I've been told on a few occasions that this song is about a real life situation for Phil Collins. The story goes.....

Phil had never forgotten a time as a child, that he and his brother and a friend went out on the ice on a winter day. Phil's brother broke through the ice and "the friend" had a chance to save him but was too scared to do it and the boy (Phil's brother) drowned.

When Phil became a member of Genesis.....he wrote this song. He never recorded it with the group.....but when he went out on his own he sent "the friend" a ticket for a front row seat to the debut concert. When the band struck up "In The Air Tonight", Phil sat down on the egde of the stage and sang this song directly to "the friend".....who supposedly didn't recall Phil, his brother, or the life and ultimate death situation of his childhood.

Any insight as to the origin of this "Urban Legend"? Truth or part true or no basis whatsoever?

And may I say.......I don't care the origin......I love this song!

Please pardon me if this is a repeat question!



Phil Collins
Face Value (1981)
In The Air Tonight

I can feel it coming in the air tonight, Oh Lord
I've been waiting for this moment, 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 the 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
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
And I've been waiting for this moment 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 your silence up, no you don't fool me
The hurt doesn't show; but the pain still grows
It's no stranger to you or me

And I can feel it coming in the air tonight, Oh Lord...