Table of Contents
Listening Activity
This listening activity is based on the song “Every Breath You Take by Sting“. The song lyrics are amazing. They are ideal for English Learners. They include many interesting language topics, such as the future continuous and the present perfect.
Let’s start with some information about the song!
Every Breath You Take by Sting
“Every Breath You Take” is a song by the English rock band The Police. It was written by Sting and was the biggest hit of 1983. This page offers information about the song, a link to the lyrics, and the official video.
Every Breath You Take by Sting
Level
Beginner and intermediate students.
Facts about the Song
- Song: Every Breath You Take
- Album: Synchronicity
- Date of release: 20 May 1983
- Genre: New wave, rock
- Length of the song: 4 minutes and 13 seconds.
- Writer: Sting
- Produced by: The Police, Hugh Padgham
Interesting Information about the Song
The song “Every Breath You Take” is widely regarded as the signature song of both The Police and their lead singer, Sting.
The lyrics depict a dark and obsessive perspective, with a character watching “every breath you take; every move you make.” Despite often being mistaken for a love song, it actually explores themes of stalking and unwanted, obsessive attention.
Sting explained that the song’s creation was spontaneous:
“I woke up in the middle of the night with that line in my head, sat down at the piano, and had written it in half an hour. The tune itself is generic, an aggregate of hundreds of others, but the words are interesting. It sounds like a comforting love song. I didn’t realize at the time how sinister it is. I think I was thinking of Big Brother, surveillance, and control.”
The Video
The Lyrics
Language Points
The song includes many interesting language points:
Expressions that may be useful to students:
- Every breath you take
Every move you make
Every bond you break
Every step you take, I’ll be watching you. - Since you’ve gone I’ve been lost without a trace.
- I keep crying baby, baby, please
Listening Comprehension
Sentence Completion Exercise
Complete these sentences while listening to the song:
- Every breath you take and every move you make
… - Oh, can’t you see you belong to me,
… - Since you’ve gone, I’ve been lost without a trace
… - Every move you make and every vow you break
… - I look around, but it’s you I can’t replace
…
Gap-Fill Exercise
These words are used in the lyrics of the song:
- Bond: A strong connection or commitment between people.
- Vow: A solemn promise or declaration.
- Stake: To assert a claim or ownership.
- Trace: A very small amount of something, or a sign that something has happened or existed.
- Embrace: To hold someone closely in one’s arms, often as a sign of affection.
- Fake: Not genuine; pretending to be something it is not.
- Ache: A continuous or prolonged dull pain or feeling of discomfort.
Complete these sentences with the words provided above:
Realize, Precious, Sorrow, Token, Reason, Catch, Prepared
- The team’s victory strengthened the __________ between the players, creating a sense of unity.
- She made a __________ to always support her friends, no matter the circumstances.
- He decided to __________ his claim on the property by filing the necessary paperwork.
- There wasn’t a __________ of evidence left behind at the scene, making the investigation difficult.
- After a long day, she looked forward to a warm __________ from her loved ones.
- The actor gave a __________ smile during the interview, hiding his true feelings.
- His heart began to __________ when he thought about the lost opportunities.
Source: Wikipedia