If You Love Somebody Set Them Free

Sting said that the song was written as a foil to the Police's 1983 song, "Every Breath You Take", explaining that the latter's themes of surveillance, ownership, and possession were diametrically opposed to "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free".

"Set Them Free" is the opposite, saying that if you love somebody, let them alone. There is a nasty side to it too. It's got quite a swagger to it, and a kick in the teeth.^[2]

A demo version of this song was recorded with Phil Collins as session musician.^[3]

A&M Records released "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free" in May 1985 with "Another Day" as the B-side.^[1] UK, US and French 12" singles also contain two remixes of "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free": the "Jellybean Mix" by John "Jellybean" Benitez and the "Torch Mix" by William Orbit of Torch Song.^{[citation needed]}

The single peaked at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100, number 1 on the US R&B chart,^[4] number one on the US Album Rock Tracks chart for three weeks, number 26 on the UK Singles Chart,^[5] and number 18 on the Australian Kent Music Report singles chart.^[6] The song was also performed at The Brits in February 1995 with M People. He duetted on the song with the band's lead singer, Heather Small and this track was given the dance treatment by the band who were also backed by a 100-strong Gospel Choir at the Earls Court Arena during the annual music awards show.

Live performances of the song are featured on the DVD edition of Bring On the Night and on the CD and DVD editions of ...All This Time.

In 2019, Sting rerecorded a new Dance-centric version of the single, one of six songs produced by Dave Aude for Sting's My Songs set, which was remixed by Tom Stephan, among others.^[7]

Cash Box called the song "a satisfying jazz/R&B/R&R exercise" with "sophisticated production and poignant lyric."^[8]

The music video was directed by Godley and Creme in 1985. It was shot in Paris on a soundstage, with each of the musicians performing separately and the footage then overlaid onto the final version.

• 7" US and Canada single (AM-2738)

1. "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free" – 4:14
2. "Another Day" – 3:59

• 12" US single (SP-12132)

1. "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free" (Extended Remix by John "Jellybean" Benitez) – 8:00
2. "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free" – 4:14
3. "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free" (Torch Song Mix, Produced by William Orbit) – 4:52
4. "Another Day" – 3:59

• 12" US promotional single (SP-17324)

1. "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free" – 4:14
2. "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free" – 4:14

• 12" France single (392 018-1)

1. "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free" (Torch Song Mix, Produced by William Orbit) – 4:52
2. "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free" (Remix by John "Jellybean" Benitez) – 8:00
3. "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free" – 4:14
4. "Another Day" – 3:59

• List of Billboard number-one dance songs of 2019