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)
Thunder and Lightning
Phil Collins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Aww
I never ever thought I'd ever get tired of playing games
Ooh, but I've been holding back for too long
Now the time has come I'm gonna get it right
Now's the time to show them all that they're wrong
Oh oh 'cause they said thunder and they said lightning
Oh but if that's true, then why can't you tell me
How come this feels so nice, oh it feels alright
Feels alright, alright
I never ever did believe in guiding lights
'Cause what you didn't hold, slipped away
Oh but there's a feeling deep down in my shoes
'Cause things look like they're going my way
Ah ha, 'cause they say thunder and they say lightning
It would never strike twice
Oh but if that's true, then why can't you tell me
How come this feels so nice, so nice, it feels alright
Yeah
Oh
I never ever did believe in a second chance
You get, just one crack of the whip, that's all
If you played the game, you got treated right
Oh, but I'm not playing the game, no more
Ah ho, and they say thunder and they say lightning
It would never strike twice
Oh, but if that's true, then why can't you tell me
How come this feels so nice
Ah ho, and they say thunder and they say lightning
It would never strike twice
Oh, but if that's true, then why can't you tell me
How come this feels so nice
So nice
When they say thunder, they say lightning
It would never strike twice
In Phil Collins's song "Thunder and Lightning", the singer expresses his newfound sense of independence and confidence, after holding back for too long. He sings about breaking free from playing games and not believing in guiding lights, taking control of his own life instead. The lyrics reflect a sense of defiance, as he challenges the notion that thunder and lightning never strike twice. He questions why, if that's true, does he feel so good now that things are going his way. Ultimately, the song is about seizing opportunities and not being afraid to take chances.
The imagery of thunder and lightning in the song serves as a powerful metaphor for the unpredictability of life. Thunder and lightning are forces of nature that can be both destructive and awe-inspiring, and they represent the unexpected twists and turns that can occur in our lives. By embracing this uncertainty and not fearing it, the singer is able to find a sense of liberation and happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah
Expressing agreement or confirmation
Aww
Expressing disappointment or sympathy
I never ever thought I'd ever get tired of playing games
I never expected to be tired of playing games, but it happened
Ooh, but I've been holding back for too long
I've been holding back for too long
Now the time has come I'm gonna get it right
It's time for me to get it right
Now's the time to show them all that they're wrong
It's time to prove them wrong
Oh oh 'cause they said thunder and they said lightning
Because they said that lightning never strikes twice
It would never strike twice
Lightning supposedly doesn't strike twice
Oh but if that's true, then why can't you tell me
If that's true, then why can't anyone explain it to me
How come this feels so nice, oh it feels alright
If that's true, why does it feel so good?
Feels alright, alright
It feels good
I never ever did believe in guiding lights
I didn't believe in things that guide you
'Cause what you didn't hold, slipped away
If you don't hold onto things, you lose them
Oh but there's a feeling deep down in my shoes
But I have a feeling it's all going to work out
'Cause things look like they're going my way
Because things seem to be going well for me
Ah ha, 'cause they say thunder and they say lightning
Because they say lightning never strikes twice
So nice, so nice, it feels alright
It feels good
Yeah
Expressing agreement or confirmation
Oh
Expressing surprise or anticipation
I never ever did believe in a second chance
I didn't believe in getting a second chance
You get, just one crack of the whip, that's all
You only get one chance
If you played the game, you got treated right
If you played the game, you were treated well
Oh, but I'm not playing the game, no more
But I'm not playing by the rules anymore
Ah ho, and they say thunder and they say lightning
Because they say lightning never strikes twice
Oh, but if that's true, then why can't you tell me
If that's true, then why can't anyone explain it to me
How come this feels so nice
If that's true, why does it feel so good?
So nice
It feels good
When they say thunder, they say lightning
When they say one thing, they say the other
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: PHIL COLLINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nathan Zeigler
I’m 13 and I love Phil I’ve been to two of his concerts and I can’t believe how good he is even now
Nick Burns
His best album easily, still play this 40 odd years later, every track is superb, love it.
Jay Niven
My Dad absolutely loves this album.
Its timeless
MarcW2209
Phils best album was face value, by miles, love the earlier Genesis albums as well. This mans music has been in my life for 42 years now. Unreal.
Kevin
This song has such an uplifting sound to it. Amazing vocals.
Nora Fuentes
You are beyond incredible, Phil! your music brings me joy every day under any circumstance.
Kirby Bulborb
Phil's such a great singer and drummer. Love all his music!
londonukhm
Love this song, Face Value is one amazing album. Thank you Mr. Collins, thank you.
The IEP Guy
dear phil collins,
can’t even begin to tell you how many wonderful memories are attached to your beautiful music. thank you!
Daiane Ribeiro
Just to say that I love your songs Phil 😍