About The Song
“Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” is a song by the British rock band the Police from their fourth studio album, Ghost in the Machine (1981). It was a hit single that reached the top of the charts in the United Kingdom in November 1981 and hit No. 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart that same year. The song, unusual for including Jean Alain Roussel, a guest keyboardist, dates back to a demo recorded by bassist and lead singer Sting in the house of Mike Howlett in the autumn of 1976. The song has been described as new wave blended with reggae elements—the signature Police style. The popularity of “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” helped to make Ghost in the Machine one of the Police’s most successful albums.
Written in standard 4
4 time, “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” sets up a tension between the keys of D major and D minor, with the bass line rising up a lydian scale, including portions of the song with no recognisable key. It ultimately resolves to D major, signifying the excitement of romance.
The song is characterised as new wave, with elements of reggae. Sting evokes a reggae feel by emphasising his bass guitar parts at the beats of four and one in the chorus, and Stewart Copeland’s drumming has reggae flourishes. The chiming notes of Caribbean steel drums are heard at the chorus. Unlike other Police songs, it features an arrangement dominated by piano and synthesisers. The lyrics concern unrequited love, telling the story of a hapless romantic who has attempted to pursue a romantic interest for a long period of time, but is too afraid to do so.
Video
Lyrics
Though I’ve tried before to tell her
Of the feelings I have for her in my heart
Every time that I come near her
I just lose my nerve as I’ve done from the start
Every little thing she does is magic
Everything she do just turns me on
Even though my life before was tragic
Now I know my love for her goes on
Do I have to tell the story
Of a thousand rainy days since we first met?
It’s a big enough umbrella
But it’s always me that ends up getting wet
Every little thing she does is magic
Everything she do just turns me on
Even though my life before was tragic
Now I know my love for her goes on
I resolved to call her up
A thousand times a day
And ask her if she’ll marry me
Some old-fashioned way
But my silent fears have gripped me
Long before I reach the phone
Long before my tongue has tripped me
Must I always be alone
Every little thing she does is magic
Everything she do just turns me on
Even though my life before was tragic
Now I know my love for her goes on
Every little thing she does is magic
Everything she do just turns me on
Even though my life before was tragic
Now I know my love for her goes on
On and on and on and
Every little thing, every little thing
Every little thing, every little thing
Every little, every little, every little
Every little thing she does
Every little thing she does
Every little thing she does
Every little thing she does
Thing she does is magic
E-oh E-oh E-oh E-oh E-oh E-oh E-oh E-oh
E-oh E-oh E-oh E-oh E-oh E-oh E-oh E-oh
Every little thing, every little thing
Every little thing she do is magic, magic, magic
Magic, magic, magic
Oh oh, Oh oh
E-oh oh oh oh oh
I have to tell a story
Of a thousand rainy days since we first met
It’s a big enough umbrella
But it’s always me that ends up getting wet