This is one of the most misinterpreted songs ever. It is about an obsessive stalker, but it sounds like a love song. Some people even used it as their wedding song. The Police frontman Sting wrote it after separating from his first wife, Frances Tomelty. Sting explained:
"I think it's a nasty little song, really rather evil. It's about jealousy and surveillance and ownership. Regarding the common misinterpretation of the song. 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. (Laughter) I could still hear the words, which aren't about love at all. I pissed myself laughing."
Police guitarist Andy Summers made a significant contribution to the arrangement of this song. He explained:
"Without that guitar part there's no song. That's what sealed it. My guitar completely made it classic and put the modern edge on it. I actually came up with it in one take, but that's because Sting's demo left a lot of space for me to do what I did. There was no way I was just gonna strum barre chords through a song like that."
Lyrics
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? 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 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.
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