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)
Girl
Phil Collins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When it's cold outside I've got the month of May
I guess you'd say
What can make me feel this way?
My girl (my girl, my girl)
Talkin' 'bout my girl (my girl)
I've got so much honey the bees envy me
I guess you'd say
What can make me feel this way?
My girl (my girl, my girl)
Talkin' 'bout my girl (my girl)
Hey hey hey
Hey hey hey
Ooh
I don't need no money, fortune, or fame
I've got all the riches baby one man can claim
I guess you'd say
What can make me feel this way?
My girl (my girl, my girl)
Talkin' 'bout my girl (my girl)
I've got sunshine on a cloudy day
With my girl
I've even got the month of May
With my girl
Phil Collins's My Girl is a cover of the hit 1964 single by The Temptations. The lyrics begin with the artist expressing how he has sunshine on a cloudy day and has the month of May even when it’s cold outside. He then asks the listener what can possibly make him feel this way. The answer he gives is "my girl" – the meaning of the girl in question could be an inspiring force, a love interest or a best friend. The artist goes on to say that he has so much honey that the bees envy him and his song is sweeter than the birds in the trees. He emphasizes again that it’s his girl that makes him feel this way. He then states that he’s got everything he needs, his girl is his treasure, he doesn’t need money, fame or fortune. The lyrics end with the artist repeating that he’s got sunshine on a cloudy day and even the month of May, all thanks to his girl.
The song is about gratitude and appreciation for someone special in one's life. The lyrics use imagery from nature to describe how deeply the artist feels about his "girl". The "sunshine" represents the joys and warmth that this person brings into his life. The "month of May" symbolizes the feeling of renewal and freshness, even when things might seem bleak.
Line by Line Meaning
I've got sunshine on a cloudy day
Even on difficult days, I am happy because I have my girl.
When it's cold outside I've got the month of May
Even when the world is cold and bleak, being with my girl brings me warmth and life.
I guess you'd say, What can make me feel this way? My girl (my girl, my girl) Talkin' 'bout my girl (my girl)
I cannot put into words how happy, content, and complete I feel being with my girl. She is everything to me.
I've got so much honey the bees envy me
My life is full of sweetness and joy, thanks to my girl. Even nature's creatures are envious of my happiness.
I've got a sweeter song than the birds in the trees
My love for my girl is so pure and strong that even the earth's songbirds cannot compare to it.
Hey hey hey, Hey hey hey, Ooh
An expression of pure joy and happiness, just from thinking about my girl.
I don't need no money, fortune, or fame. I've got all the riches baby one man can claim
I have everything that truly matters, because I have my girl. Money, material possessions, and fame cannot compare to the richness of true love.
With my girl
Being with my girl brings incredible light, energy, and love into my life. She is the sunshine in all of my cloudy days, and I cherish every single moment with her.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Ronald White, William Robinson Jr.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@yeahno990
Because of this song, I had to find and get my hands on the whole concert. Just yesterday I received the DVD from Roseland Ballroom, and had a very fun "Dinner and a Concert" night! I loved the mellow mood, the great, classic songs and actually saw Phil smile!! I'm so glad he finally got to make his favorite kind of music!! Cant believe I am so far behind the times! Lol But it was worth the wait! Y'all need to check it out!
@harrisonstubbs6401
He'llo
How are you feeling today
@yeahno990
@Harrison Stubb's Hi there! Sorry I didn't reply sooner. We had a full week of family graduations! Whew!! Hope you are doing well.
@JeterSwisherFan88
Nothing like Phil Collins to make people feel better when they’re sad or grouchy.
@stephenalanmoore7278
Pure class as always. I've got Phil's 'Going Back' album at home and so I can highly recommend it to any of his adoring fans. It's a great tribute to the original classic sounds of Motown. Enjoy.
@Wyndy57
💙WHAT can be better than drums, horns and Phil?!? WATCHING that INCREDIBLY HANDSOME DEVIL sing!! 😍🥰😍🥰😍🥰😘
@jablazin1
He is still handsome AF.. that voice is getting better with age.. love love it
Is Phil single? Cause like I said, he can get it..😘🥳
@B80.EspiritismoOficial
Eternal connection with the band, he and my son who was called Genesis (RIP*2000/+2021)✨🎶📿🙏🎧❤☁️🕯️🎶✨
@susanmarriner1944
love this love phil collins amazing singer lovely man
@davidjostein9770
So amazing and lovely person who has done well. Hello Susan I'm David texting from Maryland how about you and hope you're keeping save out there?