The Bed's Too Big Without You

"The Bed's Too Big Without You" is a song written by Sting and first released by The Police on their 1979 album Reggatta de Blanc. An alternate version was released as a single in the UK in 1980 in the set Six Pack in conjunction with the re-release of the Police's earlier singles "Roxanne", "Can't Stand Losing You", "So Lonely", "Message in a Bottle" and "Walking on the Moon".[1]  It has been covered by a number of other artists, including Sting as a solo artist,Ranking Roger and Sheila Hylton.[2]

The themes of the song are loneliness and the pain of the end of a relationship.[3]  The lyrics were inspired by an incident in which Sting's first girlfriend, after being heartbroken upon their breakup, committed suicide.[4]  NME critic Tony Stewart considered it to be "a lame expression of remorse".[5]

AllMusic critic Chris True regards "The Bed's Too Big Without You" as a classic example of the Police's ability to merge reggae with new wave music.[6]  He also praises the musicianship of all three members of the band, Stewart Copeland's "brilliant" drumming, Andy Summers' "trebly" guitar playing and Sting's "rolling" bass line.[6]  He notes that the song never gets boring, even when only the drums and bass are playing.[6]  Authors Chris Welch and Ken Micallef and Donnie Marshall also praise Copeland's drumming, particularly on the snare drum.[3] [7]  Micallef and Marshall specifically describe Copeland's snare drumrhythms as "ricocheting" and "dub-heavy".[7]

Welch regards "The Bed's Too Big Without You" as the third great hit from Reggatta de Blanc, along with "Message in a Bottle" and "Walking on the Moon", particularly praising the fact that it is "a simple phrase, a neat concept".[3]  Welch also praises the alternate version, which appears on the box set Message in a Box, for having an even "more direct impact".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-CW_3-3" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[3]  Allmusic critic Greg Prato considers it an "early fave" of the Police.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-8" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[8]  Mojo Magazine critic John Harris regards the song as "stereotypically Police-esque" to the point of appearing to be a self-parody.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-JH_5-1" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[5]  Rolling Stone Magazine critic Debra Rae Cohen described it as "an evocative reggae track", particularly praising Sting's vocals and Summers' guitar.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-JH_5-2" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[5]  Author Martin Charles Strong describes it as a "melodic lament" and an example of the Police "charting new musical territory".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-9" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[9]  Police guitarist Andy Summers regards it as a great song, along with "Message in a Bottle", "Bring on the Night" and "Walking on the Moon" from the Reggatta de Blanc album.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-10" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[10]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:20.363636016845703px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13.63636302947998px;">"The Bed's Too Big Without You" was included on a number of Police compilation and live albums. The original album version was included on Greatest Hitsand the UK deluxe version of The Police, while the alternate mono version was included on Message in a Box: The Complete Recordings.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-AM_6-3" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[6]  A live version is included on Live!.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-AM_6-4" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[6] ==Personnel<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] ==
 * Sting – vocals, bass guitar
 * Andy Summers – guitar
 * Stewart Copeland – drums