Born and raised in west London, Collins played drums from the age of five and completed drama school training, which secured him various roles as a child actor, with his first major role, aged 13, as the Artful Dodger in the West End musical Oliver!. He then pursued a music career, joining Genesis in 1970 as their drummer and becoming lead singer in 1975 following the departure of Peter Gabriel. Collins began a successful solo career in the 1980s, initially inspired by his marital breakdown and love of soul music, releasing the albums Face Value (1981), Hello, I Must Be Going! (1982), No Jacket Required (1985) and ...But Seriously (1989). Collins became, in the words of AllMusic, "one of the most successful pop and adult contemporary singers of the '80s and beyond". He also became known for a distinctive gated reverb drum sound on many of his recordings. In 1985, he was the only artist to perform at both Live Aid concerts. He also resumed his acting career, appearing in Miami Vice and subsequently starring in the film Buster (1988). In 1996, Collins left Genesis to focus on solo work; this included writing songs for Disney's Tarzan (1999) for which he received an Oscar for Best Original Song for "You'll Be in My Heart". He rejoined Genesis for their Turn It On Again Tour in 2007. Following a five-year retirement to focus on his family life, Collins released an autobiography in 2016 and completed his Not Dead Yet Tour in 2019. He then rejoined Genesis in 2020 for a second reunion tour, ending in March 2022.
Collins's discography includes eight studio albums that have sold 33.5 million certified units in the US and an estimated 150 million records sold worldwide, making him one of the world's best-selling artists. He is one of only three recording artists, along with Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson, who have sold over 100 million records both as solo artists and separately as principal members of a band. He has won eight Grammy Awards, six Brit Awards (winning Best British Male Artist three times), two Golden Globe Awards, one Academy Award, and a Disney Legend Award. He was awarded six Ivor Novello Awards from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors, including the International Achievement Award. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1999, and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2003 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Genesis in 2010. He has also been recognised by music publications with induction into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 2012, and the Classic Drummer Hall of Fame in 2013.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Collins
Studio albums
Face Value (1981)
Hello, I Must Be Going! (1982)
No Jacket Required (1985)
...But Seriously (1989)
Both Sides (1993)
Dance into the Light (1996)
Testify (2002)
Going Back (2010)
10. Thru My Eyes
Phil Collins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The thing you think you're looking for
It could take you all your lifetime
And still you'd never quite be sure
You could look everywhere
Because you know it's there
Somewhere beneath the sky
There's no lesson learned
Yet some people pass it by
You'll see things different when you look through my eyes
Things are different if you see what I see
Just look closely and you'll see through my eyes
It could be different, you'll see how it could be,
If you can see
You may need help to find your way home
Those who brought you here have flown
The road you take is full of hope or sadness
The choice you make will be your own
But you're not alone in there
Just say hello in there
Cause there are many just like you
They'll help you find someway
To make it all the way
They'll tell you all you have to do
You'll see things different when you look through my eyes
Things are different if you see what I see
Just look closely and you'll see through my eyes
It could be different, you'll see how it could be,
If you can see
No one warns you of the heartache
No one can hide you from the storm
But from the shadows there will come the sunshine
A place to dry and keep you warm
Though no one tells you how
Your hearts beating faster now
Getting stronger day by day
Suddenly it's clear, what you seek is near
It's what you learn along the way
Its never where you think you'll find it
The thing you think you 're looking for
Well it could take you all your lifetime
Still you'll never quite be sure
You'll find it, just look closer
The song "Thru My Eyes" by Phil Collins is about the difficulty of finding what you are looking for, as well as the importance of perspective. The lyrics express the idea that what you are searching for may not be where you expect it to be and that it may take a long time to find it. The lines "You could look everywhere because you know it's there. Somewhere beneath the sky" express the idea that the thing you are looking for is out there, but it is not necessarily where you would expect it to be.
Collins also sings about how one's perspective can change how they see things, emphasizing the importance of understanding the perspectives of others. He sings "You'll see things different when you look through my eyes. Things are different if you see what I see." The song encourages listeners to look at things from different perspectives and learn from others.
The song also touches on the themes of community and support. Collins sings about how others can help guide you in finding what you are looking for, saying "You may need help to find your way home. Those who brought you here have flown." The song stresses that you are not alone and that there are others who can help you.
Overall, "Thru My Eyes" is a introspective song about the search for meaning and perspective. It encourages listeners to look at things from different angles and to not give up on their search, even if it takes a long time.
Line by Line Meaning
It's never where you think you'll find it
You won't find what you're looking for where you expect it to be.
The thing you think you're looking for
You're searching for something specific.
It could take you all your lifetime
Your search could last for your entire life.
And still you'd never quite be sure
Even if you find what you're looking for, you may not be completely satisfied.
You could look everywhere
You're willing to search far and wide.
Because you know it's there
You have a feeling that what you're looking for exists.
Somewhere beneath the sky
It could be anywhere in the world, as long as it's under the sky.
But too close and you'll get burned
You have to be careful, because getting too close to what you're looking for can be dangerous.
There's no lesson learned
Even if you get burned, you might not learn from your mistake.
Yet some people pass it by
Some people don't recognize what they're looking for when it's right in front of them.
You'll see things different when you look through my eyes
I have a unique perspective that can help you understand things differently.
Things are different if you see what I see
My perspective can alter the way you see the world.
Just look closely and you'll see through my eyes
If you pay attention, my perspective can show you something new.
It could be different, you'll see how it could be,
I can show you a different way of seeing things that you may not have considered.
If you can see
If you're open to my perspective, you can learn something new.
You may need help to find your way home
Sometimes, you need assistance to find where you belong.
Those who brought you here have flown
The people who helped you before are no longer there to guide you.
The road you take is full of hope or sadness
Your journey could be filled with either positive or negative experiences.
The choice you make will be your own
Ultimately, you have the power to determine the path you take.
But you're not alone in there
You're not the only one on this journey.
Just say hello in there
All you need to do is reach out for help.
Cause there are many just like you
Other people are in the same situation as you.
They'll help you find someway
Those who understand your journey will assist you in finding your way.
To make it all the way
They will help you reach your destination.
They'll tell you all you have to do
Those who have gone before you will provide guidance on how to reach your goal.
No one warns you of the heartache
No one tells you how difficult the journey will be.
No one can hide you from the storm
There will be challenges that you will have to face alone.
But from the shadows there will come the sunshine
Even in the darkest moments, there will be light.
A place to dry and keep you warm
There will be a safe haven where you can regroup and recharge.
Though no one tells you how
You may not have all the answers to your problems.
Your heart's beating faster now
You're excited and nervous about what's to come.
Getting stronger day by day
You're growing stronger and more resilient with each passing day.
Suddenly it's clear, what you seek is near
You realize that what you've been searching for is close.
It's what you learn along the way
The journey is just as important as the destination.
You'll find it, just look closer
What you seek may have been right in front of you all along.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Agent Bosconian
on Papa Was a Rolling Stone
It was the third of September
September, 3rd. It was the day that forever changed my life.
That day I'll always remember, yes I will
It was the day that I'll never forget about what had happened at that time.
'Cause that was the day, that my daddy died
The day that my estranged father; who was never around, had perished.
I never got a chance to see him
There wasn't an opportunity for me to even meet the man; not once.
Never heard nothin' but bad things about him
All that I've ever heard about were just awful, terrible, and cruel things that he did.
Momma I'm depending on you, to tell me the truth
Please tell me, Mother. Who and what this man truly was, and what he'd done?
Momma just hung her head and said
My Mother hung her head in sadness; thus she responded in her sorrowful voice to me...
Papa was a rolling stone,
My dear child.... Your Father was a man who could never stay in one place to settle down, and was a selfish person who never cared for anyone; but only for himself..
Where ever he laid his hat was his home
He had gone from one place to another with his hat that he wore; and wherever he put his hat down, he settled in there.
And when he died, all he left us was alone
By the time of his death, all that was left behind from him was loneliness and pain.
Hey Momma!
Mother, can you tell me anything about this Father of mine?
Is it true what they say that Papa never worked a day, in his life
Is it the truth that he never had lifted a finger to work at all; in his entire life?
And Momma, some bad talk goin' round town sayin' that Papa had three outside children
And according to the people that knew him all too well; that he also have bore three other children with his lover?
And another wife, and that ain't right
Such a disgraceful thing to hide about having another woman to be his wife.
Heard them talking Papa doing some store front preachin'
Some people eventually talked about his deceitful tricks, such as being a so-called "Preacher" at his store chapel.
Talked about saving souls and all the time leeching
He pretended to act like he was a priest and tricked many people into saving their souls; but at the same time, he robbed them of their hard-earned money.
Dealing in debt, and stealing in the name of the Lord
Trapped himself into debt with such evil acts; thus had stolen everything in the Lord's name.
Momma hung her head and said
My own Mother shook her head in a disgusted matter...
Papa was a rolling stone,
My dear child.... Your Father was a man who could never stay in one place to settle down, and was a selfish person who never cared for anyone; but only for himself.
Where ever he laid his hat was his home
He had gone from one place to another with his hat that he wore; and wherever he put his hat down, he settled in there.
And when he died, all he left us was alone
By the time of his death, all that was left behind from him was loneliness and pain.
Hey Momma,
I must know the whole truth about this wretched man. What else is there for you to tell me, Mother?
I heard Papa called himself a jack of all trades
Others had said that "Father" believed that he was a Jack-Of-All-Trades; thinking that he was unstoppable at anything that he had done to others.
Tell me is that what sent Papa to an early grave
Were these criminal actions that Father had committed in his lifetime; unaware of the consequences that he made, the main reason that put him in a six-foot grave of his own in a cemetery?
Folks say Papa would beg, borrow, steal
Everyone already knew that the bastard was a beggar, a deceiver, and a thief.
To pay his bills
He committed every single criminal activity; in order to pay the debts that he had.
Hey Momma,
But, Mother...
Folks say Papa never was much on thinking
Father had no knowledge of how to take on responsibility on such difficult situations, some other people had also spoke of.
Spent most of his time chasing women and drinking
He was nothing but a alcoholic who'd drink so much to his heart's content; as being a philanderer, who would go and become intimate with one woman to another woman; for his own selfish indulgence.
Momma I'm depending on you, to tell me the truth
Is this the entire truth about this disgraceful, cruel, trickster of a Father, Mother?
Momma looked up with a tear in her eye and said, son
Tears stream down on Mother's face; as she spoke one last time about him...
Papa was a rolling stone,
Once again, my child... Your Father was a man who could never stay in one place to settle down, and was a selfish person who never cared for anyone; but only for himself.
Where ever he laid his hat was his home
He had always gone from one place to another with his hat; and wherever he put his hat down, he settled in there.
And when he died, all he left us was alone
By the time of his death, all that was left behind from him was loneliness and pain.
Fredrick muchaili
on One More Night
This song is my favorite ever