Every Breath You Take
Alex Preston Lyrics


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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

O 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 breath you take
Every move you make
Every bond you break
Every step you take
I'll be watching you

Every breath you take




Every step you take
I'll be watching you

Overall Meaning

The above lyrics are from the 1983 song "Every Breath You Take" by the British rock band The Police. The song was written by the band's lead singer Sting, who explained that the song is about a possessive lover who is obsessed with his former partner and is watching her every move. The lyrics reveal the stalker-like behavior of the singer who is keeping an eye on his ex-partner, unable to move on from the relationship.


The song's repetitive chorus "Every breath you take, Every move you make, Every bond you break, Every step you take, I'll be watching you" is haunting and gives a feeling of being followed or stalked. The singer's obsession is highlighted when he says, "O can't you see, You belong to me, How my poor heart aches with every step you take". He is unable to come to terms with the end of the relationship and is finding it difficult to let go.


The song's lyrics have been interpreted in many ways, with some suggesting it is a love song, while others see it as being about surveillance and control. The song's popularity lies in how it captures an unhealthy level of obsession and the dark side of love that many can relate to. The song was a massive hit and won a Grammy Award for Song of the Year in 1984.


Line by Line Meaning

Every breath you take
I am monitoring every breath you take, even your slightest movements are being recorded.


Every move you make
I am taking note of every action you perform, observing your every move.


Every bond you break
I am paying attention to every relationship you sever or damage, analyzing the reasons behind it.


Every step you take
Every path you choose, every decision you make are being carefully monitored and evaluated.


I'll be watching you
I will not stop observing you, my focus will always be on you.


Every single day
Every day is important, and I will be present and attentive to every detail of your life.


Every word you say
Every utterance from your lips is significant, and I am listening closely to every word you say.


Every game you play
Every strategy, every move you make in life is being noted down and analyzed.


Every night you stay
I am tracking how you spend your nights, and what you do during those times.


O can't you see
Do you not realize the extent to which I am keeping an eye on you?


You belong to me
I feel possessive over you, and have marked you as mine to watch over.


How my poor heart aches with every step you take
The emotions I feel towards you are overwhelming and painful, yet I still cannot look away.


Every vow you break
I am keeping a journal of all the promises you make and break, watching intently to see what you will do next.


Every smile you fake
I sense when you are being insincere, observing your facades and personas as they shift and change.


Every claim you stake
I am paying attention to every endeavor you undertake, evaluating whether or not you have succeeded in your claims.


Every breath you take
I am still monitoring your breath, holding vigil over every detail of your life.


I'll be watching you
My constant attention and vigilance will not falter, and my eyes will remain fixated on you.




Contributed by Daniel V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Maximus Aurelius

Yes! Yes! Yes! Just saw his live version on Idol and it was even better. Not every cover has to be done karaoke style. It's okay to deconstruct a song put it back together as something distinctly new as long as it's good. MoreMoreMore!

R J

How in the world did the judges not like this!!!???

Amber Kerry

This was absolutely amazing. He sang this song in a way where I felt connected to the lyrics. This is how the song should be sung! BRAVO ALEX!

Presley Cougar

I anticipate each week how your going to arrange the song and I am never disappointed.  You gave this song new meaning for me.  Your vulnerability is mesmerizing.  What a gift.  I hope you win!!  Even if you don't, you have an audience that eagerly awaits your CD.

Sandra Hopkins

I really liked this song & I agree with what everyone else is saying - THE JUDGES WERE SO WRONG SAYING WHAT THEY SAID. It makes me wonder about their judging ability. I wasnt able to see the whole show, but I am so glad I got to see Alex perform. I HOPE ALEX READS THESE COMMENTS - SO HE CAN SEE WE ARE ALL ALEX FANS

Nancy Gast

This is just beautiful. my favorite from since his  audition.  GO ALEX you can win this :)

kelly harr

I normally dont like deconstruction of songs, but I've yet to see this guy not turn something into just amazing. Beautiful! A good judge does NOT get emotionally attached to the original and miss the fact that there is nothing this guy cant sing fantastically. I HATED Gena's version of rollin in the deep but did not keep me from voting for her based on how well she sung it anyway that night. Still also voted for Alex too. Straight simple talent. Beautiful voice!

denise true

I loved this rendition

Noel Sand

Wow, I honestly thought the judges were going to praise this performance as the best in the season so far. Alex (1st) Caleb (2nd)

chicagofan76

Love this version.

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