They came at night leaving fear behind
Shadows were on the ground
Well, nobody knew where to find him
No evidence was found
I'm never coming back
They heard him cry
And I believe him
Well he never meant to do anything wrong
It's gonna get worse if he waits too long

Billy, Billy don't you lose my number
'Cause you're not anywhere
That I can find you
Oh, now, Billy, Billy don't you lose my number
'Cause you're not anywhere that I can find you, oh no

Searching through the day and into the night
They wouldn't stop 'til they found him
They didn't know him and they didn't understand
They never asked him why
"Get out of my way"
They heard him shout
Then a blinding light
Ooh all I could see was him running down the street
Out of the shadows and into the night

Billy, Billy don't you lose my number
'Cause you're not anywhere
That I can find you
Oh, now, Billy, Billy don't you lose my number
'Cause you're not anywhere that I can find you, oh

Don't give up
Keep running, keep hiding
Don't give up
Billy, if you know you're right
Don't give up
You know that I am on your side
Don't give up
Oh Billy, you better, you better, you better run for your life

Now Billy, Billy don't you lose my number
'Cause you're not anywhere
That I can find you
Oh, now, Billy, Billy don't you lose my number
'Cause you're not anywhere that I can find you, oh

They came at night leaving fear behind
Shadows were on the ground
Nobody knew where to find him
No evidence was found
"I'm never coming back"
They heard him cry
And I believe him
He never meant to do anything wrong
It's gonna get worse if he waits too long

Now Billy, Billy don't you lose my number
'Cause you're not anywhere
That I can find you
Oh, now, Billy, Billy don't you lose my number
'Cause you're not anywhere that I can find you, oh

Oh, now, Billy, Billy don't you lose my number
'Cause you're not anywhere that I can find you, oh

Oh, now, Billy, Billy don't you lose my number
'Cause you're not anywhere that I can find you


Lyrics submitted by Boonechic_21

Don't Lose My Number Lyrics as written by Phil Collins

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC

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Don't Lose My Number song meanings
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14 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    This song describes an outcast ("they didn't know him"), well-meaning ("He never meant to do anything wrong") character probably being wrongly ("You know that I am on your side") accused by the society for an act they consider "wrong." This has been going on for a while ("It's gonna get worse if he waits too long"), and in all likelihood it's going to end badly for him ("Oh Billy, you better, you better, you better run for your life"). It is probably about a crime for which he's the primary suspect, and he flees jurisdiction the night the cops came to take him into custody. I haven't seen the video.

    Korollaryon February 18, 2006   Link
  • +2
    Song Meaning

    "The lyrics might seem like nonsense, but that's because they came from stream-of-consciousness writing sessions. Collins himself says there is no real story or message in the song. The MTV-friendly video spoofs the Police, the Cars, Michael Jackson, David Lee Roth and many other stars of the day."

    rollingstone.com/music/pictures/readers-poll-the-10-best-phil-collins-songs-20131211/9-dont-lose-my-number-0672179

    djeheutyon October 12, 2017   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Hm, never thought about it in that way. It seems like a close friend is trying to bring a young boy, going astray, back to reality or to doing right. And the older friend says "don't lose my number" to let the boy know that, even if he does wrong, he's there for him to call on.

    LeArtiston March 25, 2003   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I know this may not be what the song was intended to be about, but to me this song always seemed what Faber would have said to Montag in Fahrenheit 451.

    Abq_physon March 02, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    According to the notes and back cover of the album "No Jacket Required," on which this was originally released, the song is actually called "Don't Lose My Number." That's okay though, because "Billy Don't Lose My Number" is probably a better title, the one that most people would think of. It's interesting that he omits the character name in the title.

    stoolhardyon April 27, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    It makes me think of a young boy being kidnapped

    Boonechic_21on April 10, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I always think of the movie The Legend of Billie Jean. To me it fits perfectly.

    LoriGon December 19, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Except of course the fact that that particular 'billie' was a woman. To me, its the classic, wrong place wrong time story.

    traviswrdunbaron January 08, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Well despite that, the title is changed to its correct self. Anyhoo, great song - one of the best of the album. Although the video doesn't explain that much I'm inclined to do with the billy the kid ideal!

    K-nuxXxon November 11, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I heard this today in a cookware store and couldn't hear the words very well, so I thought he was telling a woman not to loose his number because she was his everything. Either way, it's a great song. I Love Phil Collins.

    Always-Sweeter67on January 20, 2008   Link

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