The Phil Collins Big Band was a side project of pop singer Phil Collins whi… Read Full Bio ↴The Phil Collins Big Band was a side project of pop singer Phil Collins which performed in the late 1990's. The group presented big band renditions of Phil Collins and Genesis songs, including hits such as "Sussudio" and "Invisible Touch". The group was primarily an instrumental act, with Collins remaining behind the drums and rarely singing at performances.

The group released a single album, A Hot Night in Paris, in 1999.

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In the air tonight
The Phil Collins Big Band Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I can feel it coming in the air tonight
Oh Lord
And I've been waiting for this moment for all my life
Oh Lord
Can you feel it coming in the air tonight?
Oh Lord, oh Lord

Well, if you told me you were drowning

I would not lend a hand
I've seen your face before, my friend
But I don't know if you know who I am

Well, I was there and I saw what you did
I saw it with my own two eyes
So you can wipe off that grin, I know where you've been
It's all been a pack of lies

And I can feel it coming in the air tonight
Oh Lord
Well, I've been waiting for this moment for all my life
Oh Lord
I can feel it coming in the air tonight
Oh Lord
Well, I've been waiting for this moment for all my life
Oh Lord, oh Lord

Well, I remember
I remember, don't worry
How could I ever forget?
It's the first time, the last time we ever met

But I know the reason why you keep this silence up
No, you don't fool me
The hurt doesn't show, but the pain still grows
It's no stranger to you and me

I can feel it coming in the air tonight
Oh Lord
Well, I've been waiting for this moment for all my life
Oh Lord
I can feel it in the air tonight
Oh Lord, oh Lord
Well, I've been waiting for this moment for all my life
Oh Lord

I can feel it coming in the air tonight
Oh Lord
And I've been waiting for this moment for all my life
Oh Lord
I can feel it in the air tonight, oh Lord
Oh Lord, oh Lord
Well, I've been waiting for this moment for all my life
Oh Lord, oh Lord
I can feel it in the air tonight
Oh Lord, oh Lord, oh Lord, Lord

Well, I've been waiting for this moment for all my life
Oh Lord, oh Lord

Overall Meaning

"In the air tonight" is a dark and brooding track by the Phil Collins Big Band that speaks to feelings of anger and betrayal. The opening lines speak of a feeling rather than a specific event, hinting at a build-up of emotion that has been brewing for years. The song then shifts to a conversation between two people who have a complicated history. The singer seems to hold the power in the situation, as if waiting to mete out revenge for some past wrong done to him. The line "I saw what you did" is incredibly ominous and creates a sense of tension that builds throughout the song. The chorus repeats the idea of anticipation, of a moment that the singer has been waiting for, lending a sense of possibility to scenes that are never fully explained. The song concludes with the idea that both parties have been hurt, but the singer's pain and anger continue to speak the loudest.

Lyrically, the song stands out for its sense of mystery and ambiguity. While it hints at a story, it never provides the details necessary to fully understand the relationship between the two characters. The music itself reinforces this sense of tension, with its slow build of synthesizer and driving drum beat. The combination makes for an incredibly compelling track.

Line by Line Meaning

I can feel it coming in the air tonight
I have a strong intuition that something significant is about to happen

Oh Lord
Expressing the depth of emotions and the strong feeling of anticipation

And I've been waiting for this moment for all my life
This is a long-awaited moment that holds great importance to me

Can you feel it coming in the air tonight?
I want to know if you are experiencing the same level of anticipation that I am

Well, if you told me you were drowning
If you were in peril or trouble and expressed it to me

I would not lend a hand
I would not offer any help or support

I've seen your face before, my friend
I recognize and have had interactions with you before

But I don't know if you know who I am
I am not confident that you remember or are aware of who I am

Well, I was there, and I saw what you did
I witnessed your actions first-hand

I saw it with my own two eyes
I personally observed what happened

So you can wipe off that grin, I know where you've been
You can't deceive or fool me, I am fully aware of what you've been doing

It's all been a pack of lies
Everything you've said or done has been dishonest

Well, I remember, I remember, don't worry
I have not forgotten the past events

How could I ever forget?
The memories are so vivid and significant that it's impossible to forget

It's the first time, the last time we ever met
We only met on that one occasion, and it will be the last time

But I know the reason why you keep this silence up
I understand why you are not saying anything

No, you don't fool me
You can't trick or deceive me

The hurt doesn't show, but the pain still grows
You may appear fine, but the emotional pain continues to escalate

It's no stranger to you and me
We are both familiar with the feeling of pain and hurt

Oh Lord
Reiterating the strength of emotions and anticipation

Well, I've been waiting for this moment for all my life
This is a moment that holds great significance and has been eagerly anticipated for a long time

I can feel it in the air tonight
The sense of anticipation is growing stronger

Well, I've been waiting for this moment for all my life
Continuing to emphasize the long-awaited importance of this moment

Oh Lord, oh Lord
Strong expression of emotions and anticipation

And I've been waiting for this moment for all my life
Reiterating the significance and anticipation of this moment

Oh Lord
Intensifying the expression of emotions

I can feel it in the air tonight, oh Lord
The level of anticipation continues to increase

Well, I've been waiting for this moment for all my life
Continuing to emphasize the importance and anticipation of this moment

Oh Lord, oh Lord
Intensifying the expression of emotions and anticipation

I can feel it in the air tonight
Expressing the strong sense of anticipation

Oh Lord, oh Lord, oh Lord, Lord
Strong and intense expression of emotions and anticipation

Well, I've been waiting for this moment for all my life
Reiterating the long-awaited importance of this moment

Oh Lord, oh Lord
Continuing to express the depth of emotions and anticipation

Contributed by Kylie Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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Comments from YouTube:

@actaruseufort9120

Merveilleux...un délice, que dis-je ? Un bonbon à déguster SANS modération

@cindipossidento5688

41w↑1

Oh my lord …. So beautiful !!!!! 🎷

@renatom4387

2y↑2

Beautiful version…very smooth and still groovy

@SOLDbyYOU

2y↑2

The band is built with the best pro musicians…. Nathan East on Bass and David Sanborn aren’t the only gunslingers…But some of the phrases/ phrasing played by the main ensemble exposes that half of this band got their charts an hour before they went on stage…. The ensemble is listening well but they still need to get their cues from their section leaders… so again… the beginning of phrases shows a lack of positive United attack… there is a slight time lag as the players read and respond to the section leaders…
But frankly this is also a great example of why so many didn’t love Genesis and later Phil Collins …..
the complexity ( or lack) of the music allows the band to just show up and read this stuff down…. There are a lot of one and two chord vamp sections…

Great band…. The budget didn’t allow for more than a thirty minute rehearsal with e the whole band…. And the audience gets a tepid performance from great players.