☝️ Key Points
- The song 'Every Breath You Take' by The Police is about obsession, loss, and control, not romantic love
- The repeated line 'I'll be watching you' suggests intense stalking and an unhealthy obsession from the singer
- The line 'You belong to me' shows ownership and control, indicating a one-sided relationship or unrequited love
- The lyrics refer to loss and separation, with lines like 'Since you've gone I've been lost without a trace', suggesting the singer is suffering from the other person's absence
- The line 'I keep crying baby, baby, please' shows the desperation and suffering of the singer, and can be interpreted as a plea for return or reciprocation of feelings
Interpretation
"Every Breath You Take" by
The Police may seem like a romantic declaration of love at first glance, but it actually deals with obsession and loss.
The repeated line "I'll be watching you" suggests intense observation or even stalking. The singer watches every breath, every movement, and every step of the person they are addressing. This shows intense, possibly unhealthy obsession.
The line "You belong to me" reinforces this theme of possession and control. The singer feels that the other person belongs to them, indicating a one-sided relationship or unrequited love.
The section "Since you've gone I've been lost without a trace, I dream at night I can only see your face" speaks of loss and separation. The singer cannot recover from the absence of the other person and longs for their return.
The line "I keep crying baby, baby, please" shows the desperation and suffering of the singer. They plead with the other person, possibly to return or reciprocate their feelings.
Overall, "Every Breath You Take" is about intense, possessive love that becomes obsession. The constant observation and suffering of the singer indicate an unhealthy dynamic and possibly a broken relationship.