Every Breath You Take
G. Sumner 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

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
Every move you make
Every step you take
I'll be watching you
Every move you make




Every step you take
I'll be watching you

Overall Meaning

The song "Every Breath You Take" by G. Sumner, famously known as Sting, is often misinterpreted as a love song due to its soothing melody. However, upon closer inspection, the lyrics reveal a much darker and possessive theme. The song explores the obsession and surveillance of a former lover, creating an unsettling and somewhat creepy atmosphere.


The opening lines of the song establish the constant surveillance by the singer, who proclaims, "Every breath you take, every move you make, every bond you break, every step you take, I'll be watching you." These lines emphasize the obsessive nature of the singer, as they declare their intention to scrutinize every aspect of the subject's life.


Later in the song, the singer directly addresses the subject, asserting, "Oh, can't you see, you belong to me? How my poor heart aches with every step you take." This line suggests a possessiveness and a sense of entitlement over the subject's life. The singer's heartache is not a result of missing the subject, but rather stems from the subject's autonomy and independence.


The chorus of the song reinforces the idea of constant surveillance, as the singer declares that they will be watching every move, vow, and claim made by the subject. The repetition of this line serves to emphasize the relentlessness of the singer's obsession.


As the song progresses, Sting introduces the longing and despair felt by the singer in the absence of the subject. Lines like "Since you've gone, I've been lost without a trace" and "I look around, but it's you I can't replace" showcase the intense desire for the subject's presence.


In conclusion, "Every Breath You Take" delves into the unsettling theme of possessiveness and obsession, rather than being a conventional love song. Sting's lyrics highlight the darker side of relationships and the impact of unhealthy attachments.


Line by Line Meaning

Every breath you take
I am constantly aware of your presence, every breath you take is noticed by me


Every move you make
I observe every action, every move you make is under my watchful eye


Every bond you break
I pay attention to your relationships, every bond you break is of interest to me


Every step you take
I monitor your every movement, every step you take is monitored by me


I'll be watching you
I will always be observing you, keeping an eye on your every move


Every single day
Each day without fail, I am paying attention to you


Every word you say
I listen carefully to everything you say, every word you utter is heard by me


Every game you play
I am aware of your manipulations and deceit, every game you play is noticed by me


Every night you stay
Even during the night, I am aware of your presence, every night you stay is observed by me


Oh, can't you see
Don't you understand or realize


You belong to me?
I believe that you are mine, that you are my possession


How my poor heart aches
My heart is filled with pain and longing


With every step you take?
As you move forward in your life, my heartache intensifies


Every vow you break
I notice when you betray your promises, every vow you break is not overlooked


Every smile you fake
I can tell when you are being insincere or pretending, every fake smile is detected by me


Every claim you stake
I am aware when you assert your dominance or declare ownership, every claim you stake is observed by me


Since you've gone, I've been lost without a trace
After you left, I felt abandoned and directionless, there is no sign of you


I dream at night, I can only see your face
In my dreams, I can only envision your face, you are constantly on my mind


I look around, but it's you I can't replace
I search for a substitute, but I cannot find anyone to replace you


I feel so cold, and I long for your embrace
I am overwhelmed with emptiness and yearn for your affectionate touch


I keep crying, baby, baby please
I continue to shed tears and beg for your presence and attention


Every step you take
As you progress in your life


I'll be watching you
I will always be closely observing you


Every move you make
Every action or decision you take


I'll be watching you
I will be vigilantly keeping an eye on you


Every move you make
Every action or decision you make


Every step you take
As you continue on your path


I'll be watching you
I will be attentively observing you


Every move you make
Every action or decision you take


Every step you take
Every progress you make in your journey


I'll be watching you
I will continue to closely monitor you




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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