Message in a Bottle Lyrics
[Verse 1]
Just a castaway, an island lost at sea, oh
Another lonely day with no one here but me, oh
More loneliness than any man could bear
Rescue me before I fall into despair, oh
[Chorus]
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
[Verse 2]
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
[Chorus]
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
[Chorus]
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, oh
Message in a bottle, yeah
[Outro]
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 Esso Blue
About
“Message in a Bottle” is the first track and Grammy Award-winning single off of The Police’s second album Regatta de Blanc.
At the start, the song explores themes of being stuck on a deserted island. It follows into a metaphor that aims to explain the pitfalls of being heartbroken and alone. At the end, the protagonist learns he’s not the only lonely person. Sting shared:
I like the idea that while it’s about loneliness and alienation it’s also about finding solace and other people going through the same thing.
It was The Police’s first #1 song in the UK, Ireland and Spain and it reached the top 5 in six other countries, but in the US it peaked at #74.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
In 2000, the band discussed “Message In A Bottle” with Revolver magazine:
Summers: I’ve always said it was Stewart’s finest drum track, plus great guitar riffs, lyrics, the song – it was one track where everything came together. We had also just learned the trick of playing a song two or three times in a row to let the energy build, then we’d come straight in for another take with the tape still rolling.
Copeland: It was also a great way of getting the tempo up to where I like – which is really fast.
Sting: That’s what he thought. We were actually trying to tire Stewart out so we could slow it down a bit.
Next in the interview, Sting is asked about the song’s lyrics:
Sting: As a narrative, it had a beginning, middle and an end. The story actually developed. It wasn’t just ‘I’m lonely, isn’t it terrible!’ – which is what a lot of my other songs were about. If I’m lonely, but I realize everybody else is too. I feel better. I think the Germans call that Schadenfreude – enjoying the misery of others.
Copeland: My favorite thing about ‘Message In A Bottle’, apart from all the money we made off it, was hearing cover bands trying to play my drum parts. I’d overdubbed about six different parts, and to watch some band in a Holiday Inn struggling to play all those overdubs still gives me great joy. Now that is really Schadenfreude.
- 1.Fall Out
- 3.Next to You
- 4.Roxanne
- 7.So Lonely
- 8.Message in a Bottle
- 13.Driven to Tears
- 17.Invisible Sun
- 20.Demolition Man
- 22.Synchronicity I
- 25.Synchronicity II
- 26.King of Pain