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 Need To Know
Phil Collins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The things we like to say
But if I said to you, "Please don't do it"
You do it anyway
Sometimes I know, we gotta be cruel
Be cruel to be kind
When I ask you, what you see in me
You say, "Our love is blind"
'Cause only you know and I know
The things we mean to say
Only you know and I know
The things we mean to say, oh
Whenever I think I know you better
Better than I know myself
I open up and give you everything
Then you say, "Okay what else?"
And when I run away you always cry
You always over react
Well I don't know if you know how you really feel
But you better know before I get back
'Cause only you know and I know
The things we mean to say
Only you know and I know
The things we mean to say
Just try to remember
Now I'm the one you love
You told me, ooh try to remember
I'm the one you're always thinking of
You told me, please try to remember
Before I walk away
Remember
It's not good enough telling me the way it was yesterday
'Cause only you know and I know
The things we mean to say
Only you know and I know
The things we mean to say, yes
Only you know and I know
The things we mean to say
Only you know and I know
The things we mean to say
Only you know and I know
Only you know and I know
The lyrics to Phil Collins's song Only You Know And I Know delve into the complexities of a tumultuous romantic relationship. The singer addresses their partner's tendencies to ignore their requests and wishes, despite claiming to know and understand them intimately. The line "Sometimes I know, we gotta be cruel, be cruel to be kind" suggests that the singer believes that being honest and direct, even if it may hurt the other person's feelings in the short term, is ultimately the best course of action for both individuals involved. The phrase "Our love is blind" adds another layer to this dynamic, implying that despite their flaws, the couple is so deeply entwined and committed to one another that they are willing to overlook each other's faults.
The chorus repeats the idea that only the two of them truly know each other's innermost thoughts and feelings, and the bridge suggests that the singer fears their partner may not truly understand or appreciate them. The repeated plea to "remember" serves as a gentle reminder to the partner to be more attuned to the singer's emotional needs and to acknowledge their efforts to make the relationship work. Overall, the song explores the idea of the complexity of love and how it can be both beautiful and painful.
Line by Line Meaning
We know you really only want to hear
We are aware that you prefer to listen to things that align with your interest and beliefs.
The things we like to say
We often speak of things that we like and agree on.
But if I said to you, "Please don't do it"
Even when we express our disapproval, you still do what you want to do.
You do it anyway
You tend to act on your own decision regardless of our opinions.
Sometimes I know, we gotta be cruel
At times, we must be harsh to be kind.
Be cruel to be kind
We may need to act stern to help you understand the situation.
When I ask you, what you see in me
I want to know what qualities or characteristics you find in me.
You say, "Our love is blind"
You repeatedly justify your love towards me but fail to see my flaws and shortcomings.
'Cause only you know and I know
Only you and I are aware of the things that we really mean to say.
The things we mean to say
Our true thoughts and feelings that we may not express fully.
Whenever I think I know you better
I assume to understand you more than I know myself.
Better than I know myself
I realize that I have no clue about my own true self.
I open up and give you everything
I pour my heart out and express everything emotionally and mentally.
Then you say, "Okay what else?"
You ask for more, which makes me realize that I have more to say.
And when I run away you always cry
You tend to become emotional and cry when I try to distance myself from you.
You always overreact
You tend to have an exaggerated response to any situation, which magnifies the issue.
Well I don't know if you know how you really feel
I am unsure if you genuinely understand your emotions and how you feel about me.
But you better know before I get back
You need to figure out your emotions before I return.
Just try to remember
Please keep in mind.
Now I'm the one you love
Out of all, I am the one you love the most.
You told me, ooh try to remember
You have requested me to remember and hold onto your love.
I'm the one you're always thinking of
You cannot stop thinking about me.
Please try to remember
I urge you to recall and never forget.
Before I walk away
Before I leave you behind.
Remember
Do not forget.
It's not good enough telling me the way it was yesterday
The past is not enough to maintain our bond, we need to make progress and move forward with our relationship.
Only you know and I know
Only we are aware of our true relationship.
The things we mean to say, yes
Our actual feelings and expressions are unique to us only.
Only you know and I know
Only we are aware of our true relationship.
The things we mean to say
Our true thoughts and feelings that we may not express fully.
Only you know and I know
Only we are aware of our true relationship.
Only you know and I know
Only we are aware of our true relationship.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Daryl Stoermer, 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