I Missed Again
Phil Collins Lyrics


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So you finally came right out and said it girl
What took you so long
It was in your eyes, that look's been there for too long
I'm waiting in line
Would you say if I was wasting my time

Did I miss again
I think I missed again, oh

I think about it from time to time
When I'm lonely and on my own

I try to forget and yet, still rush to the telephone
I'm waiting in line
Would you say if I was wasting my time

Or did I miss again
I think I missed again, oh
Oh, I missed again, oh
I think I missed again, oh

Well it feels like something you want so bad
Then you think you've got it, but it's something you already had
And you can feel it all around you, but it's something you just can't touch
Oh
And I feel it coming at me
Yes, I can feel it coming at me

Oh, did I miss again
I think I missed again, oh
Oh, I missed again, oh
I think I missed again, oh

Seems I'm waiting in line, but would you say if I was wasting my time

Did I miss again
I think I missed again, oh
Oh, I missed again, oh
I think I missed again, oh

Oh, did I miss again, oh
I think I missed again, oh




Oh, I missed again, oh
I think I missed again, oh

Overall Meaning

In the song "I Missed Again" by Phil Collins, the singer is expressing regret over a missed opportunity with a girl he was interested in. He acknowledges that he could see the signs in her eyes but was too slow to act on it. He wonders if he missed his chance completely and if it's too late to try again. He can't get her out of his mind, even when he's alone, and is tempted to call her but wonders if it's worth the effort. The song expresses the frustration of missed chances and the regret that can come with them.


The repetition of the phrase "did I miss again" throughout the song underscores the theme of missed opportunities. The singer is haunted by the idea that he let something slip through his fingers and can't seem to move past it. The imagery in the third verse is particularly striking, as the singer describes feeling like he's surrounded by something he desires but can't quite grasp. The song ultimately ends on a wistful note, with the singer still wondering what could have been.


Phil Collins wrote "I Missed Again" after experiencing a period of writer's block. He had been working on a different song for four or five hours and wasn't getting anywhere, so he decided to take a break and write something else. He came up with the basic melody and lyrics for "I Missed Again" in about half an hour.


Line by Line Meaning

So you finally came right out and said it girl
The person has noticed that the girl has been acting a certain way for so long and finally admits it.


What took you so long
The person has been waiting for a while for the girl to express her feelings.


It was in your eyes, that look's been there for too long
The person could see the girl's emotions clearly in her eyes for a significant amount of time.


I'm waiting in line
The person is patiently waiting for the girl to make a decision.


Would you say if I was wasting my time
The person is asking the girl if she thinks he is wasting his time waiting for her.


Did I miss again
The person is questioning whether he made a mistake or missed the opportunity to be with the girl.


I think I missed again, oh
The person has a feeling that he missed an opportunity to be with the girl.


I think about it from time to time
The person reflects on the situation occasionally.


When I'm lonely and on my own
The person thinks about the situation when he is alone and feeling lonely.


I try to forget and yet, still rush to the telephone
The person tries to forget about the situation, but still has the urge to call the girl.


Well it feels like something you want so bad
The person desires to be with the girl so much that it is overwhelming.


Then you think you've got it, but it's something you already had
The person believes he has a chance with the girl, but realizes it is something he had before but lost.


And you can feel it all around you, but it's something you just can't touch
The person feels the opportunity is close, but still out of reach.


And I feel it coming at me
The person senses that something is about to happen.


Yes, I can feel it coming at me
The person is very aware of the situation and senses that something is about to happen.


Seems I'm waiting in line, but would you say if I was wasting my time
The person is still waiting and would like to know if the girl thinks it is a waste of time.


Oh, I missed again, oh
The person realizes that he missed another opportunity to be with the girl.


I think I missed again, oh
The person believes he missed the opportunity to be with the girl.




Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: PHIL COLLINS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Robb Hotdog

Everything Phil Collins touched in the 80's was pure gold.

Ya Boy Freaknizzle

Platinum

MrGabeanator

@Ya Boy Freaknizzle was it

Neil Burns

He didn't do too bad in the 90s either.

Also squeezed in a TV appearance or 2 in Miami Vice as well as a complete film playing the notorious PO train robber Buster Edwards.

And we haven't even mentioned his stuff with Genesis.

MrGabeanator

@Neil Burns not to mention working for disney

PutGodFirst 11

Even his own rear end

15 More Replies...

Vijay S.

A very underrated song with one of the best horn sections. Love it.

pelle lindbergh

the funk was strong with Mr. Collins on this song

GreggKnows

"No reply at all" is even better with the horns

Grelley

Horns sound so good because it's the horn section from Earrh, Wind and Fire. Phil hired them several times for his recordings. Smart move on his part.

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