, overdigested, overrated.
Not to mention overly creepy.
overplayed, overdigested, overrated.
Saw The Police at Bonnaroo last weekend ... left after 15 minutes.
queenjill wrote:
They used it for a storyline on "All My Children" around 1983 or so, when some crazy stalker guy kidnapped Silver, Erica Kane's sister, and held her hostage for awhile.
Hello, sister! I have the same info stored. I cannot hear this song without thinking about that particular plot line.
Just 2 seconds into this song, the channel was changed. *yuck*
aceface wrote:
Decent seque from Sam Cooke's " Wonderful World," but a better choice would have been to come into "Every Breath" from Ben E. King's "Stand By Me."
Or just smoosh 'em together.
lizardman_tcs wrote:
Seriously, I thought that everyone knew by now that this song is about stalking. Even Sting himself has acknowledged that.
They used it for a storyline on "All My Children" around 1983 or so, when some crazy stalker guy kidnapped Silver, Erica Kane's sister, and held her hostage for awhile. He put this song on for her, and then it played in the background for the rest of the storyline until she was finally rescued or escaped or whatever, like three weeks later. To this day, I cannot listen to this song without thinking of that stupid plotline. I HATE that I still remember all of that. I haven't watched AMC or any other soap opera in 20 years. Out of my head, you useless information!
MtnGoat wrote:
This is so old and poorly thought out. The guy's got a talent, he's chosen to make a living off it. And he doesn't appear to have compromised his talent for 'success'. So what?
I'm still waiting for P-Diddy or maybe a Lexus to come strolling through the mountains. He has no integrity.
savoyard wrote:
He's sold out so many times that now he has to reunite with the Police. I'm mean come on!! I'm just waiting for Puff Daddy to join the chorus...
This is so old and poorly thought out. The guy's got a talent, he's chosen to make a living off it. And he doesn't appear to have compromised his talent for 'success'. So what?
He's sold out so many times that now he has to reunite with the Police. I'm mean come on!! I'm just waiting for Puff Daddy to join the chorus...
DebateG wrote:
Stalkerific.
Stalkerific.
RobRyan wrote:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3u2qRXb4xCU A great parody
That's great, thanks!
Strangely after more than 20 years of hearing this song I never tire of it. Not too many I can say that about.
RedGuitar wrote:
Supposedly Sting woke up in the middle of the night, went to the piano, and composed the tune in about 20 minutes. I have trouble writing in broad daylight with all kinds of time!
I attended Andy Summers' book signing the other night in Portland and one of the passages he read concerned the recording of his guitar part. A single take. ! dmax wrote:
I wish that, every time I came to this page, the Synchronicity cover changed to one of the many different ones that they issued when it first came out.
Andy also mentioned this. He thought it was somewhat cruel of the record company to do and mentioned that there are some 36 different variations. I think the number is closer to 3x that number as the sleave was also issued in a sepia and black & white versions.
(Zep did the same thing with "In Through The Out Door" and Splt Enz did it with "Wiata")
Also Split Enz' "True Colors."
Please remove this song from the playlist.
wonderfully evil little song
I know i konow....what can I do?.... I like this song.... I was 7y.o. first time they play this.... and I still like it.... what to say.... police were a great band togheter...
Seriously, I would expect to hear "walking on the moon" or "canary in a coal mine" or any of a dozen other songs, but nott this!!!! ...oh! The Clash is playing next... "Police and Thieves"...The POLICE them going on...at least there's that! thanks bill!
...every cake you bake...
Overplayed? Maybe. But judging by the average rating, the story about love and jealousy is a timeless classic.
kdoumani wrote:
What the f*^%$#@k?!?!? I haven't listened in a while. I tune back in, and this is the crap I'm "treated" to? If I wanted to hear this s*^%$#@t, there are lots of local stations I could play.
Whoaa! Relax. If you don't like it then mute. This music was innovative and cool when it first came out. Just because the Clear Channels of the world overplayed it doesn't mean its bad. Try to do what I do and think of how this sounded to you the very first time you heard it. If you hated it even then, then there is always the mute button. By the way, what exactly is f*^%$#@k and s*^%$#@t. I know what is suggested by the first and last letters, but there are far too many letters in between
horstman wrote:
This song reminds me of the local radio station WHERE WE ALL LIVE. Oh well, at least its better than when Bill plays AbbA or Prince. Hey Bill, want to shock us? Play Frank Zappa : Dynamo Hum! or anything from Overnight Sensation. That's real eclectic. Geez . . . at least play "Don't eat the yellow snow".
I've heard Zappa several times on RP. And I'm Goin to Montana Soon..
Gaby wrote:
This song reminds me of the local radio station where I live.
This song reminds me of the local radio station WHERE WE ALL LIVE. Oh well, at least its better than when Bill plays AbbA or Prince. Hey Bill, want to shock us? Play Frank Zappa : Dynamo Hum! or anything from Overnight Sensation. That's real eclectic. Geez . . . at least play "Don't eat the yellow snow".
kdoumani wrote:
What the f*^%$#@k?!?!? I haven't listened in a while. I tune back in, and this is the crap I'm "treated" to? If I wanted to hear this s*^%$#@t, there are lots of local stations I could play.
I'm with you, hon!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3u2qRXb4xCU A great parody
Another True stalker song...More Than I Can Do - Steve Earle from I Feel Alright!!!!
What the f*^%$#@k?!?!? I haven't listened in a while. I tune back in, and this is the crap I'm "treated" to? If I wanted to hear this s*^%$#@t, there are lots of local stations I could play.
eman wrote:
yer watching too much CSI...yer way too paranoid my friend...take it ay face value....
Indeed taking it at face value Every move you make Every vow you break Every smile you fake Every claim you stake I'll be watching you Seriously, I thought that everyone knew by now that this song is about stalking. Even Sting himself has acknowledged that.
Summer of 1982. This was "Thee Song of the Summer". Constantly played...I always took it as a stalker song and loved/hated it. The boyfriend had a problem with coming up to the door of my parents' house-he was afraid of my mother with good reason-so he'd hang out down the street.....Liked the video in black & white...Sting with his angry look and curled upper lip. Yeah, he sure would be arrested for stalking.
yer watching too much CSI...yer way too paranoid my friend...take it ay face value....kazuma wrote:
No kidding. It's undeniably a great track, but it's also always seemed pretty obvious to me that this was a very creepy song about obsession and ... well, stalking. I'm always amazed that people found it (and still find it) to be "romantic" in any non-psychotic sense of that word.
Every cake you bake... can't get tired of this song. Play on.
rgio wrote:
Today she'd have you arrested for stalking..."I'll be watching you"
No kidding. It's undeniably a great track, but it's also always seemed pretty obvious to me that this was a very creepy song about obsession and ... well, stalking. I'm always amazed that people found it (and still find it) to be "romantic" in any non-psychotic sense of that word.
Imkirok wrote:
So I wrote down the words to this song and a few others and gave her that instead. It had the same effect. Didn't get back together, but I could tell she was moved by it.
Today she'd have you arrested for stalking..."I'll be watching you"
Senior year in high school (don't want to think about how long ago that was), my girlfriend broke up with me. First heartbreak. I wanted to make her a mix tape to tell her how I felt, but didn't have a good stereo at the time. So I wrote down the words to this song and a few others and gave her that instead. It had the same effect. Didn't get back together, but I could tell she was moved by it.
Love the Police, Like the song, but prefer to hear elsewhere. A few years back I remember hearing that this was the most played song in the history of radio. It's been playing on the radio, somewhere in the world, since it came out.
I never liked The Police,had to listen to them all through high school and collage.There is talent in the three of them.This is there best song however.It's an 8 on my scale!
NO MORE ... NO MORE ... NO MORE ... THERE'S A PORTUGUESE SONG THAT`S A LOOK A LIKE OF THIS SONG... "GNR - DUNAS" DUNAS ... TCHHH, TCHHH ... SÃO COMO HORTELÃS ...
I love that this song is played at so many weddings Nothing wrong with a little stalking music to get the old nuptials off and running.
It doesn't get any better than this. My favorite Sting/Police song.
This song reminds me of the local radio station where I live.
I love when RP plays a few tracks in a row I have already rated a "10". Keep it up Bill, maybe some Floyd or Beatles next to keep the streak safe? LOL
Kerly wrote:
So it is a 9 :)
10 for me OVERPLAYED?? WHO CARES!!!!!!!!
ftoca wrote:
Perfect music, acomplished mix of bass, guitar, drums, etc. Great lyrics (by no means a "lovesong"), even the video is great... So it is popular, but sometimes even democracy nails things right!
So it is a 9 :)
I'm in bed listening to WNEW in New York. It's about 11:30 at night. This song has just been released and I am hearing it for the first time. "Danno" Near is the DJ. And, although he fears the consequences, he loves this song so much that he plays it three times in a row. Three times in a row. Unheard of. If Dano suffered the Program Manager's wrath, it's beyond my recollection. But I know I was grateful to be "in on" his shinanagans. And no matter how much I've heard it since, I am grateful to him for cementing the memory of how great this song was when first heard. Like most other things for which adolescents crave, thrice was not enough.
Perfect music, acomplished mix of bass, guitar, drums, etc. Great lyrics (by no means a "lovesong"), even the video is great... So it is popular, but sometimes even democracy nails things right!
it's good to hear this one - really - ?overplayed? not if you listen to RP. extremely well crafted song.
Supposedly Sting woke up in the middle of the night, went to the piano, and composed the tune in about 20 minutes. I have trouble writing in broad daylight with all kinds of time!
winter wrote:
If memory serves, that's exactly how Sting intended it to sound. He couldn't understand why so many people saw it as a love song...
It was written about his ex-wife who was sort of stalking him after their divorce--but in his compassion, he wrote it from her perspective knowing how torn up she was. It was therapeutic for him. (This, from his own mouth on VH-1's "Storytellers.") I will always, always love this song. It's SO beautiful!
Hols_der_geier wrote:
O V E R P L A Y E D
I totally agree. This album moved me from an avid Police fan to turning the radio station every time I heard the first note.
Little known fact////this was playing in the white Bronco when O.J. was on the run.
Amazon wrote:
As much as I dislike the lyrics, which sound to me like the declarations of a stalker, the raw-edged emotion yet simplicity of this piece makes it a classic.
If memory serves, that's exactly how Sting intended it to sound. He couldn't understand why so many people saw it as a love song...
O V E R P L A Y E D
Very nice to hear this here on RP.
unbelievable that this has NEVER played here?? (is that really right?) I can't quite comprehend it really ...a classic tune IMO, in spite of it's overkill on mainstream radio...thanks for adding it Rebecca & Bill!