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)
Colours
Phil Collins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Children are crying
Fighting for food
Holding their heads
Breaking their bread with a stone
All along the roadside
People are standing
Shielding their eyes
Brushing the flies from their face
Tell me, what can you say
Tell me, who do you blame
Like a mirror you see yourself
These people each have a name
All around the township
Young men are dying
(of) hunger and thirst
The well has run dry
The tears from her eye feeds her son
Tell me
You can say you're pulling back
We see the pictures everywhere
But what we don't see is what's
Going on behind the closed doors
And you don't seem to care
Do you expect me to believe you
How can you really think
You can take your horse down to the water
Hold a gun at his head
And make him drink
No matter what you say, it never gets any better
No matter what you do, we never see any change
People living without rights
Without their dignity
How loud does one man have to shout
To earn his right to be free
You can keep your toy soldiers
To segregate the black and white
But when the dust settles
And the blood stops running
How do you sleep at night?
No matter what you say
What makes you so high and mighty
What makes you so qualified
You can sit there and say
How many have their freedom
But how many more have died
You decide to sit in judgment
Trying to play God yourself
Someday soon the buck is gonna stop
Stop with you and no one else
No matter
what you say, the lyrics of Phil Collins's song "Colours" serve as a powerful commentary about the state of the world, particularly about inequality and poverty. The song speaks about the plight of people living in border areas, where children are crying and fighting for food. Despite the struggles of these people, those who have better living conditions can't seem to care enough. They shield their eyes from the sun and brush the flies off their face while standing on along the roadside. The song is a call for action, urging people to understand what is happening behind closed doors and to take action to make a change.
The lyrics continue to delve into the issue, highlighting how young people are dying of hunger and thirst in townships, and how mothers are trying to feed their children with tears in their eyes. Throughout the song, Phil Collins asks his listeners to speak up and take a stand against inequality, to no longer segregate and judge people based on their skin color or social status. He reminds us that all lives matter, and that people deserve to live with dignity and respect. The song's powerful lyrics serve as a reminder that change starts with us, and we need to take action to make the world a better place.
Line by Line Meaning
Deep inside the border
In a distant and isolated location
Children are crying
Innocent children are suffering
Fighting for food
Struggling to find sustenance
Holding their heads
Experiencing pain and sadness
Breaking their bread with a stone
Having to improvise and make ends meet with limited resources
All along the roadside
Everywhere in this location
People are standing
Witnessing the situation firsthand
Watching the sun
Observing the natural beauty around them
Shielding their eyes
Struggling to protect themselves from harsh elements
Brushing the flies from their face
Enduring uncomfortable and unpleasant circumstances
Tell me, what can you say
Asking for an explanation
Tell me, who do you blame
Pointing out the source of responsibility
Like a mirror you see yourself
Reflecting on one's own actions and beliefs
These people each have a name
Acknowledging the humanity and individuality of those affected
All around the township
In the entire area
Young men are dying
The youth are perishing
(of) hunger and thirst
Due to a lack of basic needs
The well has run dry
A resource has been depleted or exploited
The tears from her eye feeds her son
A mother's anguish fuels her maternal instincts
You can say you're pulling back
Claiming to be taking preventative measures
We see the pictures everywhere
The situation is widely documented and shared
But what we don't see is what's
What isn't captured in the media
Going on behind the closed doors
The hidden and untold aspects of the problem
And you don't seem to care
Perceived indifference to the plight of others
Do you expect me to believe you
Challenging the credibility of statements made
How can you really think
Questioning the thought processes and motives of others
You can take your horse down to the water
Providing an analogy for attempting to control a situation
Hold a gun at his head
Using force and coercion to achieve a goal
And make him drink
Manipulating and influencing outcomes
No matter what you say, it never gets any better
Expressing frustration and despair at a lack of change
No matter what you do, we never see any change
A sense of resignation and disillusionment
People living without rights
Being denied basic freedoms
Without their dignity
Lacking respect and self-worth
How loud does one man have to shout
Wondering what it takes to be heard
To earn his right to be free
Demanding a just and equitable society
You can keep your toy soldiers
Rejecting the use of violence and oppression
To segregate the black and white
Based on race and ethnicity
But when the dust settles
After the conflict and turmoil are over
And the blood stops running
When the violence and suffering cease
How do you sleep at night?
Questioning the morals and ethics of those in power
What makes you so high and mighty
Judging the arrogance and entitlement of others
What makes you so qualified
Questioning the legitimacy of authority
You can sit there and say
Asserting power and control
How many have their freedom
Enumerating a partial victory
But how many more have died
Highlighting the ongoing costs of injustice
You decide to sit in judgment
Exposing the hypocrisy and bias of those in charge
Trying to play God yourself
Overstepping ethical and moral boundaries
Someday soon the buck is gonna stop
Predicting accountability and justice
Stop with you and no one else
Holding individuals responsible for their actions
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Phil Collins
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
dorisdmw daddelt
What a memory ❤
As a 4yrs old I listened to your drumming because mother loved Genesis. I can recall that I liked the later songs better because of your distinctive voice which vibed somehow deeply.
It was a blast to listen to this album on our new (and very costly I recall) cd player in the earliest 90ies.
Loved this song as a twelve year old so much, sang it every day when I came home from school, along with "I whish it would rain down" (which helped me through my first heartbreak) and "Something happened on the way to heaven".
Unfortunately we nvr had enough money at home to make my dream if drum lessons come true and with my career choices it did not get any better 😅 but 8yrs ago there was a free trial day in a music school where people could try out E-Drums... yes it is not the same and I did not have a clue how to handle sticks and the kit but anyway tried over 4hrs until I was able to play some easy rhythms with base drum, snare and partially also opening high hat. But the goose bump moment was when I could hear that the toms where those leading sounds in "In the air tonight" and tried that one bit. Oh the joy! 😍 That day I promised myself to not give up on the dream of learning and playing the drums regularly once I can afford it. Even if it ment starting at age 50 😅
After all the neuroplasticity should help learning the crazy skill of doing 4 things at once, with crossing arms and learning something new might one day help prevent the dementia running wild in my family 😅.
It is amazing how the brain works...still know most of the words on this album though I did not hear those songs in many years. Our local radio station plays mostly "Another Day in Paradise" from that album. But they do at least once or twice every three days also other pieces you wrote for the Tarzan Movie and Buster. Always turning up the volume when I hear your voice and drumming.
Nowerdays, going on age 44, working with refugees trying to help them adjust to the ways of the west and find eduvation and jobs here, "Colours" still reminds me to stay humble for I can nvr grasp what they have been through and just because we are comfortable in our capitalistic, democratic and social EU system does not mean one has to feel "high and mighty" when standing with other cultures political, social and religious backgrounds.
Thank you dearly for this life long lesson at an early age, Mr. Collins. Truely.
🎶❤
Whishing you all the best for your health. Getting older is weird, when a part of ones mind is forever 23...I am just starting to understand this myself these days .
Hope to one day see you live in concert ❤🎶 all the best from Germany
Hendrick Makaneta
When I was 16 years old I started selling ice cream to assist my parents who were struggling to make ends meet. I would wake up every Saturday at 3am to prepare for the day. This is the song that kept me company as I prosecuted the struggle to create a better future for myself. Today I am a married father of 3. I have defeated poverty.
Steve R
That’s awesome! It’s not always easy but a good work ethic can help which you clearly demonstrated that you have.
Claude Scherding
One of the best song of Phil Collins. So underrated. I love very Much. It's a great artist. One of the best
fabio abbasco
Never underrated.
dorisdmw daddelt
What a memory ❤
As a 4yrs old I listened to your drumming because mother loved Genesis. I can recall that I liked the later songs better because of your distinctive voice which vibed somehow deeply.
It was a blast to listen to this album on our new (and very costly I recall) cd player in the earliest 90ies.
Loved this song as a twelve year old so much, sang it every day when I came home from school, along with "I whish it would rain down" (which helped me through my first heartbreak) and "Something happened on the way to heaven".
Unfortunately we nvr had enough money at home to make my dream if drum lessons come true and with my career choices it did not get any better 😅 but 8yrs ago there was a free trial day in a music school where people could try out E-Drums... yes it is not the same and I did not have a clue how to handle sticks and the kit but anyway tried over 4hrs until I was able to play some easy rhythms with base drum, snare and partially also opening high hat. But the goose bump moment was when I could hear that the toms where those leading sounds in "In the air tonight" and tried that one bit. Oh the joy! 😍 That day I promised myself to not give up on the dream of learning and playing the drums regularly once I can afford it. Even if it ment starting at age 50 😅
After all the neuroplasticity should help learning the crazy skill of doing 4 things at once, with crossing arms and learning something new might one day help prevent the dementia running wild in my family 😅.
It is amazing how the brain works...still know most of the words on this album though I did not hear those songs in many years. Our local radio station plays mostly "Another Day in Paradise" from that album. But they do at least once or twice every three days also other pieces you wrote for the Tarzan Movie and Buster. Always turning up the volume when I hear your voice and drumming.
Nowerdays, going on age 44, working with refugees trying to help them adjust to the ways of the west and find eduvation and jobs here, "Colours" still reminds me to stay humble for I can nvr grasp what they have been through and just because we are comfortable in our capitalistic, democratic and social EU system does not mean one has to feel "high and mighty" when standing with other cultures political, social and religious backgrounds.
Thank you dearly for this life long lesson at an early age, Mr. Collins. Truely.
🎶❤
Whishing you all the best for your health. Getting older is weird, when a part of ones mind is forever 23...I am just starting to understand this myself these days .
Hope to one day see you live in concert ❤🎶 all the best from Germany
Eric Peterson
Love you Phil Collins... Legendary.
Ahmad Assaf
Me too
ᴇ. ᴅ. 🇵🇹
Legendary. Extremely underrated, and filled with emotion. The instrumental, lyrics, and passion that was dedicated to this track, never gets it's full credits. One of my favorite all-time Collins songs, and one that brings many memories. Truly one of a kind. A masterpiece that hits the heart. Has to be one of his best work, and it's sad that legends like these only come once in a lifetime. Long Live Phil.
DreFromMaine8472
One of Phil's best ever album tracks, it's great!
Denise Hedden
🥀Brilliant song amazing vocals, lyrics music and attitude meaning of the way life truly is🥀☝️🥀