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)
I'm On My Way
Phil Collins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
New friends and new places to see
With blue skies ahead, yes
I'm on my way
And there's nowhere else
That I'd rather be
Tell everybody I'm on my way
With the sun beating down, yes
I'm on my way
And I can't keep this smile off my face
'Cause there's nothing like seeing
Each other again
No matter what the distance between
And the stories that we tell
Will make you smile
Oh it really lifts my heart
So tell 'em all I'm on my way
New friends and new places to see
And to sleep under the stars
Who could ask for more
With the moon keeping watch over me
Not the snow, not the rain
Can change my mind
The sun will come out, wait and see
And the feeling of the wind in your face
Can lift your heart
Oh there's nowhere I would rather be
'Cause I'm on my way now
Well and truly
I'm on my way now
(I'm on my way now)
(I'm on my way now)
(I'm on my way now)
Tell everybody I'm on my way
And I just can't wait to be there
With blue skies ahead, yes
I'm on my way
And nothing but good times to share
So tell everybody I'm on my way
And I just can't wait to be home
With the sun beating down, yes
I'm on my way
And nothing but good times to show
I'm on my way
Yes, I'm on my way
Phil Collins's song "On My Way" is about the excitement and anticipation of embarking on a journey towards new experiences, while also looking forward to reuniting with old friends. The opening lines "Tell everybody I'm on my way, new friends and new places to see" emphasize the eagerness and anticipation of traveling to new places and meeting new people. Collins uses nature metaphors such as "blue skies ahead" and "sun beating down" to convey feelings of hope, optimism, and freedom. He is thrilled with the prospect of sleeping under the stars and being free to explore the world.
Collins's lyrics also express the joyful emotions that come with reuniting with old friends, regardless of the distance between them. He believes that connecting with old friends can lift one's heart and make one smile. The song suggests that the stories shared among old friends have the power to bring people together and create strong bonds.
Ultimately, "On My Way" is more than just a song about traveling; it is a song about the joy of life and the importance of human connection. The enthusiastic lyrics and upbeat melodies reflect the theme of living life to the fullest and cherishing the memories made along the way.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell everybody I'm on my way
I want everyone to know that I am making progress towards my destination
New friends and new places to see
I am excited for the opportunity to meet new people and explore new places
With blue skies ahead, yes
I have a positive outlook on my journey ahead
And there's nowhere else
There is no other place I would rather be than on my way to my destination
That I'd rather be
I am content with my current situation and have no desire to be anywhere else
And I'm loving every step I take
I am enjoying the process of reaching my destination, even if it involves difficult steps
With the sun beating down, yes
The warm weather makes my journey more pleasant
And I can't keep this smile off my face
I am so happy that I cannot hide my joy with a smile
'Cause there's nothing like seeing
The experience of reuniting with someone you have not seen in a while is unparalleled
Each other again
Being reconnected with someone after time apart is a wonderful experience
No matter what the distance between
Even if we are geographically separated, we can still appreciate each other's company
And the stories that we tell
Sharing memories and experiences is a joyous activity
Will make you smile
The stories that we tell are so amusing they will bring a smile to your face
Oh it really lifts my heart
Hearing these stories and sharing laughter with others brings a feeling of happiness
And to sleep under the stars
There is a sense of magic and freedom when sleeping in the outdoors and looking at the stars
Who could ask for more
The simplicity of sleeping under the stars brings a sense of contentment and fulfillment
With the moon keeping watch over me
The moon's presence is comforting and reassuring at night
Not the snow, not the rain
No matter the weather conditions, nothing can dampen the excitement for the journey ahead
Can change my mind
The obstacles of weather do not change my decision to continue towards my destination
The sun will come out, wait and see
There is hope even on the gloomiest of days and the sun will eventually shine in the future
And the feeling of the wind in your face
The wind's touch is an invigorating and freeing sensation
Can lift your heart
The wind's feeling carries a positive emotion and brings a sense of happiness and inspiration
Oh there's nowhere I would rather be
I am content with my current path and have no desire to be anywhere else
Well and truly
I am definitely and wholeheartedly on my way
And I just can't wait to be there
I am eagerly and enthusiastically awaiting my arrival at my destination
And nothing but good times to share
I am anticipating all the fun and positive experiences that are to come upon arrival
And I just can't wait to be home
My ultimate goal is returning to my comfortable and familiar environment, where I feel at ease
And nothing but good times to show
I am proud of the experiences - both good and difficult - that I have had on my journey
Yes, I'm on my way
I am making progress towards my destination, and nothing will stop me from reaching it
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Phil Collins
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