By the Numbers - "Murder By Numbers"
@teamfreak16 (46256)
Denver, Colorado
September 2, 2026 9:11pm CST
For all of the upbeat musical fun found in songs by The Police, Sting sure did drape them all in a bit of clever gloom. Did the guy ever write a song that wasn’t lyrically dark? Don’t get your hopes up, because as we near the end of this numbers series, we’re using a Police song. Chalk up another notch in Sting’s “Dark Song” catalogue.
“Murder by Numbers” is about as deep cut as deep cuts get. It wasn’t included on the vinyl release of the band’s boffo, hit-laden 1983 album, Synchronicity. It was only included on the Compact Disc and cassette releases.
The song itself is about “the cynical manipulation of large groups of people.” Those are Sting’s words, not mine, and he wrote the song. Lots of murderous imagery here, though. Sting is slipping pills into coffee, murdering family and boring people - lyrics almost as darkly humorous as the cult 1992 serial killer dark comedy Man Bites Dog.
So no. No happy Police song today for anyone. Sorry about that.
Link is to a live performance from 1983 in Oakland:
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6 people like this
5 responses
@thislittlepennyearns (70378)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
3 Sep
I’ve always been a big Police / Sting fan. People thought it was weird when I was younger. lol.
2 people like this
@septabchips (1294)
• United Kingdom
4 Sep
I have to admit, Sting really did have a talent for making dark subjects sound strangely entertaining. “Murder by Numbers” is certainly not the song you put on when you are looking for something cheerful! ??
I did not realise it was left off the original vinyl release of Synchronicity and only appeared on the cassette and Compact Disc versions. That makes it an interesting deep cut, especially considering how popular the album was. The combination of the catchy music and those rather disturbing lyrics is what makes the song so memorable. Sting certainly knew how to make darkness sound good!
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (46256)
• Denver, Colorado
4 Sep
Yeah, I've only owned the cassette and CD releases, so I was so used to hearing it. Now I have the album on vinyl and miss getting to hear it. He is definitely a skilled songwriter!
1 person likes this
@septabchips (1294)
• United Kingdom
4 Sep
@teamfreak16 There is something special about hearing a familiar album on vinyl, even when you know the cassette and CD versions by heart. You definitely get a different experience from putting the record on and listening from beginning to end. And yes, his songwriting really is impressive. Some songs just stick with you for years.
1 person likes this
@septabchips (1294)
• United Kingdom
4 Sep
@teamfreak16 Haha, that line is definitely one of the more memorable ones! Sting really did have a knack for mixing clever humour with some pretty dark imagery. It makes you wonder what was going through his mind when he was writing some of these songs!
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (46256)
• Denver, Colorado
3 Sep
It wasn't exactly one of their hits.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (46256)
• Denver, Colorado
3 Sep
Did they use it in the movie? I've never seen it.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (46256)
• Denver, Colorado
3 Sep
@Wrexxo - Ah. I'll have to check it out. It's not a movie I'm that familiar with. Thanks for the heads up!
1 person likes this
@Wrexxo (6643)
•
3 Sep
@teamfreak16 there's a track on the Copycat soundtrack called "Stick Him or Shoot Him" thats credited to The Police..
1 person likes this
