Britain’s largest choir stops performing The Police’s ‘Every Breath You Take’ due to controversial lyrics

Posted On January 22, 2025January 22, 2025

The largest choir in Britain has removed The Police’s hit song ‘Every Breath You Take’ from its set after controversy was raised over its lyrical content.

Rock Choir, which has over 31,000 members across the country, has decided to axe the song from their repertoire due to how it portrays an abusive relationship where the protagonist of the song is perceived to be stalking an individual.

Written in 1983 by the band’s frontman and bassist, Sting, the singer has previously denounced the lyrics as having “sinister” overtones. “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,” he said in 1993. “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 realise at the time how sinister it is. I think I was thinking of Big Brother, surveillance and control.”

The lines include, “Every breath you take, and every move you make, every bond you break, every step you take, I’ll be watching you”, which have raised concerns within the choral group.

In a letter written to all of the choir’s members, founder Caroline Redman Lusher wrote: “Dearest Rockies, after much thought and discussion with some of the team, I have made the difficult decision to remove ‘Every Breath You Take’ from the repertoire.”

She continued: “I have never removed a song before now but due to the impact the narrative is having on some Rockies and the potential – when it is taught – of more negative and challenging feelings from the wider membership, I feel it would be wise to replace the song.”

The song became a massive hit for the British-American trio, reaching number one in both the UK and the US, spending eight weeks at the top of the chart in the latter territory.

With groups set up in over 400 communities across the UK, Rock Choir has become a widely celebrated organisation that sings popular songs in a choral arrangement. Redman Lusher was recently awarded an MBE by the King at this year’s New Year’s Honours for services to music and charitable work.

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