"Take Me Home" is considered one of Collins' more well known songs, and has been in all of his tours since the No Jacket Required Tour. The song has remained popular among fans and is very popular at his live shows. Common misconceptions regarding the song's topic are that it is about a man returning home, or that it is about the psychological manipulations of the totalitarian government from George Orwell's novel 1984. In reality, however, Collins has stated that the song lyrics refer to a patient in a mental institution, and that it is very much based on the novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. While recording "Long Long Way to Go", Collins asked Sting to provide backing vocals for this song as well. The song also features Collins' old Genesis band mate, Peter Gabriel, and Helen Terry on backing vocals.
The music video features Collins singing in various places around the world, including London, New York, Tokyo, Moscow, Sydney, Paris, St. Louis, Los Angeles (Hollywood) San Francisco, and Memphis (Graceland). At the end of the video, Collins arrives home and hears a woman from inside the house asking him where he has been. He replies by saying he's been to some of the cities mentioned above. The woman replies "You've been down at the pub, haven't you?"
Reception for the song was mostly positive. Jan DeKnock of the Chicago Tribune said that the song was "hypnotic". Geoff Orens of Allmusic said that the song was an AMG Track Pick, and that the "pulsating "Take Me Home" utilizes the drama of "In the Air Tonight" on a more wistful track." David Fricke of Rolling Stone said that the song had "engaging, circular rhythm and languid melodic texture." Marty Raccine of the Houston Chronicle thought that "Take Me Home" was one of the few songs that "[rose] above the crowd [on the album]."
"Take Me Home" appeared on the opening episode of the second season of popular Miami-based crime show Miami Vice, much like Collins' own "In the Air Tonight" appeared in the season one opening episode. The song was included on the Miami Vice II soundtrack album. The song was also the closing theme song for the World Wrestling Federation's television show, Saturday Night's Main Event for several years in the late 1980s.
In 2003, the hip-hop group Bone Thugs-n-Harmony based their song "Home" on this single. That version of the song featured the original song's chorus, and hit number 19 on the UK charts. The group flew to Geneva, Switzerland in order to feature Collins in the video.
Take Me Home
Phil Collins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm an ordinary man
They don't tell me nothing
So I find out all I can
There's a fire that's been burning
Right outside my door
I can't see but I feel it
And it helps to keep me warm
I don't mind
No, I
I don't mind
Seems so long I've been waiting
Still don't know what for
There's no point in escaping
I don't worry anymore
I can't come out to find you
I don't like to go outside
They can turn off my feelings
Like they're turning off the light
But I
I don't mind
No, I
I don't mind
Oh, I
I don't mind
No, I
I don't mind
So take, take me home
'Cause I don't remember
Take, take me home
'Cause I don't remember
Take, take me home, oh Lord
'Cause I've been a prisoner all my life
And I can say to you
Take that look of worry
Mine's an ordinary life
Working when it's daylight
And sleeping when it's night
I've got no far horizons
I don't wish upon a star
They don't think that I listen
Oh, but I know who they are
And I
I don't mind
No, I
I don't mind
Oh, I
I don't mind
No, I
I don't mind
So take, take me home
'Cause I don't remember
Take, take me home
'Cause I don't remember
Take, take me home
'Cause I don't remember
Take, take me home, oh Lord
Well, I've been a prisoner all my life
And I can say to you
But I don't remember
Take, take me home
'Cause I don't remember
Take, take me home
'Cause I don't remember
Take, take me home
'Cause I don't remember
Take, take me home
'Cause I don't remember
Take, take me home
'Cause I don't remember
Take, take me home
'Cause I don't remember
Take, take me home
'Cause I don't remember
Take, take me home
'Cause I don't remember
Take, take me home
Phil Collins’s Take Me Home is a soulful ballad about an ordinary man. The lyrics describe a man who lives an everyday life, but his surroundings are deteriorating due to the fire (both literal and metaphorical) that’s been burning outside his door. The fire may represent life’s struggles, but the man doesn’t allow it to defeat him. Instead, he finds comfort in feeling its warmth because it’s his only source of comfort. The chorus is sung with passion, and it's a cry for help because the man doesn’t remember the feeling of being at home. He's been a prisoner all his life, and he wants to be taken away from all his worries and get that feeling of being at home.
The man’s story is told with honesty and simplicity, and the repetitions in the chorus emphasize the longing for something familiar. The verses describe the man’s daily routine, which is unfulfilling, and he feels like he’s missing something important. The lyrics reveal how isolated the man is, and he doesn’t want to go outside because his feelings can be turned off quickly. The last verse talks about the man's awareness of his position in the world, and he's content with his ordinary life.
Line by Line Meaning
Take that look of worry
Don't be worried, everything's fine
I'm an ordinary man
I'm just a regular person
They don't tell me nothing
I don't get any information from anyone else
So I find out all I can
So I have to learn everything on my own
There's a fire that's been burning
There's been something happening for a while
Right outside my door
It's very close to where I am
I can't see but I feel it
I can't see it but I know it's there
And it helps to keep me warm
It's comforting to know that it's there
So I
Therefore, I
I don't mind
I don't really care
Seems so long I've been waiting
I've been waiting for a long time
Still don't know what for
But I'm not sure what I'm waiting for
There's no point in escaping
There's no point in trying to run away
I don't worry anymore
I don't stress about it anymore
I can't come out to find you
I can't leave where I am to search for you
I don't like to go outside
I prefer to stay inside
They can turn off my feelings
People can make me stop feeling a certain way
Like they're turning off the light
It's like they're flipping a switch
So take, take me home
I want to go home
'Cause I don't remember
Because I don't remember where home is
Take, take me home, oh Lord
Please, dear Lord, take me home
Well, I've been a prisoner all my life
I feel like I've been trapped my whole life
And I can say to you
And I can tell you
Mine's an ordinary life
My life is very normal
Working when it's daylight
I work during the day
And sleeping when it's night
And sleep at night
I've got no far horizons
I don't have any big dreams or expectations
I don't wish upon a star
I don't have any hopes or dreams
They don't think that I listen
People don't think I pay attention
Oh, but I know who they are
But I know exactly who they are
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Phil Collins
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@evaburnz
I'm 41 with a deep sense of nostalgic depression.
Whilst I never listened to this song when I was in my younger years, I had noticed that my Father had this album maongst many of his records.
I finally discovered this gem several years ago and it gives me a deep sense of wistful longing.
I want to simultaneously cry tears of joy and sadness, and I really want to go back to the 80s, even though I keep telling myself that it is impossible and that nostalgia is just part of the exploratory journey of self-discovery that is life, for one and all.
Despite all of that, the longing deep within me is a constant.
@Novastar.SaberCombat
"Reflect upon the Past.
Embrace your Present.
Orchestrate our Futures." --Artemis (DD3)
🐲✨🐲✨🐲✨
"Before I start, I must see my end.
Destination known, my mind’s journey now begins.
Upon my chariot, heart and soul’s fate revealed.
In time, all points converge, hope’s strength re-steeled.
But to earn final peace at the universe's endless refrain,
We must see all in nothingness...
Before we start again."
🐲✨🐲✨🐲✨
--Diamond Dragons (series)
@rizvee3977
Who is listening this in 2024?
@robinwilloughby1444
Me
@ndrmds
Me. Missing the 80s 😢.
@JeremyMasters87
I just saw he had a birthday jan 30th so I got on a kick. Loving it
@NoNameNo.5
I’m listening in 2029
@LoisJacobs-yc2mh
TOTALLY ME
@hewh0wearspants
Remember when pop stars could look like Phil Collins?
@Dr.Quarex
And now you have to be way more hideous and covered in facial tattoos! Well O.K. there are probably a FEW attractive ones too
@jc01057
It’s like people were listening to the music back then.
@DarkSpartan062
@@jc01057haha right!! I didn’t appreciate the music enough back then.