One rumor is that his wife was raped by a man who Phil himself witnessed drowning and that he left him there to drown.
Another more likely rumor is that his close friend was drowning as Phil watched, too far away to help, while another man that could've helped him, didn't
Phil then invited him to a concert where he sang the song as the spotlight shone on the man.
Does anyone know what it's realy about?
2006-11-28 22:54:55 · 12 answers · asked by Stryker 2 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Music
Snopes.com has covered this. Here's the link:
http://www.snopes.com/music/songs/intheair.asp
As it turns out, all of the stories are false (read the very last paragraph.) The song deals, by Phil's own admission, with the bitterness he had after his divorce from his 1st wife. Most songs aren't as interesting as urban legends make them out to be.
2006-11-28 23:04:56 · answer #1 · answered by amg503 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Collins commented on the urban legends about the song in a BBC World Service 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. "
2016-03-29 15:35:32 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've heard the same thing. Phil's friend was drowning and this man didn't help when he could have, Phil couldn't do anything about it.
So he found him and invited him to the concert and then sang the song to him.
2006-11-28 22:57:48 · answer #3 · answered by zanoshi 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If I remember correctly this song was written for his bitterness of his divorce from his wife and nothing to do with anyone actually watching someone drown.
2006-11-28 23:07:42 · answer #4 · answered by kluanee 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have heard the second story before - don't know if its true or not but it gave me shivers at the time when I heard it. Just imagine if you were the guy the spotlight was on!
2006-11-28 23:03:26 · answer #5 · answered by Lost and found 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go to www.truthorfiction.com and you will find out about it. Type Phil Collins into the seach box there and it will bring it up about it. No it's not true.
2006-11-28 23:04:10 · answer #6 · answered by Jenna 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That whole miserable depressing album was about him splitting with his wife. Well, fair play to her. He is quite possibly the most boring man in music.
2006-12-02 11:59:11 · answer #7 · answered by Missing Link 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've just listened to it and have to say that any of your theories could be true. It has taken the song to a new level for me.
2006-11-28 23:02:56 · answer #8 · answered by mark leshark 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The song is about his divorce from his 1st wife,and how he felt about her new relationship.
2006-11-29 01:31:17 · answer #9 · answered by james s 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ive never heard of that, cant see either being true though.
2006-11-28 23:00:31 · answer #10 · answered by scragette2000 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋