Every Breath You Take

The Police

About Every Breath You Take

"Every Breath You Take" is a song by the English rock band the Police from their album Synchronicity (1983). Written by Sting, the single was the biggest US and UK hit of 1983, topping the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for eight weeks (the band's only No. 1 hit on that chart), and the UK Singles Chart for four weeks. It also topped the Billboard Top Tracks chart for nine weeks. At the 26th Annual Grammy Awards the song was nominated for three Grammy Awards, including Song of the Year, Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, and Record of the Year, winning in the first two categories. For the song, Sting received the 1983 Ivor Novello award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors. 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. In the 1983 Rolling Stone critics' and readers' poll, it was voted "Song of the Year". In the US, it was the best-selling single of 1983 and fifth-best-selling single of the decade. Billboard ranked it as the No. 1 song for 1983. In May 2019, “Every Breath You Take” was recognised by BMI as being the most played song in radio history. With nearly 15 million radio plays, Sting received a BMI Award at a ceremony held at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills to mark it being the Most Performed Song in BMI's catalogue, a distinction previously held since 1999 by Mann and Weill's “You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'”. BMI President and CEO Mike O'Neill stated: “For the first time in 22 years, BMI has a new top song in our repertoire with Sting's timeless hit ‘Every Breath You Take,' a remarkable achievement that solidifies its place in songwriting history.”The song ranked No. 84 on the Rolling Stone list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and is included in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. It also ranked number 25 on Billboard's Hot 100 All-Time Top Songs. In 2008, Q magazine named it among the top 10 British Songs of the 1980s. In 2015, the song was voted by the British public as the nation's favourite 1980s number one in a UK-wide poll for ITV. 


Year:
1983
7,534 
#4

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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)

 Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer


The Police

The Police was an English rock band formed in London in 1977. For the vast majority of their history, the band consisted of Sting (lead vocals, bass), Andy Summers (guitar) and Stewart Copeland (drums). The Police became globally popular in the late 1970s and are generally regarded as one of the first New Wave groups to achieve mainstream success, playing a style of rock that was influenced by punk, reggae, and jazz. more »

7 fans

Written by: Gordon Sumner

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


11 facts about this song

Band Origin
"Every Breath You Take" was performed by The Police, an iconic English rock band, while the lead vocalist was the renowned English musician Gordon Sumner, known professionally as Sting.
Chart Success
The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for an impressive total of eight weeks after its release. It also topped the UK Singles Chart.
Songwriting
"Every Breath You Take" was penned solely by Sting, during a period of personal turmoil. It is regarded as one of his signature compositions.
Grammy Wins
The song won multiple awards, including two prestigious Grammy Awards in 1984 – Song of the Year and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.
Song Theme
The song's lyrics were praised but are notorious for being misunderstood due to their sinister message masked behind a calming melody. They are actually about an obsessive stalker.
Gear Used
The defining guitar part is played on a Fender Stratocaster electric guitar by Andy Summers, The Police’s guitarist.
Certification
"Every Breath You Take" went on to achieve multi-platinum status, meaning it sold millions of copies. In the United States alone, it was certified by the RIAA as a platinum release.
Emergence of Puff Daddy's Version
In 1997, rap artist Puff Daddy released a version of the song, "I'll Be Missing You," in tribute to rapper Notorious B.I.G. This version also included a sample of the original song, which enhanced its recognition among a new generation of listeners.
Trail for The Police’s Success
The success of "Every Breath You Take" effectively elevated The Police to the status of one of the biggest bands in the world at the time.
Continuous Airplay
As of 2003, the track had the most airplay in the history of American radio, with an estimated count of over seven million spins overall. It continues to receive substantial radio airplay.
Release Year
The song was released in 1983 as part of the band's fifth and final studio album, "Synchronicity."

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    Every Breath You Take

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1983

    Billboard #1


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