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)
Jimmy Mack
Phil Collins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Jimmy, Jimmy, oh Jimmy Mack, when are you coming back?
My arms are missing you, her lips feel the same way too
I tried so hard to be true, like I promised I'd do
But your girl keeps coming around, she's trying to wear my resistance down
[Chorus]
Hey Jimmy, Jimmy, oh Jimmy Mack, when are you coming back
She calls me on the phone, about three times a day
But now my heart's just listening to what she has to say
But this loneliness I have within keeps reaching out to be her friend
[Chorus]
She needs your loving, she needs your loving
I wanna say, I'm not getting any stronger,
I can't hold out very much longer
Tell me how to be true
'Cause she says I taste just as sweet as you
Hey Jimmy, Jimmy, oh Jimmy Mack, when are you coming back
Jimmy, can you hear me, oh Jimmy Mack, you better hurry back
She needs your loving, she needs your loving
She needs your loving, she needs your loving
Ooh, Jimmy Mack
(Jimmy Mack, hurry back)
(Jimmy Mack, hurry back)
Come on Jimmy Mack
(Jimmy Mack, hurry back)
Ooh, you better hurry back
(Jimmy Mack, hurry back)
In Phil Collins's song "Jimmy Mack," the singer is pleading for the return of a man named Jimmy Mack. The lyrics suggest that Jimmy Mack had left his lover for an extended period of time and the singer is struggling to resist the advances of the lover who desperately wants to be with Jimmy Mack. The singer attempts to remain faithful but the lover's persistence is getting the best of her. She calls the singer several times a day trying to break her down, but the singer is missing Jimmy Mack and wishes he would return soon. She acknowledges that the lover needs Jimmy Mack's love and advises him to return quickly.
The lyrics of the song showcase the internal turmoil of a person trying to hold onto their promises of fidelity in the face of temptation while longing for their absent partner. It speaks to the complexities of personal relationships when loyalty is tested, and it highlights the lengths that we go to keep promises even if it means experiencing loneliness and heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
Jimmy, Jimmy, oh Jimmy Mack, when are you coming back?
Addressing Jimmy and asking him when he will return.
My arms are missing you, her lips feel the same way too
I miss you and she misses you too.
I tried so hard to be true, like I promised I'd do
I tried to be faithful like I promised.
But your girl keeps coming around, she's trying to wear my resistance down
But your girl is persistent and trying to make me give in to her.
Hey Jimmy, Jimmy, oh Jimmy Mack, when are you coming back
Repeating the question and urging Jimmy to come back.
Jimmy, Jimmy, oh Jimmy Mack, you better hurry back
Warning Jimmy that he needs to come back quickly.
She calls me on the phone, about three times a day
She calls me frequently throughout the day.
But now my heart's just listening to what she has to say
But now I am starting to listen to her and consider her feelings.
But this loneliness I have within keeps reaching out to be her friend
But my own loneliness makes me want to be her friend and comfort her.
I wanna say, I'm not getting any stronger,
I want to admit that I am struggling and not getting any stronger.
I can't hold out very much longer
I can't continue to resist her for much longer.
Tell me how to be true
Tell me how to remain faithful to you.
'Cause she says I taste just as sweet as you
She tells me that I am just as good as you.
She needs your loving, she needs your loving
She needs your love and attention.
Ooh, Jimmy Mack
Expressing longing for Jimmy Mack.
(Jimmy Mack, hurry back)
Urging Jimmy Mack to come back.
(Jimmy Mack, hurry back)
Repeating the urge for Jimmy Mack to come back.
Come on Jimmy Mack
Encouraging Jimmy Mack to return.
Ooh, you better hurry back
Stressing the urgency for Jimmy Mack to return.
Lyrics ยฉ Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Brian Holland, Eddie Holland, Lamont Dozier
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Messier87_M87
This manโs love for the fans keeps him going, no matter his age or health situation. So thankful! Love you Phil! ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐
@karenm12161
@Solitude Standing11
I totally agree !!
Massive respect to you Phil ๐
@lellul760
Phil Collins is the best musician in the world and everybody knows him really well.
@Shannonbarnesdr1
he is one of many greats!
@laurapereira9849
Concordo plenamente com vocรช!!!
@kytddjj
True
@maryclaireconklin877
Very true
@piba2500
Iโm a teen and I love Phil Collins. Best solo musician
@monicavizeu
Omg!!! I love his songs and his voice forever!!!! God bless you Phill!!๐
@marcia.regina
Thank you for this sweet Song dear Phil Collins! Wishing a lot of happiness and health for you! I love you! โฅ๏ธ๐ผ๐ถ