In The Air Tonight

Music is one of the more interesting subjects at my school. But the
though of it isn't necessarily enough to fill me with excitement. So,
having just struggled through double maths, I was seated in the music
room, spirits and inspiration at an all time low. The music teacher
told us that we were to listen going to a song and discuss our ideas
afterwards. Long movements of Bach and Mozart flashed through my
mind.
I listened to the song. Well it wasn't Bach or Mozart, it sounded like
it was from the 80s or something, but it wasn't anything special. The
song finished and the teacher asked what we knew about it. Someone
recognized it as 'In The Air Tonight' by Phil Collins, but that was
about it. So our teacher told us a story, the story behind the song if
you like. I can't remember the actual names in the story but the rest
of it's all true.

When Phil Collins was about 17 he was invited on a camping holiday with
a friend of his, Greg, and another, slightly older friend, John. Phil
didn't know John very well but Greg assured him that John was a good
mate to go camping with. They were camping at a site with a large lake,
suitable for swimming in. During the holiday John decided to go
swimming, Greg went with him but Phil said he'd rather stay with the
tents. So Greg and John went down to the lake and Phil stayed behind.
About 20 minutes later Phil got bored and decided to go and find his
friends. As he got to the ridge of the hill he caught sight of Greg and
John. They seemed to be wrestling in the water. But it became very
clear to Phil that they were not playing and that for some reason John
was trying to hold Greg under the water. What any other 17-year-old boy
would do in this situation I do not know but Phil panicked and ran back
over the hill before John or Greg could see him. For the longest half
an hour of his life Phil waited on his own. Then a policeman approached
him.
Apparently Greg was dead, drowned. John was the only witness of this,
the police took his word, and Phil said nothing. 'Accidental death,'
read the death certificate. Phil and John went their separate ways
after that, John never knowing what Phil had seen. Of course John would
have recognized Phil as he became famous, but they never got in touch
with each other. That is until about 20 years later, when Phil's past
became too much for him to hide. Out of the blue he called John and
offered him tickets to one of his concerts at Wembley Stadium. John
accepted and received the ticket from Phil. This concert was no
different from any other until right at the end. All the lights went
out. The audience sat and stood in silence. Then two spotlights came
on, and they both focused on John, sitting, thinking he was just
another member of the crowd. Then Phil stood in the dark at the front
of the stage and told the secret he had kept for over 20 years, in a
song. He sang 'In The Air Tonight'. This song, if you listen to it
closely, tells the story of Phil's camping holiday. The lyrics are
stronger than any I have ever heard.

'I can feel it coming in the air tonight
And I've been waiting for this moment all my life.
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 wipe off that grin, I know where you've been
It's all been a pack of lies.
Well I remember, how could I ever forget
The first time, the last time we ever met.'

And with a crash of drums,
'I can feel it coming in the air tonight, oh lord,
And I've been waiting for this moment, all my life
Oh lord, oh lord.'

It's not a sad song; it's an emotional song. It would have to have been
because no one in the audience could see Phil, only a seemingly
anonymous man, yet as he ended the song the crowd was in awe. John was
arrested for the murder of Greg there and then at the concert. Phil
Collins was still the same singer; he went on with his career as
normal. But, through the power of his song, he stood up in front of
thousands, and righted the biggest wrong of his life.

We listened to the song again, and my teacher was right. I listened to
the words, would they have had the same effect if he'd just stood up
and told the story? No way. The power of music is not something that
can be justified in writing.