‘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. This was originally an acoustic ballad Sting wrote while The Police were known as Strontium 90 (and included bassist Mike Howlett). You can hear the first recording of this song if you find their rare CD, Police Academy, released in 1997 and produced by Mike Howlett. Sting used a lyric from this, "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," on some other songs he wrote, including The Police's ‘O My God’ from Synchronicity and ‘Seven Days’ from his solo album Ten Summoner's Tales.
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.
‘Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic’ was released as the second single from Ghost in the Machine in UK and Ireland, while in most other parts of the world it was the debut single from the album. The song outperformed its predecessor in Britain, where it topped the charts. The song also hit No. 1 in Canada, Ireland and the Netherlands, No. 2 in Australia, and No. 5 in Norway. It reached No. 3 in America, making it and ‘King of Pain’ the band's second-best-performing single there, after its No. 1 hit ‘Every Breath You Take’.
Label – A&M
Songwriter – Sting
Producers – The Police, Hugh Padgham
SONG LYRICS
[Verse 1]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
[Chorus]
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
[Verse 2]
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
[Chorus]
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
[Bridge]
I resolved to call her up
A thousand times a day
And ask her if she'll marry me
In 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?
[Chorus]
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
[Chorus]
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
[Refrain]
Every little thing, every little thing
Every, 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
That she does is magic
Eee-oh, oh, eee-oh, oh
Eee-oh, oh, eee-oh, oh
Eee-oh, oh, eee-oh, oh
Eee-oh, oh, eee-oh, oh
Eee-oh, oh, eee-oh, oh
Eee-oh, oh, eee-oh, oh
Eee-oh, oh, eee-oh, oh
Eee-oh, oh, eee-oh, oh
Every little thing
Every little thing
Every little thing
She does is magic, magic, magic
Magic, magic, magic
Ey-oh, yo-oh
Eee-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh
[Verse 2 / Outro]
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