Written by the band's lead singer and bassist Sting, the song is ostensibly about a story of a castaway on an island who sends out a message in a bottle to seek love.

The next day, however, he sees "a hundred billion bottles" on the shore and realizes that there are more lonely people like him.

[7] Rolling Stone ranked it number 65 on its list of the "100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time".

According to the band's guitarist, Andy Summers, Sting had initially intended the guitar riff that "Message in a Bottle" is centred around for a different song.

Summers came up with, as Sting described, "lovely arpeggiated shiver" during the break prior to the third verse.

[8] Sting praised this addition saying, "He'd [Summers] do that – the song would be quite raw and he'd just add these lovely colours.

"[8] The riff in its final form is built of multiple overdubbed guitar parts, played by Summers.

[9] The song was recorded at Surrey Sound Studios as part of the sessions for the Reggatta de Blanc album.

"[10] The lyrics depict a castaway longing for someone to listen to him who then discovers many messages from others washing up on his shore.

[15] Ultimate Classic Rock critic Mike Duquette rated it as the Police's best song, praising the "foolishly simple guitar riff devised by Sting but played to perfection by Summers" the "cacophony of percussive brilliance by Copeland" and "Sting’s most plainspoken and razor-sharp lyric.

"[10] Cash Box described the song's hook as "a mesmerizing guitar figure" that is similar to that of Blue Öyster Cult's "Don't Fear the Reaper.