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)
Uptight
Phil Collins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Baby, everything is all right, uptight, out of sight.
I'm a poorman's son, from across the railroad tracks,
The only shirt I own is hangin' on my back,
But I'm the envy of every single guy
Since I'm the apple of my girl's eye.
When we go out stepping on the town for a while
But it's all right if my clothes aren't new
Out of sight because my heart is true.
She says baby everything is alright, uptight, out of sight.
Baby, everything is alright, uptight, clean out of sight.
She's a pearl of a girl, I guess that's what you might say,
I guess her folks brought her up that way,
The right side of the tracks, she was born and raised
In a great big old house, full of butlers and maids.
She says no one is better than I, I know I'm just an average guy,
No football hero or smooth Don Juan,
Got empty pockets, you see I'm a poorman's son.
She says give her the things that money can buy
But I'll never, never make my baby cry,
'Cause it's all right, what I can't do,
Out of sight because my heart is true,
She says baby everything is alright, uptight, out of sight.
Baby, everything is alright, uptight, clean out of sight.
Baby, everything is alright, uptight, ah ah ah ah,
Baby, everything is alright, uptight, clean out of sight.
Baby, everything is alright, uptight, clean out of sight.
Baby, everything is alright, uptight, out of sight.
The lyrics of Phil Collins's song "Uptight" tell a story of two lovers who come from different backgrounds but are deeply in love. The male protagonist, who is poor and doesn't have many possessions, is grateful for the love of his partner, who is rich and comes from a privileged background. The chorus of the song serves as encouragement to the lovers, with the repeated refrain "Baby, everything is all right, uptight, out of sight" conveying the message that love conquers all obstacles.
The opening lines of the song, "Baby, everything is all right, uptight, out of sight," set the tone for the positive and upbeat nature of the song. The use of the word "uptight" here conveys not a sense of anxiety but rather a feeling of excitement and energy, indicating that the couple is ready to face any challenge that comes their way. The lyrics go on to describe the male protagonist's humble background, referencing the fact that he is the "poorman's son" from across the railroad tracks.
As the song progresses, we get a glimpse into the female protagonist's perspective. She recognizes that her partner doesn't have much money or material possessions, but she values him for who he is, not what he can give her. She tells him, "Give her the things that money can buy, but I'll never, never make my baby cry." This line emphasizes the importance of love and emotional connection over material things.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby, everything is all right, uptight, out of sight.
Despite our financial condition and lack of material possessions, my girlfriend and I are happy and content with each other. We don't need fancy things to feel fulfilled in life.
I'm a poorman's son, from across the railroad tracks,
I come from humble beginnings, and my socioeconomic status is not very high. I grew up on the less affluent side of the train tracks.
The only shirt I own is hangin' on my back,
As a result of my financial situation, I don't have a lot of clothes or possessions. I only own one shirt, which I wear frequently.
But I'm the envy of every single guy
Despite my lack of material things, I am proud and happy to have the love of my girlfriend, who serves as an inspiration to other men.
Since I'm the apple of my girl's eye.
I am fortunate enough to be the most important person in my girlfriend's life. She loves me very much and I am grateful for her affection.
When we go out stepping on the town for a while
When my girlfriend and I go out in public together, we enjoy each other's company and have a good time on our outings.
My money's low and my suit's out of style,
My financial situation limits the quality of clothing and accessories that I can afford. However, I do my best to look decent when I go out with my girlfriend.
But it's all right if my clothes aren't new
I don't need to have brand new clothes to feel good about myself. What matters most is that I am comfortable and confident in my own skin.
Out of sight because my heart is true.
Even if I don't have the fanciest clothes or possessions, my girlfriend loves me for who I am. My sincerity and love for her are what truly matter to her.
She's a pearl of a girl, I guess that's what you might say,
My girlfriend is an exceptional person who is beautiful inside and out. She is a gem of a woman.
I guess her folks brought her up that way,
Her parents raised her to be a kind-hearted and loving person, and her upbringing is reflected in her character.
The right side of the tracks, she was born and raised
Unlike me, my girlfriend comes from a financially advantaged background and grew up on the wealthier side of the train tracks.
In a great big old house, full of butlers and maids.
Her family is affluent and lives in a grand old mansion with a staff of servants.
She says no one is better than I,
My girlfriend thinks very highly of me and believes that I am special and unique. She values the love and devotion that I give her above all else.
I know I'm just an average guy,
Although I don't have a lot of material wealth or social status, I am still a good person and have positive qualities.
No football hero or smooth Don Juan,
I am not a star athlete or a suave and confident ladies' man. I am just an ordinary guy.
Got empty pockets, you see I'm a poorman's son.
My financial resources are limited, and my family background is not as socially influential or prestigious as my girlfriend's.
She says give her the things that money can buy
Although my girlfriend loves me for who I am, she still appreciates and desires the finer things in life that come with wealth and privilege.
But I'll never, never make my baby cry,
I will do everything in my power to make my girlfriend happy and fulfilled in life. I will never make her feel sad, neglected, or unloved.
'Cause it's all right, what I can't do,
Even though I cannot provide her with all the material possessions that she desires, I am still able to give her love and emotional support. That's what truly matters at the end of the day.
Out of sight because my heart is true,
Although I may lack financial resources, my girlfriend loves me deeply because I am a kind and genuine person who loves her back just as much.
She says baby everything is alright, uptight, out of sight.
Despite the social and financial challenges that we face as a couple, my girlfriend and I are happy and fulfilled in our relationship. We don't need fancy things to feel content.
Baby, everything is alright, uptight, clean out of sight.
Overall, we are optimistic and positive about our future together. Although our social and financial status may be limited, we are determined to make the most out of our lives and relationship.
Baby, everything is alright, uptight, ah ah ah ah,
Our relationship is strong and enduring, despite the social and financial obstacles that we may face. We are always going to be there for each other and love each other deeply.
Baby, everything is alright, uptight, clean out of sight.
Ultimately, what matters most in our relationship is the love and support that we give each other. We don't need to have fancy clothes or possessions to feel fulfilled and content in our lives together.
Baby, everything is alright, uptight, clean out of sight.
Through thick and thin, we will always be there for each other and love each other unconditionally. Money and material possessions don't define our relationship.
Baby, everything is alright, uptight, out of sight.
Despite our social and financial limitations, we are optimistic and happy about our future together. Our love and devotion to each other is what truly matters in life.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HENRY COSBY, STEVIE WONDER, SYLVIA MOY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Karina R
We all grow older. It's what we've done during our life time that matters. Phil Collins is a legend. Full stop.
Fabien Bienvenu
I love this live version ! great song !
kerrygordon
Amazing performance
Heidi Abel
great song, thx PHIL :-), you´re legend !!!
terri rosen
I love Phil!
Juvix White
Amazing. .. absolutely amazing
mi
his voice has kindness
sanzip
Love Phil <3 He Is One GREAT GUY An The Band Awesome <3
Andrew Flood
UPTIGHT GREAT SONG IN CONCERT BY PHIL COLLINS !!!
frk75
Upbeat,the kind of music that put a smile on your face....and yet, Collins at the time had a drinking problem, big problem, and I just read an interview with Chester Thompson in rolling stone magazine, there was a real tension between him and Thompson while this short tour went on. Phil dose'nt make any eye contact with his old buddy Chester, very unusual. Apparently he only did when Thompson was playing something wrong. It's the end of a happy time between two rythm brothers, so sad