The song is ostensibly about a castaway on an island, who sends out a message in a bottle to seek help. A year later, he feels that there is no need for love. Later on, he sees "a hundred billion bottles" on the shore, finding out that there are more people like him out there. The Police debuted the song on live television.
"Message in a Bottle" may also be read as a lament of isolation and loneliness caused by the loss of a loved one ("love can break your heart"): he seeks help but gets no reply, then realises that there are many more people out there like him, suggesting that everyone has to deal with loss and loneliness as part of the human experience. The island and the bottle are metaphors; by reaching out, the protagonist discovers he is not alone, and that other people share his feelings of alienation.
The single was The Police's first number one hit in the United Kingdom, but only reached #74 in the United States. An alternate "Classic Rock" mix is available on Every Breath You Take: The Classics. This is Sting's favorite song as confessed to Jools Holland of BBC fame.
The Police reformed at Live Earth, a 2007 charity concert to raise awareness of global warming and other environmental hazards and performed "Message in a Bottle" as the US finale, with John Mayer playing guitar with Andy Summers (who described the track as a personal favourite in his book One Train Later) and Kanye West performing a rap verse over the chorus of the song.
Message in a Bottle
The Police Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Another lonely day, no one here but me, oh
More loneliness any man could bear
Rescue me before I fall into despair, oh
I'll send an SOS to the world
I'll send an SOS to the world
I hope that someone gets my
I hope that someone gets my
Message in a bottle, yeah
Message in a bottle, yeah
A year has passed since I wrote my note
I should have known this right from the start
Only hope can keep me together
Love can mend your life but love can break your heart
I'll send an SOS to the world
I'll send an SOS to the world
I hope that someone gets my
I hope that someone gets my
I hope that someone gets my
Message in a bottle, yeah
Message in a bottle, yeah
Oh, message in a bottle, yeah
Message in a bottle, yeah
Walked out this morning, don't believe what I saw
Hundred billion bottles washed up on the shore
Seems I'm not alone in being alone
Hundred billion castaways looking for a home
I'll send an SOS to the world
I'll send an SOS to the world
I hope that someone gets my
I hope that someone gets my
I hope that someone gets my
Message in a bottle, yeah
Message in a bottle, yeah
Message in a bottle, whoa
Message in a bottle, yeah
Sendin' out an SOS
Sendin' out an SOS
I'm sendin' out an SOS
I'm sendin' out an SOS
Sendin' out an SOS
Sendin' out an SOS
Sendin' out an SOS
Sendin' out an SOS
Sendin' out an SOS
Sendin' out an SOS
Sendin' out an SOS
Sendin' out an SOS
Sendin' out an SOS
Sendin' out an SOS
Sendin' out an SOS
Sendin' out an SOS
Sendin' out an SOS
Sendin' out an SOS
Sendin' out an SOS
Sendin' out an SOS
Sendin' out an SOS
Sendin' out an SOS
Sendin' out an SOS
Sendin' out an SOS
Sendin' out an SOS
The Police's "Message in a Bottle" is a song that laments loneliness and the need for human connection. The singer is stranded on an island and feels completely isolated from the rest of the world, and even though he has sent out a plea for help, he doesn't know if anyone has received it. It seems as though nobody knows he exists, and he feels forgotten by the world outside of his island. The chorus of the song features the singer sending out an SOS to the world, as he hopes that someone will catch his message in a bottle and rescue him from his isolation.
The second verse of the song highlights the fact that a year has gone by since the singer has been stranded, indicating that his loneliness has been ongoing and sustained. He wonders if he had been naive in sending out his previous plea for help, as nobody has responded to him since he sent it. Despite this, he hopes that his message will still reach somebody and that they will be able to rescue him from his isolation.
The final verse of the song highlights the irony that even though the singer is completely alone, there are a hundred billion bottles that have washed up on the shore of his island. This emphasizes the fact that there are many other people in the world who feel just as lost and alone as he does, despite the fact that they are surrounded by other people. The song ultimately highlights the need for human connection and the fact that even though we may feel isolated, we are never truly alone.
Line by Line Meaning
Just a castaway, an island lost at sea, oh
I am stuck on an island with no escape
Another lonely day, no one here but me, oh
I am all by myself with nothing to do
More loneliness any man could bear
Being lonely is unbearable
Rescue me before I fall into despair, oh
Please help me, I am on the edge of hopelessness
I'll send an SOS to the world
I will call for help from anyone out there
I hope that someone gets my
I hope that someone hears my message
Message in a bottle, yeah
This message is written on a bottle
A year has passed since I wrote my note
It has been a long time since I sent this message
I should have known this right from the start
I regret doing this in the first place
Only hope can keep me together
I am holding on to hope to survive
Love can mend your life but love can break your heart
Love can save you or destroy you
Walked out this morning, don't believe what I saw
I saw something unbelievable this morning
Hundred billion bottles washed up on the shore
There are countless messages like mine washed up on the shore
Seems I'm not alone in being alone
I am not the only one who is lonely
Hundred billion castaways looking for a home
There are so many people out there who need help
Sendin' out an SOS
I am asking for help again and again
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Gordon Sumner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jeffreybarkin3177
F-U-N-N-N-Y. . . .
Did you EVER work directly with any of Them, or is This an observation based Primarily upon their Interviews, and How They Engaged with their respective Hosts?
Curious...
Thank You, if you're comfortable Affirming... WHY you Sensed This.
Cheers!
❤
@rebeccawagner4167
I love this group they have so many awesome songs.❤❤
@FernanditoAmpuero
Are genios
@rebeccawagner4167
I agree 🎉
@boardernut
They'll be very famous soon, don't you agree?
@grokeffer6226
@@boardernut 🙂 You know, I think you might be onto something!! 👍
@thisismadness4188
The drummer is my spirit animal.
@JohnSmith-294
He's got crack head energy and I love him
@wolfcyanide
@@JohnSmith-294 lmao crack head energy he just hype
@oki5297
@@JohnSmith-294 he also got a crack back
@chrischarlesonjr239
@@JohnSmith-294 w/junkie