A message in a bottle is a form of communication whereby a message is sealed in a container (archetypically a glass bottle, but could be any medium) and released into the sea or ocean. Such messages are not intended for a specific person, but to end up wherever the currents carry them. Because of their simplicity they are often associated with people stranded on a deserted island, attempting to be rescued. However, many people release such messages for pleasure, to see how far their message can travel and to make new friends, though this is occasionally considered littering and can result in fines. They are also used for scientific studies into ocean currents. The phrase "message in a bottle" has also come to refer to any message sent without an intended destination.
"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.
"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 realizes 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 Singles. Stewart Copeland's drum performance in the song was ranked the 59th greatest studio rock drum performance of all time on digitaldreamdoor.com's 100 Greatest Studio Rock Drummer Performances list.
