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"In The Air Tonight" Urban Legend; Do You Beleive This...
Topic Started: Jan 31 2006, 02:04 PM (529 Views)
Skully Collins
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Well, One song that got me through High School Bullying was "In The Air Tonight" by Phil Collins.

The Verse That really stuck with me was this:
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


Now this verse actually sparked an urban legend, it goes like this:
Quote:
 
"In the Air Tonight" is the subject of variations of an urban legend arising from the lyrics' reference to drowning.

The most common version claims that Phil Collins saw a man drowning but was too far away to do anything, but a man nearby who could have saved him did nothing. Other versions of the rumor claim that the drowning was not accidental, but murder.

According to the legend, Collins bought the man a front row ticket and sang it with a spotlight on the man. Again, depending on the version, either Collins had the man arrested, or the man was filled with guilt and committed suicide.

Quote Is From Wikipedia.org

Now, I for one don't beleive this urban legend. As Collins was going through his first divorce at the time, so he had a lot of a anger, (if you wanted to know, Collins' first wife 'ran off' with a painter, which sparked another urban legend) and I guess that you would say that to your ex-wife/ex-husband if they ran off with someone else...
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Tristessa
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DARKNESS
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Yeah, I read that one on Snopes. It's also mentioned in the Eminem song "Stan" "you know that song by Phil Collins in the air in the night about that guy who could have saved another guy from drownin' but didnt? And at a show Phil found him?"

Actually that song has a lot of urban myths, I don't think it's true though, I can't remember.


"Stan"
CHORUS:
My tea's gone cold, I'm wondering why I got out of bed
at all
the morning rain clouds up my window and I can't see
at all
And even if I could it'd all be grey, but your picture
on my wall
it reminds me that it's not so bad, it's not so bad

My tea's gone cold,I'm wondering why I got out of bed
at all
the morning rain clouds up my window and I can't see
at all
And even if I could it'd all be grey, but your picture
on my wall
it reminds me that it's not so bad, it's not so bad

VERSE 1:

Dear Slim, I wrote you but you still ain't callin'
I left my cell, my pager, and my home phone at the
bottom
I sent two letters back in autumn
You must not have got 'em
It probably was a problem at the post office or
somethin'

Sometimes I scribble addresses too sloppy when I jot
'em
But anyways, **** it, what's been up man, how's your
daughter?
My girlfriend's pregnant too, I'm out to be a father
If I have a daughter, guess what I'm-a call her? I'm-a
name her Bonnie.

I read about your uncle Ronnie too, I'm sorry
I had a friend kill himself over some ***** who didn't
want him.
I know you probably hear this everyday, but I'm your
biggest fan.
I even got the underground **** that you did with
Scam.

I got a room full of your posters and your pictures,
man.
I like the **** you did with Ruckus too, that **** was
fat.
Anyways, I hope you get this man, hit me back, just to
chat
Truly yours, your biggest fan, this is Stan.


CHORUS:

My tea's gone cold,I'm wondering why I got out of bed
at all
the morning rain clouds up my window and I can't see
at all
And even if I could it'd all be grey, but your picture
on my wall
it reminds me that it's not so bad, it's not so bad


VERSE 2:

Dear Slim, you still ain't called or wrote, I hope you
have the chance.
I ain't mad, I just think it's ****** up you don't
answer fans.
If you didn't want to talk to me outside your concert
You didn't have to
but you could have signed an autograph for Matthew.
That's my little brother, man. He's only 6 years old.
We waited in the blistering cold for you for 4 hours
and ya just said no.
That's pretty ****ty man, you're like his ****in' idol
He wants to be just like you man, he likes you more
than I do.

I ain't that mad, but I just don't like bein' lied to.
Remember when we met in Denver, you said if I write
you
You would write back. See, I'm just like you in a way.
I never knew my father neither.
He used to always cheat on my mom and beat her.

I can relate to what you're sayin' in your songs.
So when I have a ****ty day, I drift away and put 'em
on.
Cause I don't really got **** else, so that **** helps
when I'm depressed.
I even got a tattoo with your name across the chest.

Sometimes I even cut myself to see how much it bleeds.
It's like adrenaline. The Pain is such a sudden rush
for me.
See, everything you say is real, and I respect you
'cause you tell it.
My girlfriend's jealous 'cause I talk about you 24/7.
But she don't know you like I know you, Slim, no one
does.
She don't know what it was like for people like us
growing up.
You've gotta call me man. I'll be the biggest fan
you'll ever lose.
Sincerely yours, Stan. PS: We should be together too.


CHORUS:

My tea's gone cold,I'm wondering why I got out of bed
at all
the morning rain clouds up my window and I can't see
at all
And even if I could it'd all be grey, but your picture
on my wall
it reminds me that it's not so bad, it's not so bad

VERSE 3:

Dear Mr. "I'm too good to call or write my fans"
This'll be the last package I ever send your ass.
It's been six months and still no word. I don't
deserve it?
I know you got my last two letters, I wrote the
addresses on 'em perfect.

So this is my cassette I'm sending you. I hope you
hear it.
I'm in the car right now. I'm doing 90 on the freeway.
Hey Slim, "I drank a fifth of vodka, ya dare me to
drive?"
You know that song by Phil Collins from "The Air In
The Night"?
About that guy who could have saved that other guy
from drowning?
But didn't? Then Phil saw it all then at his show he
found him?
That's kinda how this is. You could have rescued me
from drowning.
Now it's too late. I'm on a thousand downers now, I'm
drowsy.

And all I wanted was a lousy letter or a call.
I hope you know I ripped all o' your pictures off the
wall.
I love you Slim, we could have been together. Think
about it.
You ruined it now, I hope you can't sleep and you
dream about it.
And when you dream, I hope you can't sleep and you
scream about it.
I hope your conscious eats at you and you can't
breathe without me.
See Slim, {screaming} shut up *****, I'm trying to
talk
Hey Slim, that's my girlfriend screaming in the trunk.
But I didn't slit her throat, I just tied her up, see
I ain't like you.
'Cause if she suffocates, she'll suffer more, and then
she'll die too.
Well, gotta go, I'm almost at the bridge now.
Oh ****, I forgot, how am I supposed to send this ****
out?

{screeching tires, crashing sounds, car splashes into
the water}


CHORUS:

My tea's gone cold,I'm wondering why I got out of bed
at all
the morning rain clouds up my window and I can't see
at all
And even if I could it'd all be grey, but your picture
on my wall
it reminds me that it's not so bad, it's not so bad

VERSE 4:

Dear Stan, I meant to write you sooner, but I've just
been busy.
You said your girlfriend's pregnant now, how far along
is she?
Look, I'm really flattered you would call your
daughter that.
And here's an autograph for your brother: I wrote it
on your Starter cap.

I'm sorry I didn't see you at the show, I must have
missed you.
Don't think I did that **** intentionally, just to
diss you.
And what's this **** you said about you like to cut
your wrists too?
I say that **** just clownin' dawg, c'mon, how ******
up is you?
You got some issues, Stan, I think you need some
counselin'
To help your ass from bouncin' off the walls when you
get down some.

And what's this **** about us meant to be together?
That type of ****'ll make me not want us to meet each
other.
I really think you and your girlfriend need each
other.
Or maybe you just need to treat her better.
I hope you get to read this letter.
I just hope it reaches you in time.
Before you hurt yourself, I think that you'd be doin'
just fine
If you'd relax a little. I'm glad that I inspire you,
but Stan
Why are you so mad? Try to understand that I do want
you as a fan.
I just don't want you to do some crazy ****.
I seen this one **** on the news a couple weeks ago
that made me sick.
Some dude was drunk and drove his car over a bridge
And had his girlfriend in the trunk and she was
pregnant with his kid
And in the car they found a tape but it didn't say who
it was to
Come to think about it...his name was...it was you.
DAMN!
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Maiz
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Lord of all things corn.
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or it's just a good song...
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N00B™
A waste of everything you hoped for.
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Ascendancy
Jan 31 2006, 09:43 PM
or it's just a good song...

I'll toast to that. :yes: Not all lyrics in songs are based on what you think them to be.
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Skully Collins
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The Drum bit at the end of "In The Air Tonight" was very 'powerful' as well, easily Collins at his best :D
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gccruising
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A lot of that kind of stuff goes on so it could be true
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