Recorde… Read Full Bio ↴This was Phil Collins's world premiere of a new song for Tarzan.
Recorded on may 22, 2006.
Dutch musical awards 2006.
Everything That I Am
Phil Collins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is this my story unfolding?
It's all here to discover
Everything that I am
Can this be what I've been seeking?
All my life I've been waiting for this
And now this memories
Will they make me see more?
Oeh,
I wanna know where I belong
I wanna know where I came from
I wanna know the reason why I'm here
The way I am
Feeling the things I feel
i wanna know the reason why,
You will be hard that I must try
I got to understand who I am
Why i'm here, feeling the things I feel
Is this my family?
Can it really be them that I see
My father and mother
And in her arms, can it really be me?
All these emotions
I can barely control
'Cause the family I had
Is not the family I know
Oeh,
and I got to know where I belong
I Got to know where I came from
I Got to know the reasons why I'm here
The way I am
Feeling the things I feel
These spirits calling me
Familiar voices haunting
Disappearing chanting me
This is the choice I must make
Cause I know where I belong
I know where I, I came from
I know the reason why, I must decide
And leave here, the man I am inside
The future is clear for me to see
To be the man I'm meant to be
Like my father with my head up high
Standing tall
And proud off all
That I am
I'm a man
who needs to know my past to understand my present and shape my future. In Phil Collins's "Everything That I Am," the singer portrays a very personal journey of self-discovery that focuses on his family roots. The song is introspective and reflective, as the singer grapples with questions about his identity and place in the world. He sees memories and emotions flashing before his eyes, trying to piece together the puzzle of his existence. He wonders if what he sees before him is his real family, and if the people who raised him are the same ones who carried him in their arms. The experience is overwhelming, triggering a dilemma that will require him to make a life-altering decision. The voices that haunt him are pushing him to choose and leave behind the man he is inside, for the man he was meant to be.
The lyrical imagery is very poignant, conveying a sense of pain, confusion, and longing. The singer is relatable because he tries to connect with his heritage and find a place to call home. One can feel the frustration and heartache that come with not knowing one's true roots. At the same time, there is a glimmer of hope as he tries to make sense of his past and grab hold of his present. The song's anthemic chorus inspires and uplifts, inviting the listener to join him in his quest for self-discovery.
"Everything That I Am" was released in 1996 as part of Phil Collins's album "Dance into the Light." The album had a more upbeat and an optimistic tone, inspired by the singer's positive outlook on life after a stressful personal period. The song is one of Collins's lesser-known tracks, but it still showcases his songwriting skills and emotive performance.
Line by Line Meaning
Is this my past here before me?
Questioning the familiarity of the situation
Is this my story unfolding?
Wondering if this is the tale of his life
It's all here to discover
All the answers he is looking for are in front of him
Everything that I am
The sum total of his experiences and identity
Can this be what I've been seeking?
Asking if this is the answer he's been searching for
All my life I've been waiting for this
Anticipating this moment for his entire existence
And now this memories
Reflecting on the past moments of his life
Will they make me see more?
Asking if these memories will provide more insight into his life
I wanna know where I belong
Longing to find his place in the world
I wanna know where I came from
Curious about his origins
I wanna know the reason why I'm here
Contemplating the meaning of his existence
The way I am
Reflecting on his unique identity
Feeling the things I feel
Acknowledging his emotions
i wanna know the reason why,
Continuing to question the purpose of his life
You will be hard that I must try
Acknowledge the difficulty of his journey
I got to understand who I am
Having a strong desire to understand himself
Why i'm here, feeling the things I feel
Reiterating the importance of understanding his purpose and emotions
Is this my family?
Questioning if the people before him are related
Can it really be them that I see
Incredulous at the possibility of seeing his family
My father and mother
Identifying two important figures from his family
And in her arms, can it really be me?
Questioning if he's the child depicted in a certain memory
All these emotions
Feeling overwhelmed with his emotions
I can barely control
Struggling to manage his feelings and reactions
'Cause the family I had
Explaining the difference in the family he knew and the family he found
Is not the family I know
Highlighting this difference in familiarity and identity
These spirits calling me
Noticing the presence of some supernatural entities
Familiar voices haunting
Recognizing the voices of spirits from his past
Disappearing chanting me
Hearing the sounds of familiar chants that are slowly fading away
This is the choice I must make
Realizing that the journey of self-discovery ultimately has to come from within
Cause I know where I belong
Feeling a sense of clarity and direction
I know where I, I came from
Confident in his understanding of his origins
I know the reason why, I must decide
Understanding that he is the only one that can decide his future path
And leave here, the man I am inside
Transforming and leaving behind his old self to progress forward
The future is clear for me to see
Having a clear vision of where he wants to go
To be the man I'm meant to be
Striving for his ideal self
Like my father with my head up high
Emulating the traits and confidence of his father
Standing tall
Projecting an image of strength and resilience
And proud off all
Taking pride in who he is and who he's becoming
That I am
Reiterating the importance of his unique identity
I'm a man
Affirming his identity and the journey he's taken to reach this point
Contributed by Nora N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@BIPhakathi
All this emotions I can barely control ....Greatest Phil Collins of all times
@smdarger014
This man knows how to write, and sing his music! I have to give him props. He has survived the decades.. I would dare say that he is one of the best singer,song writers of all time.
@fredrydmusic1
Such a great rare song! Like I always say, Since my childhood with Phil's voice and Tarzan, he's still the most meaningful male artist I have admired and looked up to. :)
@Jana.loves.music8
Same here and I’m 30 from this day now ❤
@albertogilli4701
Voce splendida. Non ce n'è per nessuno, Phil illumina la scena con questa canzone meravigliosa
@teodoraneagu4438
This makes me want to sing an cry and heal! God Bless You Phil Collins!!!!
@maelstrom143
I would give almost anything to meet this artist. There is no one out there...no one...that has ever impressed me as much as this singer. He puts his whole heart and soul into his art and it shows.
@njo4681
Phil Collins simplesmente o melhor de todos os tempos 👏👏👏🇧🇷🇧🇷
@kumarie100
His music gives me the chills. Wonderful singer. His music is genuine.
@bernadettehowenswilliams4937
A truly awesome Singer /Songwriter and Musician. A song that he pours his heart and Soul into . Truly incredible in all sense of the meaning . That is Mr Phil Collins .