Robert Peter Williams (born 13 February 1974) is an English singer and song… Read Full Bio ↴Robert Peter Williams (born 13 February 1974) is an English singer and songwriter. He found fame as a member of the pop group Take That from 1990 to 1995, and achieved commercial success after launching a solo career in 1996. His debut studio album, Life thru a Lens, was released in 1997, and included his signature song, "Angels". His second album, I've Been Expecting You, featured the songs "Millennium" and "She's the One", his first number one singles. His discography includes seven UK No. 1 singles, and all but one of his 14 studio albums have reached No. 1 in the UK. Six of his albums are among the top 100 biggest-selling albums in the UK, with two of them in the top 60, and he gained a Guinness World Record in 2006 for selling 1.6 million tickets in a single day during his Close Encounters Tour.

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.

Pheonix From the Flames
Robbie Williams Lyrics

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Silence shields the pain
So you say nothing
Feel they've rigged the game
And you're done with lovin'
Only you can see the darkness in the northern lights

Phoenix from the Flames
We will rise together

They will know our names
Can you feel it
Shelter me from pain
I always wanna feel this way
Oh yeah
Just like a Phoenix from the Flame

Wish they'd take you back
Cos you miss heaven
Too many bags to pack
So leave them where they are
Tonight you're flying on a golden dream

Phoenix from the Flames
We will rise together
They will know our names
Can you feel it
Shelter me from pain
I always wanna feel this way

Everybody's talking
Nobody's listening
Too busy thinking about what you've
Been missing
Everybody said you're gonna take it
Too far baby now
Well come on

When you're done with lovin'
It comes down to nothing
Can you feel it
Can you feel it
Can you feel it

Phoenix from the Flames
We will rise together
They will know our names
Can you feel it
Shelter me from pain
I always wanna feel this way
Oh yeah
Just like a Phoenix from the Flame

Phoenix from the Flames
We will rise together
They will know our names
Can you feel it
Shelter me from pain
I always wanna feel this way
Oh yeah
Just like a Phoenix from the Flame

Why don't you come and deny it
You know you can't deny it

I always wanna feel this way
Just like a Phoenix from the Flames

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Phoenix From the Flames" by Robbie Williams express a powerful message of resilience and change. In the first verse, the singer talks about the pain that he is feeling and how silence can sometimes be the only way to shield that pain. He refers to feeling like the game is rigged and that he is done with love. However, he remains hopeful and suggests that only he can see the beauty in the darkness of the northern lights.

In the chorus, Williams sings about rising from the ashes like a "Phoenix from the Flames". He is convinced that they will rise together and that they will make their names known. He wishes to be sheltered from pain and always wants to feel this way. The second verse highlights the fear of missing out on heaven after too many mistakes, but he chooses to leave baggage behind and live in his dream. The final verse encourages listeners to not let others bring them down, not worry about what you've missed and to let love guide us. The song is a call to action of sorts, urging the listener to rise above their circumstances and emerge stronger on the other side.

Line by Line Meaning

Silence shields the pain
Pain is hidden behind silence

So you say nothing
You choose not to speak up

Feel they've rigged the game
You believe the situation is unfairly set against you

And you're done with lovin'
You have lost faith in love

Only you can see the darkness in the northern lights
You see things differently than others

Phoenix from the Flames
Like a phoenix, we can rise from the ashes

We will rise together
We can only do it together

They will know our names
We will make an impact

Can you feel it
Can you sense the potential?

Shelter me from pain
Protect me from hurt

I always wanna feel this way
I want to live without regret