Message In A Bottle – English Lyrics

• By: The Police
• Album: Reggatta de Blanc

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the timeless sound of The Police's 'Message In A Bottle,' a quintessential new wave and reggae-rock track. This song offers a compelling narrative about human connection and isolation, making its clear and evocative English lyrics an excellent resource for language learners to explore universal themes through compelling storytelling and a distinctive musical style.

[English]

(lively music)

♪ 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 ♪

♪ I'll send an S.O.S to the world ♪

♪ I'll send an S.O.S 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 ♪

♪ 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 S.O.S to the world ♪

♪ I'll send an S.O.S 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 ♪

(lively music)

♪ Walked out this morning ♪

♪ Don't believe what I saw ♪

♪ 100 billion bottles washed up on the shore ♪

♪ Seems I'm not alone at being alone ♪

♪ 100 billion castaways looking for a home ♪

♪ I'll send an S.O.S to the world ♪

♪ I'll send an S.O.S 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 ♪

(lively music)

♪ Sending out an S.O.S ♪

♪ Sending out an S.O.S ♪

♪ I'm sending out an S.O.S ♪

♪ I'm sending out an S.O.S ♪

♪ Sending out an S.O.S ♪

♪ Sending out an S.O.S ♪

♪ Sending out an S.O.S ♪

♪ Sending out an S.O.S ♪

♪ Sending out an S.O.S ♪

♪ Sending out an S.O.S ♪

♪ Sending out an S.O.S ♪

♪ Sending out an S.O.S ♪

♪ Sending out an S.O.S ♪

♪ Sending out an S.O.S ♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
message /ˈmɛsɪdʒ/ A1	noun - a communication or statement conveyed from one person or group to another. noun - the main point or moral of a communication.
bottle /ˈbɒtl/ A1	noun - a container, typically made of glass or plastic and with a narrow neck, used for holding liquids. verb - to put (liquid or other contents) into bottles.
S.O.S /ˌɛs.oʊˈɛs/ B1	noun - an international code signal of extreme distress, used especially by ships at sea. noun - a desperate appeal for help.
castaway /ˈkæstəweɪ/ B2	noun - a person who has been shipwrecked and marooned on an island or coast.
island /ˈaɪlənd/ A1	noun - a piece of land surrounded by water.
lonely /ˈloʊnli/ A2	adjective - sad because one has no friends or company.
loneliness /ˈloʊnlinəs/ B1	noun - sadness because one has no friends or company.
despair /dɪˈspɛər/ B2	noun - the complete loss or absence of hope. verb - to lose or abandon hope.
rescue /ˈrɛskjuː/ B1	verb - to save (someone) from a dangerous or difficult situation. noun - an act of saving someone from a dangerous or difficult situation.
hope /hoʊp/ A2	noun - a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. verb - to want something to happen or be true, and usually have a good reason to think that it might.
send /sɛnd/ A1	verb - to cause to go or be taken to a destination; to transmit.
world /wɜːrld/ A1	noun - the earth, together with all of its countries, peoples, and natural features.
mend /mɛnd/ B1	verb - to repair (something that is broken or damaged). verb - to improve (a situation or relationship).
break /breɪk/ A1	verb - to separate into pieces as a result of a blow, shock, or strain. verb - to fail to observe (a law, regulation, or agreement). noun - an interruption of continuity or uniformity.
heart /hɑːrt/ A1	noun - a hollow muscular organ that pumps the blood through the circulatory system. noun - the emotional or moral nature of a human being.
shore /ʃɔːr/ A2	noun - the land along the edge of a sea, lake, or wide river.
lost /lɒst/ A2	adjective - unable to find one's way; not knowing one's whereabouts. adjective - (of an object or item) no longer possessed or retained. verb - to no longer have something because you do not know where it is (past participle of 'lose').
bear /bɛər/ B2	verb - to carry the weight of; support. verb - to endure (an ordeal or difficulty). noun - a large, heavy mammal with thick fur and a short tail.
alone /əˈloʊn/ A2	adjective - having no one else present. adjective - without any help or support.
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - an intense feeling of deep affection. verb - to feel deep affection for (someone).

Key Grammar Structures

• I'll send an S.O.S to the world

  ➔ Future simple (will + base verb)

  ➔ The auxiliary **"will"** is used to express a decision or intention in the future: "**will** send".

• A year has passed since I wrote my note

  ➔ Present perfect (have/has + past participle)

  ➔ The structure **"has passed"** shows that an action started in the past continues to affect the present.

• Only hope can keep me together

  ➔ Modal verb "can" + base verb (ability)

  ➔ The modal **"can"** expresses ability: **"can keep"** means "is able to keep".

• Love can mend your life

  ➔ Modal verb "can" + base verb (possibility/ability)

  ➔ Here **"can mend"** shows that love has the ability or possibility to repair: "love is able to mend".

• Seems I'm not alone at being alone

  ➔ Verb "seems" + clause (subject‑verb inversion)

  ➔ The verb **"seems"** is used impersonally; the subject **"I"** follows it, creating an inversion: **"Seems I'm..."**.

• 100 billion bottles washed up on the shore

  ➔ Past simple passive (was/were + past participle)

  ➔ The verb phrase **"washed up"** is in the passive voice, indicating that the bottles received the action of washing up.

• I'm sending out an S.O.S

  ➔ Present continuous (am/is/are + verb‑ing)

  ➔ The form **"am sending"** shows an action that is happening right now or around the present moment.

• I should have known this right from the start

  ➔ Modal perfect (should have + past participle)

  ➔ The structure **"should have known"** expresses a past expectation or regret: something that was expected but did not happen.

• Walked out this morning

  ➔ Simple past (verb + -ed)

  ➔ The verb **"walked"** is in the simple past, indicating a completed action in the past: **"walked out"** means the speaker left somewhere earlier today.