About this song

Every Breath You Take

By The Police

What “Every Breath You Take” means

"Every Breath You Take" sounds romantic at first, but its true meaning is darker and more obsessive. The singer watches someone constantly, notices every small action, and claims that the person belongs to him, which creates a feeling of jealousy, control, and emotional dependence. The song mixes sadness and longing with a threatening sense of surveillance, so the tone is both beautiful and unsettling. For a language learner, it is useful because it shows how repeated simple phrases can build strong emotional intensity.

About ThePoliceVEVO

The Police were an English rock band, so the artist is from the United Kingdom. They are best known for mixing rock, new wave, and reggae, and the band’s lineup included Sting, Andy Summers, and Stewart Copeland. They became one of the biggest bands of the 1980s and are remembered for many hit songs and major awards.

"Every Breath You Take" was released in 1983 on The Police’s final studio album, Synchronicity, and it was also released as a single that same year. The song sounds calm and romantic, but the lyrics are actually about watching someone very closely, so many listeners see it as a song about obsession, not love. It became one of the band’s most famous songs and is often described as a major classic in pop and rock music.

Line by line

Lines worth knowing

  • “Every breath you take”

    This repeated line emphasizes total attention: the speaker is watching not just big actions, but even the smallest sign of life. It is also a memorable example of repetition in song lyrics.

  • “I'll be watching you”

    This is the song’s central refrain. It can sound caring, but here it feels possessive and controlling, which gives the song its eerie mood.

  • “you belong to me”

    This phrase shows the speaker’s sense of ownership over the other person. In English, "belong to" usually means possession, and here it reveals unhealthy obsession.

  • “I've been lost without a trace”

    This line expresses deep emotional confusion and loneliness after the person has left. "Without a trace" is an idiom meaning completely gone, with no sign left behind.

  • “I dream at night”

    This line shows that the speaker cannot stop thinking about the person, even in sleep. It adds to the feeling of longing and emotional fixation.

  • “I look around”

    This simple phrase suggests searching and emptiness. It helps create the image of someone trying to find a replacement, but being unable to move on.

Play the song above for the full karaoke-synced lyrics with line-by-line translation.

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