Throwing It All Away
Genesis (Phil Collins & Peter Gabriel) Lyrics


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Need I say I love you
Need I say I care
Need I say that emotion's,
Something we don't share
I don't want to be sitting here
Trying to deceive you
Cos you know I know baby
I don't wanna go.

We cannot live together
We cannot live apart
That's the situation
I've known it from the start
Every time that I look at you
I can see the future
Cos you know I know baby
I don't wanna go.

Throwing it all away
Throwing it all away
Is there nothing that I can say
To make you change your mind
I watch the world go round and round
And see mine turning upside down
You're throwing it all away.

Who'll light up the darkness
Who will hold your hand
Who will find you the answers
When you don't understand
Why should I have to be the one
Who has to convince you
Cos you know I know baby
That I don't wanna go.

Some day you'll be sorry
Someday when you're free
Memories will remind you
That our love was meant to be
Late at night when you call my name
The only sound you'll hear
Is the sound of your voice calling
Calling after me.

Just throwing it all away
Throwing it all away




There's nothing I can say
You're throwing it all away.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Throwing It All Away by Genesis (Phil Collins & Peter Gabriel) describe a complicated relationship, where the person singing loves and cares for the other person, but they don't share the same emotions. Both individuals cannot seem to live together, and they can't live apart either. The singer realizes that the situation will never change, and he can see his future with this other person. Yet, he doesn't want to deceive them or leave them. The singer is torn between his feelings and the reality of the situation.


The chorus "Throwing it all away" is a metaphor for the relationship falling apart. The singer feels like he is watching his life turn upside down, and there is nothing he can do to change it. He questions who will be there for the other person once he is gone, and who will be able to light up their darkness or hold their hand. The singer doesn't want to be the one convincing the other person to stay because he knows it won't work. In the end, he tells the other person that they're throwing it all away, and memories will remind them of what they had together.


Overall, the lyrics of Throwing It All Away convey a message of lost love, regret, and a relationship that's coming to an end. The singer is tired of trying to convince the other person of what they had, and he knows that it's time to let go.


Line by Line Meaning

Need I say I love you
Do I need to articulate that I have romantic feelings for you?


Need I say I care
Do I need to articulate that I am concerned for you?


Need I say that emotion's, Something we don't share
Is it necessary for me to articulate that we do not have the same level of emotional attachment?


I don't want to be sitting here Trying to deceive you
I would prefer not to be in this situation where I must give you false information.


Cos you know I know baby I don't wanna go.
As you are aware, I do not have the desire to leave this situation.


We cannot live together
We are unable to coexist in close proximity.


We cannot live apart
We are unable to maintain a healthy relationship without proximity.


That's the situation I've known it from the start
I have been cognizant of this circumstance since the beginning of our partnership.


Every time that I look at you I can see the future
When I observe you, I am able to picture the potential results of our connection.


Cos you know I know baby I don't wanna go.
You and I both recognize that I am not interested in leaving this relationship.


Throwing it all away
Disregarding all that we have worked to establish.


Is there nothing that I can say To make you change your mind
Are there no words I can provide to convince you to reconsider your decision?


I watch the world go round and round
As time passes, I observe the world move forward.


And see mine turning upside down
Concurrently, I see my personal world falling apart.


You're throwing it all away.
You are choosing to disregard all that we have created.


Who'll light up the darkness
Who will illuminate the path through difficult times?


Who will hold your hand
Who will provide support during times of need?


Who will find you the answers When you don't understand
Who will help you attain clarity when you are confused?


Why should I have to be the one Who has to convince you
What is the reason behind me being the only one required to persuade you?


Cos you know I know baby That I don't wanna go.
You acknowledge that I am not interested in leaving this relationship.


Some day you'll be sorry
One day, you will regret your decision.


Someday when you're free
A time will come when you no longer feel constrained.


Memories will remind you That our love was meant to be
When you reflect on past events, you will remember that our relationship was ordained.


Late at night when you call my name
When you find yourself seeking my assistance during nighttime hours,


The only sound you'll hear Is the sound of your voice calling Calling after me.
The sole noise you will perceive is your own voice, summoning me back.


Just throwing it all away
Merely discarding everything we have achieved.


Throwing it all away
Discarding everything we have accomplished.


There's nothing I can say
There is no statement that will have a persuasive effect.


You're throwing it all away.
You have chosen to dispose of everything we have created.




Lyrics Β© IMAGEM U.S. LLC
Written by: ANTHONY BANKS, MICHAEL RUTHERFORD, PHIL COLLINS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@ccjjpp1966

Need I say I love you
Need I say I care
Need I say that emotions are something we don't share
I don't want to be sitting here, trying to deceive you
Cause you know I know baby that I don't wanna go
We cannot live together
We cannot live apart
And that's the situation
I've known it from the start
Everytime that I look at you, I can see the future
Cause you know I know baby that I don't wanna go
Just throwing it all away
Throwing it all away
Is there nothing I can say to make you change your mind
I watch the world go round and round
And see mine turning upside down.
Throwing it all away
Now who will light up the darkness
And who will hold your hand
Who will find you the answers when you don't understand
Why should I have to be the one who has to convince you
Cause you know I know baby that I don't wanna go
Someday you'll be sorry
Someday when you're free, memories will remind you that our love was meant to be
But late at night when you call my name, the only sound you'll hear, is the sound of your voice calling, calling out to me
Just throwing it all away
Throwing it all away
And there's nothing that I can say
We're throwing it all away
Just throwing it all away
Just throwing it all away



@thoughtsonpaper2

Lyrics? Buehler?

Need I say I love you?
Need I say I care?
Need I say that emotions are something we don't share?
I don't want to be sitting here, trying to deceive you
'Cause you know I know, baby, that I don't wanna go
We cannot live together
We cannot live apart
And that's the situation
I've known it from the start
Everytime that I look at you, well, I can see the future
'Cause you know I know, baby, that I don't wanna go
Just throwing it all away
Throwing it all away
Is there nothing that I can say to make you change your mind?
I watch the world go round and round
And see mine turning upside down
Throwing it all away
Now who will light up the darkness?
And who will hold your hand?
Who will find you the answers when you don't understand?
Why should I have to be the one who has to convince you?
'Cause you know I know baby that I don't wanna go
Someday you'll be sorry
Someday when you're free
Memories will remind you that our love was meant to be
But late at night when you call my name, the only sound you'll hear
Is the sound of your voice calling, calling after me
Just throwing it all away
Throwing it all away
And there's nothing that I can say
Ah-ha
We're throwing it all away
Yes, we're throwing it all away
Yes, we're throwing it all away



All comments from YouTube:

@wenwenrenee

As a kid, I liked many songs, but when I grew up and understood more about life, I realized that 80's music was loaded with lyrical depth and emotion. This song has an interesting juxtaposition, musically it's kind of upbeat, but these lyrics are quite poetic and sad. Such a perfectly arranged song.

@andrejg4136

It was a combination of lyricism of people who actually had thought about what they wanted to put into their art, and artistry to make that consumable for those who were out to sell records/tapes/CDs. The problem with music today isn't that artists aren't artists, it is that too many people in charge of labels/platforms are chasing dollars to let these artists develop 'properly'.

There are many recent songs that touch me in the same way these hits do, they are just mired in the swamp of fly-by-night operations looking for a buck, or megacorps churning out gunk like they're doing us a favor.

@kayzeaza

Okay boomer

@chrisrobb78

I agree good rhythm

@kevinhoward603

Sometimes a great song reminds you of a special person and remarkable woman!😒

@whatsthatthing6579

I sincerely don’t understand how Phil is not in the top 3 singers ever. So many hits and number 1s over his time. Forever a legend.

@bleep77

He is in my Top 10 for sure.
Top 10:
Michael Jackson
John Lennon
Billy Joel
Phil Collins
Paul McCartney
Cat Stevens
Bryan Adams
Tom Petty
Prince
Liam Gallagher

@spontaneouscrusades

πŸ’―EXACTLY

@whatsthatthing6579

@bleep77 that’s a good list!

@lindapearce5699

Forever!!!

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