Williams has received a record 18 Brit Awards, winning Best British Male Artist four times, Outstanding Contribution to Music twice, an Icon Award for his lasting impact on British culture, eight German ECHO Awards, and three MTV European Music Awards. In 2004, he was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame after being voted the Greatest Artist of the 1990s. According to the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), he has been certified for 20.2 million albums and 8.66 million singles in the UK as a solo artist. Five of his albums have also topped the Australian albums chart, and has sold 75 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. He also topped the 2000–2010 UK airplay chart. His three concerts at Knebworth in 2003 drew over 375,000 people, the UK's biggest music event to that point. In 2014, he was awarded the freedom of his hometown of Stoke-on-Trent and had a tourist trail created and streets named in his honour. Williams' thirteenth album, XXV was released on 9 September 2022.
After 15 years, Williams rejoined Take That in 2010 to co-write and perform lead vocals on their album Progress, which became the second-fastest-selling album in UK chart history and the fastest-selling record of the century at the time. The subsequent stadium tour, which featured seven songs from Williams' solo career, became the biggest-selling concert in UK history when it sold 1.34 million tickets in less than 24 hours. In 2011, Take That frontman Gary Barlow confirmed that Williams had left the band for a second time to focus on his solo career, although he stated that the departure was amicable and that Williams was welcome to rejoin Take That in the future. Williams has since performed with Take That on three separate television appearances, and collaborated with Barlow on a number of projects such as the West End musical The Band.
Family Coach
Robbie Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All aboard the family coach
It's leaving Greenbank Road
Christmas 1981
Christmas when it snowed
Whilst on board the family coach
They were circlin' the moon
They were landing there in June
Hey, hey, family coach
My family coach
You've got to make the most
The most of your family coach
Meanwhile on the family coach
The postillion quietly spoke
He said, "You can not leave your family coach
This is not a joke
We must work out our differences
Though none of us may change
We all take different routes through life
But your coach will stay the same."
Hey, hey, family coach
My family coach
You've got to make the most
The most of your family coach
Hey, hey, family coach
My family coach
You've got to make the most
The most of your family coach
Back onboard Apollo 8
They had gone behind
And the human family held its breath
And wondered what they'd find
Our family coach can stay on earth
Or be a rocket ship
But wherever, wherever you may go
Your kin will share the trip
Hey, hey, family coach
My family coach
You've got to make the most
The most of your family coach
Now it might well appear to you
That they were simpler days
And the family coach is smaller now
Some have passed away
But there's never been a golden age
Nostalgia's for the lame
The best is yet to come, my dear
It's that kind of game
Hey, hey, family coach
My family coach
You've got to make the most
The most of your family coach
Hey, hey, family coach
My family coach
You've got to make the most
The most of your family coach
The song "Family Coach" by Robbie Williams is a tribute to family life and the importance of sticking together through thick and thin. The lyrics describe a family Christmas trip on a coach in 1981, during which they circle the moon (imaginary) and ponder the meaning of their lives. The postillion warns them not to abandon the coach, despite their differences, because it represents their shared history and legacy. The chorus encourages everyone to make the most of their family coach, whatever form it takes, and to appreciate the journey together.
The song appears to be autobiographical, drawing on Williams' own experiences growing up in a large family in Stoke-on-Trent. He has spoken in interviews about the importance of family to him and how his upbringing shaped his values and aspirations. The references to space travel and exploration may be a nod to Williams' love of science fiction and pop culture. Overall, the song is a heartfelt and uplifting reminder of the joys and challenges of family life, and the need to cherish those closest to us.
Line by Line Meaning
All aboard the family coach
Let's get on board with the people who matter most to us
It's leaving Greenbank Road
We're embarking on a new journey together
Christmas 1981
This memory has stayed with me for a lifetime
Christmas when it snowed
The beautiful snowfall added magic to our trip
Whilst on board the family coach
As we journeyed with our loved ones
They were circlin' the moon
We were exploring new horizons together
No one had been there before
We were making history with our loved ones
They were landing there in June
We had the courage to chase our dreams and make them a reality
Hey, hey, family coach
Our family is the most important thing in the world
My family coach
The people who matter most to me
You've got to make the most
We need to cherish every moment with our family
Meanwhile on the family coach
While we're on this journey together
The postillion quietly spoke
A wise voice reminds us of the importance of family
He said, "You can not leave your family coach
We can't abandon the people we love
This is not a joke
Our family should never be taken lightly
We must work out our differences
We need to find a way to get along
Though none of us may change
We all have our traits, good and bad
We all take different routes through life
We all have different experiences, but we're still family
But your coach will stay the same."
Our family dynamic should remain constant
Back onboard Apollo 8
We're back on our journey, but this time in space
They had gone behind
We're exploring beyond what we know
And the human family held its breath
We're all in this together, and there's a sense of awe and reverence for this experience
And wondered what they'd find
We don't know what the future holds, but we have each other
Our family coach can stay on earth
We can remain grounded in our family roots
Or be a rocket ship
Or we can explore new frontiers together
But wherever, wherever you may go
No matter where we go or what we do, we'll always be family
Your kin will share the trip
Our family will always be by our side, through thick and thin
Now it might well appear to you
Some people may think it was easier back then
That they were simpler days
And that things were easier in the past
And the family coach is smaller now
Some of our loved ones may have passed on, but they're still with us in spirit
Some have passed away
The pain of losing family members can be difficult
But there's never been a golden age
There's no ideal time or perfect family - we're all human
Nostalgia's for the lame
We shouldn't get stuck in the past, but continue making meaningful memories in the present
The best is yet to come, my dear
Our family journey is ongoing, and there are still beautiful experiences to be had
Contributed by Alexandra A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Philip Kassabian
on Win Some Lose Some
Yet another fantastic Robbie Williams song. Absolutely fantastic.
Philip Kassabian
on Millennium
What a fantastic song by Robbie Williams.
Edy Souza
on Advertising Space
:)
Edy Souza
on Angels
Love! Love!