# I can feel it coming in the air tonight (???)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-can-feel-it-coming-in-the-air-tonight/1836>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 7, 1999, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-can-feel-it-coming-in-the-air-tonight/1836 "1999-07-07T03:37:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [July 7, 1999, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-can-feel-it-coming-in-the-air-tonight/1836/1 "1999-07-07T03:37:00Z")

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Heya kids, enjoyin’ yer summer frolickin’?? I ain’t, but that’s a whole 'nother story.  
QUESTION: What the heck is the story behind the Genesis/Phil Collins song “I can feel it coming in the air tonight” I heard it was about a guy who saw someone drown but didn’t do anything to help…is that at all true?? I was riding a big yellow school bus at the time I heard that explanation, so it could very well be poppycock. Anybody know?? Phil, ya out there?

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Ivana Grahovac

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [July 7, 1999, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-can-feel-it-coming-in-the-air-tonight/1836/2 "1999-07-07T03:54:00Z")

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I believe one rumor also stated that the child was Collins’ son. I also recall reading in a book (somewhat similar to Cecil’s series) that it is an urban legend.

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [July 7, 1999, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-can-feel-it-coming-in-the-air-tonight/1836/3 "1999-07-07T12:10:00Z")

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The version of the story I had originally heard was that it was a guy in a boat who didn’t help a drowning kid (same idea, different place). But both are false.

I’m having trouble opening the link right now, but it looks like it’s at: [http://www.snopes.com/music/songs/someair.htm](http://www.snopes.com/music/songs/someair.htm)

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [July 7, 1999, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-can-feel-it-coming-in-the-air-tonight/1836/4 "1999-07-07T12:27:00Z")

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It’s an urban legend. Collins had said that all the songs on the “In the Air” album were inspired by his (at that time) recent divorce.