In The Air Tonight

Hopefully this will put all drowning stories to rest. Thanks to wikipedia, here is an actual quote from Phil Collins From a BBC World Interview:

"I don't know what this song is about. When I was writing this I was going through a divorce. And the only thing I can say about it is that it's obviously in anger. It's the angry side, or the bitter side of a separation. So what makes it even more comical is when I hear these stories which started many years ago, particularly in America, of someone come up to me and say, 'Did you really see someone drowning?' I said, 'No, wrong'. And then every time I go back to America the story gets Chinese whispers, it gets more and more elaborate. It's so frustrating, 'cos this is one song out of all the songs probably that I've ever written that I really don't know what it's about, you know." - Phil Collins

All I'm going to say is that whether the drowning stories are true or not, whether the wife story is true or not...it still stands that this song has one of the best drum fills EVER. EVER. You can't dispute that.

do-do do-do do-do dodo dum dum I can feel it coming in the air tonight...

I can't believe you're still debating this one. Please. Listen. He did NOT see someone drown. He did NOT kill someone in an alleyway...sheesh. It's just like the whole Kurt Cobain thing, which I have no comment on btw. I'm sure you all have heard of symbolism? Yeah? Ok. Apply that to this song. Like when Bono says, "The heart is a bloom, shoots up through the stony ground" (in Beautiful Day), that doesn't mean that your heart comes out of a pile of dirt and blossoms. Right? Right. Ask your English teacher, please.

i read an interview where he said something like 'i dont know what its about, but its a very dark song, i was going through a divorce and the ugliness really shows up'

I was watching something on NFL films about them playing this song before football games and they had an interview with Phil Collins for the story. As he told it; his wife was having an affair with the interior decorator and he found out about it and was so hurt that he sat down and penned this song about the entire situation on a piece of paper he found. When he turned it over he realized he'd written it on the back of the interior decorators stationary. It's from NFL Presents - 2006 Show 15.

The Drowning Stories Are All Urban Legend.

This Song Is About The Divorce With His Wife. In My Opinion, The Divorce With His Wife Must Of Went Very Hurtful To Him. So Hurtful That If He Ever Seen His Wife "Drowning", He Wouldn't Want To "Lend A Hand".

But Yeah, That's Just My Thought. Lol. Amazing Song That Don't Suck : ]

collins has said on many occasions that this song isnt based on any one real life experience. i think it just shows the pain he was going through in the early 80's due to his split with his wife then. and that whole collins sees a guy who sees another guy drowning but doesnt help him, then collins sees the guy who saw the guy at one of his concerts and sings this song to him - that story is total BS.

I don't understand why the rumors about Phil and a drowning person started in the first place. If you pay attention, the lyric is a simple insult. It's very easy to see he's just telling this person that he thinks so low of them that he would let them drown. It's very much the same as the more crude insult heard sometimes "I wouldn't pizz on you if you were on fire". And there it is.......

There are a lot of people caught up in the whole "Witnessed a drowning" thing, but that is really a vehicle to illustrate the main character's true feelings of his aggression's focus. To clarify, the lyrics are "If you told me you were drowning I would not lend a hand". Simply put "you are such a piece of trash, I wouldn't even bother to save your life, since the world is better off without you".

While the dark emotions may very well reflect Collins's own feelings regarding the split between he and his wife, they are in no way related. The song is about betrayal. The main character is aware of the villain's treachery. He also knows that the villain is living with the pain and guilt of his wrong doing (which he can feel in the air). This is a punishment in, and of itself.

The music so accurately captures the sensation of brooding anger, which makes this one of the best songs from the 80s.

Phil's own words regarding the meaning of these lyrics:

"I had the chords I liked and the drums sounding good and I just made up some lyrics that fit the music. I just made it up as I went along. I don't know what it means."

So there you have it. All the stories people have made up revolving around these lyrics is a bunch of BS.