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About This Track
“Message in a Bottle” is a 1979 song by The Police, from their second album, Reggatta de Blanc.
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.
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.
Send ‘Message In A Bottle’ Ringtone to Cell Similar Music
Play The Police RadioWith: Strontium 90, Sting, Peter Gabriel, The Cars and more…
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Albums featuring this track
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The Very Best Of Sting And The Police
Sting
Buy- Download Album
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Message In A Box
The Police Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $36.12
- 7digital $38.99
- iTunes $39.99
- Buy Album
- Amazon $38.99
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Greatest Hits
The Police Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 Search
- 7digital Search
- iTunes Search
- Buy Album
- Amazon Search
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Reggatta De Blanc
The Police Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $7.99
- 7digital $9.99
- iTunes $9.99
- Buy Album
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Shouts
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Damazy248 wrote:
Deep respect mr. Copeland. Your playing is a quintessence of badassery.
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pharmman52 wrote:
if you never saw them live you really missed out copeland is immense
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Lucas876 wrote:
The opening track of the show!! Que tal buenos aires, an unforgettable moment
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kikikirsche wrote:
A hundred billion bottles
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Roseterries wrote:
"Love can mend your life but love can break your heart." [2]
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PsyRaduga wrote:
dont understand why i so much love this song
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dewbie226 wrote:
"Love can mend your life but love can break your heart."
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johnny70s wrote:
Awesome
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MarsAsAGirl wrote:
One of the first bass lines I ever learnt. Reminds me of being a little girl, when my mum and her boyfriend constantly played Sting and the Police
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GODZILLA_1964 wrote:
One of the BEST 3 man groups in music history. Stuart Copeland on the drums is a BEAST.
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FeXYSpartan wrote:
But seriously, they are good (thats what she said)
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FeXYSpartan wrote:
That's what she said, Darkside73! :)
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TheDarkSide73 wrote:
They are Fantastic...
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davidmills71 wrote:
Oh fuckin my.....<333
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amandacofe wrote:
sexxy :))))
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johnny70s wrote:
Thought they were fantastic.
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ReducedCapacity wrote:
legendary
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BuffyJackson wrote:
I love sting
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gungh0 wrote:
Bass-Line....so F+++ing good ;) [2]
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Gute_Frau wrote:
alltime fav
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Recent Activity
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carrielt35, SpO0nM4N, Clarawater and 5 other people loved The Police – Message In A Bottle. 2 hours ago
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